Sigh. Here we go again...

Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano left the game yesterday with a sore arm. He may end up on the DL.

Today manager Lou Pinella admitted that co-ace Rich Harden also has a sore arm, and will miss a start.

Until now, the Cubs had to be considered the favorites to win the World Series in this centennial year of the last time they pulled it off. If we lose either of these guys, though, our chances decline drastically.

If we lose both, it's wait until next year- once again- and it'll be 101 years, and counting.

It's just a few years ago that year after year after year we were expecting the one-two punch of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood to take us to the promised land. But year after year, they both were hurt- and we had to make do with our number three pitcher, Zambrano, as our ace. Now that Zambrano has legitimately succeeded to that role, and another stellar number two brought aboard in Harden, it seems to be happening all over again.

Just when we were starting to hope, it seems that the Goat may have the upper hand after all.