We're going to try an experiment, folks. You see, Dodger Thoughts has, to put it conservatively, a very active comment section. Cub Town does not. I know this.

Any chat thread here will pale next to the chat at Dodger Thoughts. But I'd still like to provide a place for Cub fans to mingle among themselves.

Now, that said, if the number of participants shrinks below (or fails to ever rise above) three or four, myself included, I'll probably shut it down and send people over to Dodger Thoughts. They're civil people over there, I promise, and I'm sure it'll be far more enjoyable than spending three hours chatting essentially alone with me. Ahem.

It's up to you, readers. If you want to chat here during the game, go for it. I'll be around. But if the place is looking deserted (and it shouldn't be too hard to tell), I'll make an announcement.

Thanks.

* * * *

Ryan Dempster at home, 2008: 14-3, 2.86 ERA, 109 hits allowed in 129 innings.

Derek Lowe on the road, 2008: 5-6, 4.42 ERA, 106 hits allowed in 93.2 innings.

Hardly a complete picture of the match-up, but it makes me feel warm and fuzzy, so we'll go with it.

The wind's blowing in, and fall is in the air. Let's start off right, boys. Just win.

Dodgers at Cubs, 5:30 p.m.