Déjà Vu: A Dodgers Grand Slam Spells the End for the Chicago Cubs

While watching the Cubs 7-2 loss to the Dodgers on Thursday night, I had an eerie feeling of déjà vu. While it was in a different city, with a different player at the plate and a different player on the hill, I felt I was watching the exact same scenario unfold. A grand slam by the Dodgers to all but end the Cubs’ chances of a deep playoff run. In 2008, it came in Game One of the NLDS at Wrigley Field. The Cubs led 2-0 thanks to a second-inning Mark DeRosa home run when the Dodgers came to bat in the fifth inning.  Ryan Dempster proceeded to walk the bases loaded (his fifth, sixth and seventh walks of the game), before giving up a granny to James Loney on a 1-2 pitch. Just like that, the energy was sucked out of Wrigley Field, and even though the Cubs were only trailing by two runs, you could read the same expression on everyone’s faces: “Not again.” The Cubs lost that game 7-2 as well, never led the rest of the series, and were swept out o...