2008 Chicago Cubs season

MLB yearly infobox
name=Chicago Cubs
season=2008
misc=NL Central Champions
logo=Chicago Cubs Logo.pngcurrent league=National League
y1=1876
division=Central Division
y2=1994
Uniform
ballpark=Wrigley Field
y4=1916
city=Chicago, Illinois
y5=1876
owners= Tribune Company
managers= Lou Piniella
television=CSN Chicago
WGN America
WGN-TV
CSN Chicago Plus (CLTV)
WCIU-TV
radio=WGN (AM) 720
espntn=chc
brtn=CHC|The Chicago Cubs' 2008 season was the 136th season for the Chicago Cubs. Despite 97 regular season wins -- the most since 1945 -- they failed to make it past the first round of the playoffs, losing 3-0 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. The Cubs repeated as champions of the National League Central Division. It was the first time since 1908 that the Cubs make postseason appearances in consecutive seasons. This is their second season with Lou Piniella as their manager.

At the All-Star break, the Cubs led the Central Division and were tied with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the best record in the major leagues. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Regular Season Standings | date=2008-07-14 | publisher=Major League Baseball | url =http://www.mlb.com/mlb/standings/index.jsp?ymd=20080714 | work =Associated Press | pages = | accessdate = 2008-07-14 | language = ] They tied a National League record with eight players selected to the All-Star team. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Cubs tie record for most NL All-Stars | date=2008-07-13 | publisher=Yahoo! Sports | url =http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=An8cBB1NmdXXWyEGC7Qrio8RvLYF?slug=ap-all-stars-marmol&prov=ap&type=lgns | work =Associated Press | pages = | accessdate = 2008-07-14 | language = ]

In 2007, Ernie Banks had requested that city-state|Evanston|Illinois native Eddie Vedder write the Cubs a song, and in August 2008 Vedder recorded "All the Way", which was released on September 18, 2008.cite web|url=http://redeye.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/custom/redhot/red-091908-redhot1,0,3750734.story|title=Cubbie jam|accessdate=2008-09-20|date=2008-09-19|publisher=Metromix|work=RedEye] During the season, a new version of "Go, Cubs, Go" was recorded and released by the Manic Sewing Circle,cite web|url=http://www.wgntv.com/landing/?Manic-Sewing-Circle-perform-Go-Cubs-Go=1&blockID=55863&feedID=222|title=Manic Sewing Circle perform "Go Cubs Go"|accessdate=2008-09-21|date=2008-09-12|publisher=Tribune Interactive |work=WGNTV.com] although the original 1984 Steve Goodman version became the official Cubs victory song.cite web|url=http://wgnradio.com/index.php?id=41180&task=view&option=com_content&Itemid=1|title=WGN Radio and Vibes Media team up to bring iconic Cubs anthem "Go Cubs Go" to mobile phones|work=WGN Radio|accessdate=2008-09-20|date=2008-08-01]

On September 20th, the Cubs officially clinched the Central Division with a 5-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. [cite web|url=http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=280920116|title=Chicago Cubs win Central again|accessdate=2008-09-21|date=2008-09-20|publisher=Yahoo! Inc./The Associated Press|work=Yahoo! Sports|author=Gano, Rick]

Regular season

eason standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log