And just when you think it can't get any worse...

...Carlos Zambrano decides to take the mound, knowing he did not feel very well, and go ahead and get rocked, get injured and likely put an end to his Cy Young bid. I don't mean to be so pesimistic, it's just not my style, however, when Carlos goes out after an inning and a third my strength becomes depleated and my resolve weakens into cynicism. Ok, no it's not that bad but in a season of missed opportunities, injuries and too many rookie pitchers to count on one hand the one constant that remained the same was Carlos Zambrano taking the hill and giving this team at the very least, 6 innings of quality pitched baseball. When that one constant is shattered it is just hard to keep hope alive. But I will, because we have to as Cubs fans. Ryan Theriot is one of those reasons to keep hope alive. TheRiot and Matt "The Bat" Murton are the two best things this Cubs team has going for it right now. These are young players with heart and a passion to play the game. Not necessarily exceptional at any one thing, Murton and Theriot give us fans everything they have, leaving it all on the field. There is nothing more refreshing to see as a quality at-bat in an era where the Cubs and their management are simply allergic to walks or the idea of working the count. Matt Murton and Ryan Theriot are guys you can build with, they are the kind of role players that may not have all of the athletic skill as a guy like Manny Ramirez has, but when the games on the line and your team needs to rally together it is role players such as Murton and Theriot who can spark a rally, who will be up at the top of the dugout fence rooting their teammates on. Players like this are invaluable and teamed up with other players such as Michael Barrett, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez the Cub lineup can begin to take shape and form and not just look like a jumbled mass of players who don't really know what their role is on the team. I have faith for next year for a few reasons: we have the best pitcher in the National League, this is arguable, but I don't really care. We are slowly, unknowingly building a team of patient hitters. Now I am almost positive this is not on purpose, but if you look at the strikeout and walk rates of players like Michael Barrett and Aramis Ramirez you may be pleasantly suprised. Derrek Lee has always been a patient hitter and we can see how Matt Murton and Ryan Theriot have the ability to work counts, foul off balls and usually make solid contact. Finally, my last reason to continue to have hope for this team is just how horrible the rest of the division is. The Cardinals are older and a shaddow of their old dominance. The Reds seem flukish, but I guess one never knows. The Brewers will continue to improve, but how much is debatable especially after they lost their best player C. Lee and do I even need to mention the Pirates. Oh, and I am also pretty darn excited for that top 5 pick in next June's amateur draft...hopefully this top 5 pick will pan out better than Corey, Woody and Prior...heres to keeping hope for next year.