I’ve said numerous times Ted Lilly is the true ace of the Cubs’ rotation.

Of course, I’m always repeating myself because Cubs fans and the media barely recognize Lilly as an ace.

Don’t ask me why, either? I think the whole conversation is plain as day.

Break it down how you like, but there’s not an equal on this staff to Lilly.  His overall numbers, wins and big-game production since signing with the Cubs three years ago is unmatched.

Lilly is the ace, even if by the slightest of margins. Better than Zambrano, better than Dempster, better than whomever.

Yet, earlier this week Lilly goes under the knife to clean up discomfort in his throwing shoulder, which he’s suffered from since late August, and we barely hear a peep about the lefty being out four months, perhaps even longer.

Think news like this falls on deaf ears had it been Big Z, Ryan Dempster or the chosen one, Jeff Samardzija being cut? Not a chance!

Lilly said he wanted to avoid surgery altogether, but I can’t blame the guy for pulling the trigger, not with him entering the final year of his contract.

If healthy, Lilly’s gets paid like an ace next November…regardless of whether or not Cubs fans believe him to be one. It’s smart on Ted’s part. Returning to 100-percent should be the southpaw’s top priority.

The Cubs, on the other hand, should be worried. It’s three weeks from Thanksgiving and the club is already dealing with its first setback of the 2010 season…the ace is down, people. For goodness sakes, take notice.

Would you believe it’s already been eight years since Luis Gonzalez’s RBI single off Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the ninth lifted Arizona to a 3-2 win in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series.

I certainly remember the moment well. Gonzo jumping up & down with boundless joy, the D-Backs celebrating its first ever championship, and the wild scenes of jubilation coming from my college dorm room.

To hell with the Yankees and their seemingly go-billion dollar payroll, I thought. Long live the Snakes!

And with that thought in mind I drank most of the night away. I was feeling good about baseball and tickled pink those damn Yankees were at last first place losers.

Not exactly the same feeling this year. At least not with the Yankees back on top and me watching the series’ finale while eating a Stonyfield Raspberry yogurt.

What baseball fan wouldn’t want to feel that excitement from the ’01 series again, and to share another go-round with the all-night celebratory beverages with friends (except for New Yorkers, of course). But next time how about it’s the Cubs winning the World Series.

For certain, it can happen, but  in the mean time I’ll settle for the alternative: anybody except those damn Yankees!

Indeed, Tom Ricketts’ talk is cheap.

The man’s promised Cubs fans the world, as in world championship, king of the hill, top-dog.

And why not make such promises? Isn’t this, after all, what new owners are supposed to do, give lavish speeches of glories yet to come?

I mean seriously, what new owner has every stood in front of the home town audience and proclaimed we’re not here to win, but to merely compete…winning is not the only thing of importance here, so is the budget…championships you say? Aha championships, shampionships, people.

It’s nothing against Ricketts, I think the guy’s going to be a solid owner, but I couldn’t care less about his declaration to the media about a new day for Cubs baseball.

Spare me the talk, Tom. I’ve heard it all before. If it’s all about winning, which make no mistake it is, then put a winner on the field.

And when the Cubs finally win its first championship in one hundred and however many years it is, I’ll hang on your every word.

Until then, however, how about a new RBI man and a nice set-up reliever?

Cliff Lee is deserving of all the love.

It’s pretty clear the Phillies get swept this series without him.

But don’t overlook the performance of Chase Utley, either. Yes,  the guy who’s just happened to tie Reggie Jackson’s 32-year-old record of five home runs in a world series.

Jackson led the ‘77 Yankees to glory with home runs in Games 4, 5 & 6 against the Dodgers.

His three blasts at Yankee Stadium in Game 6 became the series’ lasting memory. He also earned the series’ MVP honors, too.

Utley’s blasts haven’t been as memorable, but no less important than Mr. October’s.

Two coming in Philly’s Game 1 win against CC Sabathia, one in Game 4 and two more in Game 5.

His three-run shot Monday night set the tone behind Lee’s dominate arm.  It also lifted a huge weight off the Phillies’ struggling offense.

Given the regularity at which home runs were hit at the new Yankee Stadium this season, Utley could very well set the new mark for home runs in one World Series.

Give Philly some credit too. They’re not going down without a fight, and I respect the effort.

They could have easily folded after Game 4, but they played with desperation, showed some heart and they kept this series alive…even if it last just one more game.

Then again, who really knows what will happen? Perhaps the Phillies win Game 6 and send Cliff Lee back to the bump for a deciding Game 7.

I don’t have the feeling the Phils make it that far, but that’s what I’m hoping for anyway.

Three weeks ago I witnessed the Chicago Blackhawks’ biggest comeback victory in team history.

The Hawks rallied from five goals down to beat the Calgary Flames 6-5 in OT.

By NHL standards, a five-goal comeback is a rare feat, the same holding true for a 3-1 series deficit in baseball.

What I’m saying is, there’s not going to be a dramatic comeback by the Phillies.

At least not needing three-straight wins, two of which will have to come on the road at Yankee Stadium.

Sorry Philly fan, it ain’t happen’. Not with Brad Lidge closing, Cole Hamels’ pitching and the big-three collectively hitting worse than Nick Swisher.

The Yankees are too deep, A-Rod too great and the NY pitching staff too good for the Bombers to let this thing slip away.

Unless Cliff Lee is equally effective on zero days rest as he is on four, the Phillies are finished…defeated, dethroned.

It’s a rather rude greeting, but welcome back to old-times again baseball fans. Welcome back to baseball reality…the World Series is over: Yankees win, Yankees win, thaaa Yankees win.  Stinks, I know.

I dressed as a skeleton for Halloween. It’s the same costume I wore last year, and the year before too.

Next Halloween I’ll break out the ol’ bones wrap yet again.

And why not? It fits perfectly, is light-weight and age-appropriate, as far as adult costumes are concerned!

Betcha didn’t know Kit Kat bars are my favorite Halloween candy, either. Loved them since I was playing Little League and dressing up as He-Man.

If Kit Kat bars were starting pitchers, I ate the entire rotation this afternoon. I just can’t help myself; they’re so darn tasty and chocolaty!

Meanwhile, have you any idea that nine of the past 10 teams to win Game 3 –with the World Series tied 1-1– have gone on to win the series?

The lone exception being the 2003 Yankees, who lost three straight against the Florida Marlins.

How do I know Andy Pettitte is a future HOF? His 17 postseason wins is the MLB-record. The guy’s in, believe me.

Chase Utley went 0-for-4 ending his amazing streak of reaching base safely in 27-straight postseason games.

That’s big-time people, and a feat much more deserving than the barely noticeable attention its receiving from the media.

With NY up 2-1, I’d rest CC another day instead of throwing him again Sunday. Pitchers don’t fare well on three-days rest, at least historically speaking.

Sabathia, on the other hand, has been an exception to the rule on short rest, but why hurry him back to the bump if you don’t have to?

Phils appear doomed without Cliff Lee. So is J-Roll’s Phillies-in-five prediction.

They have to take Game 4; it’s a must-win. No way Philly takes three straight and the final two games at New York.

Gimmie a break if you think otherwise.

The best owners in pro sports are the ones who sit back and sign the checks.

They stay out of the petty day-to-day matters better suited for the front office, they let coaches coach, and above all else, they defer player personal decision to well, the personnel staff.

It’s a simple concept, really. Let the people beneath you do their jobs. If that someone can’t get the job done you find someone else, someone better, and you put them to work for you.

Yet this often successful method of pro sports management, one which appears simple from afar, is just too hard for most owners to follow.

It’s a balancing act for sure, not offering up too much, and not too little, either.

But typically, it’s those Type-A personalities that take over…and when they do, all hell breaks lose, especially in the loss column.

New Cubs owner Tom Ricketts told the Fox Business Network’s David Asman he doesn’t envision himself as the next George Steinbrenner, a man who defines what it means to be a hands-on owner.

“I don’t think an active owner in the Steinbrenner model is the way we see ourselves, or the way I see myself,” Ricketts said.

For Cubs faithful, this is a good omen. Ricketts doesn’t have, nor needs to spend the millions of dollars ol’ Gorgy boy spent digging himself out of stupid player personnel moves.

Had the boss man simply signed the checks and removed himself from the everyday duties of GM Brian Cashman, it’s likely the Yanks’ dynasty continues long past its last championship season in 2000.

In Ricketts’ case as a new owner, however, it is necessary for him to act Steinbrenner-like this offseason.

He should stick his nose in the employee’s business, find out what stinks, give final decisions and make damn sure his money isn’t going to waste.

I’m sure Ricketts’ fan-side, the one in the bleachers and not the three-piece suit, understands just how close the Cubs are to a championship ring. Heck, all Cubs fans know the team’s close, painfully close for that matter.

Yet, we can only hope Ricketts’ owner-side realizes this too, his understanding that overseeing the organization and signing the checks will do.

The scene is all too familiar.

Mariano closing out another Yankees’ World Series win followed by Frank Sinatra’s New York, New York blasting in the background at Yankee Stadium.

If anything, that moment pretty much defines my childhood memories of the Fall Classic: Yankees win, Yankees win…thaaa Yankees win!

Yet despite the Yankees’ five-year World Series drought, the final act during tonight’s game seems to have taken place every year since…even though it hasn’t, of course. Repetition, however, can have that affect…good or bad.

In this case it’s a classic ending for New York fans, no doubt, but one I’ve seen enough of personally.

What I wouldn’t give to hear Go Cubs Go play just once after a World Series win at Wrigley Field…and all the better if the Yankees are in town.

Cliff Lee is the Yankees’ daddy.

The southpaw was simply spectacular in Game 1: nine innings, 122 pitches -80 for strikes- and just 32 batters faced, a mere five more than the minimum 27.

Lee’s been a Yankees killer throughout his career, too. The Bombers entered the game batting a meek .197 all-time against the left-hander, and it showed Wednesday night.

The lone Yankee exception is Derek Jeter who’s found some measure of career success against Lee batting 11-for-27 entering Game 1 of the World Series.

Jeter, in fact, improved on his mark with three hits, two singles and a double, not that it mattered much on the scoreboard.

It’s likely Lee gets two more starts in the series. And if the Yanks can’t figure Lee out in at least one of those starts, Philadelphia repeats as world champions with Lee earning the series MVP Award.

Who’s your daddy now New York!

In baseball, winning starts at the top and trickles down.

So it’s somewhat embarrassing the Cubs haven’t had a top-dog at the helm for more than two years.

Thankfully, however, that’s history with the officially announcement of Tom Ricketts as the club’s new owner.

His first order of business should be ridding the team of Milton Bradley followed by an open-pocket book during this winter’s free-agent period.

Once that’s completed there’s the refurbishing of Wrigley Field and the ever continuous pursuit of the team’s first championship in 101-years.

It’s a tall order for sure, but heavy is the head that wears the crown.