August 4, 1908: Cubs lose a tough one ... Get ready for the emotional roller coaster! Also, fashio

The Cubs fell apart in the 7th inning and eventually lose to Philadelphia 4-2. Also, injuries that happen in the name of fashion and beauty.

The emotional roller coaster is about to start. This is going to probably be the least fun portion of the entire 1908 season. Now ... hopefully you'll stick thru it with me and see how things go down. I'll be all sad and depressed if you stop reading!

But in the spirit of full disclosure, the awesome run of victories will start on August 17th, so if you wanna be a fair-weather fan and only like reading about wins, then that's the date to put into your calendar. In the meantime, those of us that bleed Cubbie blue will be right here learning about the journey, and we will feel WAY more vindicated in the end because we stuck with the Cubs through good times AND bad!

Have I guilted you enough into staying here with me? Yes? Great! (Editor's note: I swear I will at least be mildly entertaining on a semi-regular basis throughout the losing streak. Bank on it!)

Today the Cubs looked like they were cruising to an easy victory, up 2-0 in the seventh with pitcher Ed Reulbach mowing down the Phillies lineup. However, luck was not on the Cubs' side in the 7th. Sherry Magee led off the inning with a single, and in Cubs' catcher Johnny Kling's obsession to catch him stealing, called for two straight pitch-outs that eventually led to a walk for the batter Kitty Bransfield. (Side note: So we get both a Sherry and a Kitty this inning? I swear this has a "League of Their Own" feel to it already!)

(You know the line ... I won't type it)

Fred Osborne batted next (OK ... that's definitely not a woman's name) and snuck in a bunt single that surprised the entire Cubs defense. Mickey Doolin then laced a double down the first base line that cleared the bases. The Phillies probably would've scored even more in the inning, but Joe Tinker made a spectacular diving play on a line drive that led to a double play that ended the inning.

That said, the damage was done and the Cubs lost 4-2. They had their chances throughout the game ... stranding a runner on third in four of the first five innings, as well as having another runner cut down at the plate. Also, a Jimmy Sheckard error in the 4th helped give the Phillies their first run of the game.

Really the only silver lining for the Cubs is that Johnny Evers got hosed on a close call by umpire Frank Rudderham and kept his cool and didn't get thrown out of the game. Looks like the $60 suit bribe from Frank Chance is working! (Get that full story here)

In other news, have you ever suffered an injury in the name of fashion and/or beauty? My female readers in particular probably know EXACTLY what I'm talking about ... a chemical peel gone wrong, poking yourself in the cornea while applying eyeliner, dealing with the painful evil of underwire bras, etc. etc.

But it's not just women who can suffer one of these injuries ... I've been there too! You see, a couple years ago I went to the doctor because my "man area" was sore. And at 40 years old, your mind starts freaking out with things like "Oh my God ... this is it. I have testicular cancer. I'm gonna die!" So now I'm a nervous wreck and I go to the doctor to see what's going on.

And guess what it was? Skinny jeans! My wife had bought me a pair of tighter-fitting jeans, since they were in style, and they were squeezing my testicles too much and causing me to have soreness. I'm not making this up ... Skinny jeans made me think I was dying! (By the way, is this TMI? Probably, but it's too late now!)

Anyway, in 1908 the leader of Germany, Kaiser Wilhelm II had a very distinctive and fancy mustache. Here it is ...

That looks itchy

But on this day, the Kaiser accidentally burned off a portion of his trademark 'stache. I have no idea what he was doing, but it forced him to have to even the thing out to a much more traditional mustache. And not only that, but since it was his iconic look, he had issues with people not believing we has the Kaiser because they expected to see his signature 'stache. Beauty emergency!

Here's the damage ...

My beautiful mustache ... NOOOOO!!!!

In summary, the Cubs loss puts them at 56-38 on the year. Pittsburgh also lost, so the deficit remains at a game and a half, but New York won, so the Cubs actually drop to third place on the day. Game three of four against the Phillies is tomorrow.