We feel your pain

(Note: AJ will have the Game Recap a little later this morning, and I am seriously considering creating a DOOOOOOOOOOOOM tag)As is to be expected from time to time, the Cubs have lately appeared to be entirely unlike a playoff-bound big league team. The only problem in 2009 is that they've looked that way far, far too often. Still, I will reiterate a few points that tend to escape our perspective whenever the **** hits the fan: Before Sept. 1, the Cubs would need to drop to 10 games under .500 or 10 games out of 1st place before I'll be ready to surrender hope. As badly as this past week has looked, despite going 1-6 in their last 7, the Cubs in fact remain 4 games out against a team they play 3 more times this season. They are, in fact, a good weekend away from renewing our hopes. But before we endorse that notion, let's consider the following problems: The bullpen, after being very solid for a time, has been ridiculously bad again as of late. But looking at the weapo...