It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops. -- A. Bartlett Giamatti, "The Green Fields of the Mind"
Normally, I end my final game recap of a baseball season with Bart Giamatti's words, but this afternoon, as, perhaps not coincidentally, one of those fall chill rains is falling gently in Chicago, it seems more appropriate to begin with them. Let me attempt to put into words the stunning collapse of the team we just knew was going to be the one to win it all.
Usually, one of my game recaps includes a link to the boxscore of the game. Why bother? You all saw it, and you don't need me to tell you or remind you of the series' last game, which, although the score was closer, the Cubs didn't appear to be there, just as they barely showed up for games one and two. Neither did I read any of the local sports pages' articles or columns about the disaster -- and having heard that they were filled with remarks about goats and black cats and curses, I'm glad I didn't. To mention those, I think, is lame and weak and doesn't address the facts.
Which are: it is, even now, a sunrise later, hard to believe that the team we saw all summer, the one that put up the best record in the National League and the team that was, most likely, the best Cub team in three generations, looked like the Dusty Baker-led clown squad that stunk the joint out at the end of 2006. How does this happen? How does a team that looked so good for six months look so bad for three days? Even during their losing streaks of four (in June) and six (in August and September), they didn't look this bad.
Perhaps part of the answer can be found in this New York Times article, one I could read because it was more dispassionate, coming from a source outside of Chicago. Tyler Kepner, the writer, quotes Derrek Lee:
"No question, there’s a larger weight in Chicago," Lee said after the Cubs were swept from the playoffs for the second year in a row. "I hate to call it pressure, because it’s hard to put more pressure on us than we put on ourselves. But you can feel it in the city. They want it bad. It’s understandable. But it’s all about how you perform on the field."
And quotes Mark DeRosa:
"You read about it every day, the 100 years," DeRosa said. "You know about it. Every guy who signs here wants to be part of the team that gets it done. You look at what happened — if I turn a double play, it changes the complexion of Game 2. It’s one of those things; I don’t know. I’m just in shock that this is the end."
"Every guy who signs here wants to be part of the team that gets it done."
That, in one sentence, may be the biggest part of the problem. They put too much pressure on themselves; someone posted here the other day that the 2004 Red Sox, who finally broke that team's long drought (and they've now won twice and have a chance to do it again), called themselves "idiots" as if they didn't care about all the history -- and then they played like it, playing for the moment only, even as they had to win four straight elimination games to even make it to the World Series, then four more in a row to sweep it.
Maybe that's what future Cub teams have to do -- NOT care so much. Play loose, as the Dodgers did. The tightness in each Cub performance showed in pretty much every at-bat and pitch that happened after James Loney's grand slam, and to some extent even before. Don't blame the fans -- we have been here long before today's players were born, and will be here long after they are retired. "Cowboy Up", as those '04 Red Sox said, take the blame -- as Kerry Wood did in '03 -- and next year, get it done.
In the meantime, this feeling is different than 2003 or 2007. In '03, that team roared through September and its first nine postseason games, bringing us to the brink, but they were playing over their heads. Last year's elimination came so fast after a breathless chase to even get there, that we barely had time to be upset, much less angry.
This one makes me angry. This team was the one that was "different", that felt right, that set records and accomplished feats that hadn't been done in decades. And not only do they go out early, they go out with barely a whimper. Maybe what I wrote above has something to do with it, that they put too much pressure on themselves, and the weight of the 100 years does affect them on the field. Thinking about it intellectually, it shouldn't. But intellect and statistical prowess can't always stop things from gnawing into your head -- you surely know this in your own lives, and a professional athlete, highly trained though he may be, is a human being, subject to the same thoughts and feelings as the rest of us. And if you are thinking, "Hey, this was a great season with lots of great things to remember!" -- well, yes and no. Sure, there are a lot of 2008 games that will always carry wonderful memories for me, from Z's no-hitter to A-Ram's walkoff vs. the White Sox to Soto's 9th-inning tying HR to the division clincher.
But the 2008 season -- SEASON, not individual games -- was a failure.
Will I quit? Hell no; I'm a Cubs fan. That's how I grew up; if you're my age or older you have many of these shared disasters, now all of us have 2008. When last night's game ended I took off my division champions T-shirt, that I had been wearing for whatever luck or mojo it could contribute (sure, I know it can't really affect players 2000 miles away), but why not? -- and tossed it in the trash.
I'll recover it, of course. Anger will fade, as will the feelings of "it's NEVER gonna happen", to sarcastically paraphrase the sign that's been all over Wrigleyville the last couple of years. I don't really have the stomach to watch a lot of what's left of the postseason, though I may catch a game or three before it's over. In normal times I'd probably have deleted 2/3 of the posts all of you have made, but under the circumstances I'm leaving all of them; I figure you all need the catharsis (as one was titled) and to let out your emotions. It's way too early to talk about how to retool this team for '09 -- and yes, it does need changing, just as every team does, including whichever one is the last one standing this year -- but keep this in mind: what do you do to "retool" a team that blew through the regular season so easily, leading the league in virtually every important stat category? What do you add to it (or subtract from it) so that the team that does enough to get into the postseason is strong enough (physically and emotionally) to win eleven games in October?
I don't think any of us knows that answer. Hell, Jim Hendry probably doesn't know the answer, or he'd have done it and I wouldn't be writing these words today.
I have, sadly, a funeral to attend tomorrow (not for the team, though that'd be appropriate, too), and so I may be scarce for a couple of days. If any of you wishes to start a discussion thread for any of the remaining division series days, go ahead.
And keep the faith. We are Cubs fans. We hope, someday, that our turn will come, while we still inhabit the Earth.
0 recs | 602 comments
Very sad year..
sigh..
ronsanto10 - October 5, 2008
urgh
derv - October 5, 2008
Well...
I don’t think I’ll be able to watch much more of the postseason. For the past few days I have had this really bad taste in my mouth that won’t go away.
Gosh, it really seemed like this year was going to be different. It just really did.
TyCubsfan - October 5, 2008
Yup, the rest of the postseason
seems pretty darn insignificant.
Actually, I worry the offseason will feel that way, too.
Brett Taylor - October 6, 2008
Enh
I may not care anymore.
flyingdonut - October 5, 2008
Thank you Al
This site kept me going all year. I have no Cubs fans to talk to in NY/CT. This site has helped me become a more knowledgeable, excited Cubs fan and for the first time I really felt like I was part of the Cub Fan Base.
I’m taking a few weeks off from coming on here though. I’m baseballed out.
Thanks again Al for all your hard work on here this season.
ak123 - October 5, 2008
+1 Yes Al thanks so much for your hard work and dedication to this site which has allowed us to cheer, fight , bitch and moan about this team we love.
alabebo - October 5, 2008
I'm in ct too
And I’m Suffering
questdoc - October 6, 2008
+1000
It’s very selfless of you to give your time and share your experience and insight with us. No matter if we’re new to the Cubs & new to the site or are seasoned Cubs fans & site contributors, we all learn from you and certain other contributors (SWL, Emelie, etc.) on a daily basis.
See you in March.
lostinthevines - October 6, 2008
Embarassing...
the only consolation is that the Brewers just lost too. But I really couldn’t care less about the playoffs now.
RynoHoF - October 5, 2008
Now that I don't get.
I truly LOVE baseball and I am really looking forward to watching the rest of the post season. I guess I was the only Cub fan after the
03 disaster to watch and cheer hard for the Marlins. Dodgers/Phillies is tough for me as overall I like the Phillies but as long as certain party is on the Dodgers I will root for them ( except when the play the Cubs). I actually still like the Red Sox A LOT but will have to root for Tampa Bay for the underdog in me. Baseball is wonderful game and I will watch till the end of the season ( except in years when Cardinals play the White Sox).
Doggie Stalker - October 5, 2008
I love baseball too, as you know, Jessica.
There’s no way I could root for the Dodgers. I have no particular favorite remaining, although I’d kind of like to see the Rays make it — that’d be a nice story.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
Do you dislike the Dodgers
generally ( which I would understand as I would if they did not have you know who) or angry at the loss ? Part of me thinks
if the Dodgers dominate the Cubs don’t look as bad but not much consolation.
Doggie Stalker - October 5, 2008
A litle bit of both.
Don’t care for Manny’s antics (though he’s a hell of a hitter) and Ethier’s an ass.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
Manny is BAD
I used to enjoy his “antics” till he pushed the traveling secretary to the ground and used the Boras playbook to get traded.
What is the deal with Either. I recall something on BCB about his being rude to fans. FYI Penny is an ASS but he is not n the roster, Kent is a bigger ass but he is only a pinch hitter. I like Lowe, Martin and certain future HOFer a lot.
Doggie Stalker - October 5, 2008
apparently he's club house cancer, too
according to my bro’. He said Boston was glad to see him go, “don’t let the door hit you on the way out.” He’s an impressive athlete, though.
Emelie - October 5, 2008
Scott Boras had a lot to do with the Manny/Red Sox divorce...
…there’s a Bill Simmons article that provides a lot of insight into what happened.
NotSure - October 5, 2008
"Manny Being Manipulated"
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=manny
madcow256 - October 6, 2008
thanks for the link... I'll share it with bro'
Emelie - October 6, 2008
I think "club house cancer" ...is overrated
when it comes to winning and losing….in fact a team maay need some a$$ holes like that to “destroy” the opponent
kcjones - October 5, 2008
I Know the Rays
rise from laughing stock to possible champions is a great story but I cannot bring myself to root for another expansion team to win it all before our beloved Cubs. I must pull for the team that beat us; a team with as storied and long a history as ours. Go Dodgers. We’ll get ’em next year Al.
Luigi - October 5, 2008
I'm getting my
Center Ice Package ready. I’ll only watch baseball when I have to report a score. It’s dead to me.
I don’t dislike the Dodgers. Joe Torre almost sounded apologetic in the LA Times today. He’s a class act. Dick Williams, Jack McKeon — two guys that wanted to kill the Cubs.
San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - October 5, 2008
Torre is a class act, yes.
Wish I could say the same for some of his players. Or their fans.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
Careful, there
Remember how much we disliked it when Brennaman dissed us.
mattvegas - October 6, 2008
From a baseball fan perspective
It will still be interested in it turns into Dodgers/Red Sox World Series. I’d be very interested to see the reception Manny gets at Fenway.
ak123 - October 5, 2008
I can't write sentences
*I will still be interested if it turns into a Dodgers/Red Sox World Series.
ak123 - October 5, 2008
I hope Fox gets Phillies/Rays.
It’d serve ’em right.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
In all seriousness
That’d be the games I’d be prone to watching.
chilango2 - October 5, 2008
And I need some grammar lessons
“That be the SERIES I would most likely watch.”
chilango2 - October 5, 2008
I think thatd be a great series though
Longoria, Kazmir, Hamels, Howard, Utley, Rollins….thatd be exciting, bad for their ratings Im sure, but exciting
bren - October 5, 2008
True.
Good for serious baseball fans, bad for casual fans that the networks count on for ratings.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
And, that seems the only possible outcome
With the Rays winning, giving a title to another (Florida) fan base that couldn’t find their home ball park unless they had a map.
San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - October 5, 2008
And as a bonus,
numerous references to the fact that Lou Piniella used to manage the Rays and now here they are in the World Series while he watches from home. You can count on that.
Goodie1969 - October 5, 2008
Probably because they won no more than 70 games in 10 years...
…they are easily selling out playoff games now…
NotSure - October 5, 2008
12 hours ago...
I wouldda said Brewers / Rays…
kcjones - October 5, 2008
Hey, don't forget...
…the Atlanta Braves won 14 of 16 division titles and mad it to the World Series only ONCE (1995). Talk about major frustration! The Cubs have a long way to go to match that string of futility.
ronsanto10 - October 5, 2008
That's not futility.
That’s success. The Pirates? THAT’S futility.
I would really enjoy a run like the Braves had. I know we’re all supposed to be fixated on the World Series because that’s what our Great Media Overloards keep telling up – it’s been dawning on me that it really wouldn’t make me feel any better or worse about things if the Cubs had won the Series in ‘45 or pretty much any year prior to about 1990 or so (I was born in 1981). The 100-years monkey is someone else’s problem.
So my focus – the direction I want the Cubs to go in – is in building a dynasty like that. I’d love a World Series win along the way, but the Yankees have shown us that you can’t just go out and buy one. Let’s run off another three straight playoff seasons (easier said than done as well) and see where that takes us.
cwyers - October 5, 2008
That'd be a good start.
Actually, thinking about it now, 2007 and 2008 are already a good start. Two playoff appearances in a row — NEITHER Chicago team had done that in 100 years. For the Cubs to have that, presumably, is a good base to build on.
As the Dodgers just proved, get in and anything can happen.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
Exactly
for an even more recent example, look at those Cardinals teams of the early 2000’s. Seemed like they were favored in the playoffs most years and then went expectations were the lowest, they won the World Series.
I’d rather have the Cubs making it to the playoffs and falling short than not getting there at all. Because sooner or later, it will happen.
Bill Potter - October 5, 2008
Our foundation is there, yes, Colin.
We have enough veterans that aren’t really “old” veterans that we can breed a group of young guys (Blanco—>Soto, maybe Lee—>Micah?), yet still stay competitive for years to come. But unlike you, I’m more than thirsty for all of it.
Dan
dtpollitt - October 5, 2008
Been thinking along the same lines....
all weekend, cwyers. As bad as this feels, hopefully this is the start of a string of successful seasons. Obviously a WS ring is the ultimate goal, but you have to start somewhere.
It would be great to go into every season with a sense that you were “the team to beat” in the Division and perhaps the league. With the feeling that you might only be a player or two away from making some real noise in the playoffs, and knowing you have the GM and owner ship to go out and get them.
I will certainly take a string of seasons like the 1990’s Braves. Just hoping we have a little more success in the WS.
Tangled Up In Blue - October 6, 2008
LSA.
I totally agree. Give me winning seasons. Give me a team that’s in contention – every year. Give me regular playoff appearances. Sooner or later the pieces will fall into place.
daver - October 6, 2008
Agreed
The Yankees of the past decade show that as well. You just need to be in contention for a string of years. The playoffs are a crapshoot, so no group of players can ever guarantee that you’ll win, but if you can just get in there, eventually it will happen.
epcub - October 6, 2008
they made the WS multiple times, they only won it the once
philadelphiacub - October 5, 2008
Actuaally...they madde it tto a few series....
the only WON the world series once….I believe they won the 95 series, lost to the yankess in 96 and 99…lost to the Blue Jays in 92,
kcjones - October 5, 2008
I think George Costanza said it best:
“I don’t want hope. Hope is killing me. My dream is to become hopeless. When you’re hopeless you don’t care. And when you don’t care, that indifference makes you attractive.”
(BTW my wish is for a Dodgers/Red Sox WS with the Sox proving to Manny that he was mere baggage, and then taking home their third ring at his expense…)
Goodie1969 - October 5, 2008
If "mere baggage" gets the Dodgers to the Series
Then I hope the Cubs can pick up some of it next year.
madcow256 - October 6, 2008
well...this post made me cry.
A 38 year old man crying over baseball. I just don’t know if it is worth it anymore.
derv - October 5, 2008
Please give your wife our best thoughts and wishes!
CaliCub - October 5, 2008
still a Cubs fan, but ...
Great write up, Al. You explained it perfectly.
I’m 28 years old. I started watching the Cubs in the ‘89 playoffs, spent a good bit of the ’90s watching Harry and Steve on WGN. I wasn’t quite as obsessed while I was in college, but that was from ‘98-’02. Aside from the Wild Card team, there wasn’t much to watch.
For the past five years, the Cubs have been a huge part of my life. The ’07 team got me through a tough year personally. I was in Cincinnati the night they clinched.
I moved to Chicago this year. I was literally driving to town when Sheets faced Zambrano on Opening Day. I rented a place on Sheffield, two blocks from the park. The season got me through adjusting to a new city, a new job, a new life. Even on the hard days, I could watch Len and Bob.
But now …
I will always be a Cubs fan. I will always care what happens to this team. But the events of the past week have taken my fandom down several notches. I’m tired of so much of my personal happiness revolving around 25 men whom I have no control over.
I don’t believe in the curse, I believe the Cubs will one day win it all. I will cheer for them up until then and cry like a baby when they do. But my emotional well being WILL NOT hang on this team anymore. Just can’t do it.
What I’m saying is the Cubs will always be a part of my life. But after the sweep, they’re about to be a much smaller part. And, no, I won’t change my tune by the spring. And no, I don’t consider myself to be fair-weather or a quitter.
You do great work, Al. Love your site. But I doubt I’ll be visiting it as much in the future.
elgato - October 5, 2008
You may change your tune by spring.
… I had some of those feelings myself after last night. If you put baseball aside for a while, I suspect you’ll hear it — and the Cubs — calling your name in the spring.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
what I'm saying
Is that the Cubs just went from being the equivalent of my girlfriend to being like my former girlfriend whom I’m still good friends with.
I love the Cubs, and I always will. But I’m not IN LOVE with the Cubs.
elgato - October 5, 2008
I see what you mean.
Nevertheless, that former GF may come knocking at your door come spring and say she wants you back.
You loved her. You gonna say no?
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
yeah, probably
This hurts too much. Don’t think I can get over it to that point.
elgato - October 5, 2008
Give it time.
I see you’re still here. Give it time.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
good point
We’ll see. In any event, you’re a real service to Cubs fans, Al. Please keep it up.
elgato - October 5, 2008
Thanks.
You’re a valued contributor to this site.
Plus, if you’re still living two blocks from Wrigley… I suspect you’ll feel the pull next spring.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
The Cubs, to me, are much more than a girlfriend.
It’s in my blood, from the day I was born, and no matter what I do, I cannot and will not escape it.
Chad (SWL) told me the other day, “The sun will still rise tomorrow.” He’s right, but I’ll feel empty, drag on, and won’t enjoy the sunrise until the Cubs are back, better than ever. Until then, I can only look back on what we accomplished, what we failed to do, and how we can improve on the future.
Dan
dtpollitt - October 5, 2008
Yup
Give me some time off to grieve and get my fall and holiday work done; I’ll come back ’round about Convention time.
NWIowaCubFan - October 5, 2008
I am quite jaded as well but I'm guessing
later I will feel pretty much like this:
Goodie1969 - October 5, 2008
Yeah, you got that right.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
that's just the thing
I’m ready to live for other things MORE.
elgato - October 5, 2008
Al Yellon Gets My MVP Vote
This site is so genuinely human, so chock full of the joys and sorrows only a Cubs/baseball fan can understand, that it’s the best in the land. At no time has it ever become bogged down in statistical smugness or driven by a bitter, contrarian agenda. Not once has it dumbed things down for the sake of the LCD. And much of that has to do with our own Peerless Leader.
A lesser site would have gone off on a self-satisfied “told ya so” manifesto or posted an image of Jim Hendry being hung in effigy. Worse yet, a lesser site would have deleted all the bile in favor of an insincere “we luv ya Cubbies, get ’em next year” that would have been a slap in the face to its participants. Instead, BCB and Al has acknowledged and embraced the agony all of us feel right now. It’s as necessary to do as reveling in the good feelings and proud proclamations of a mere ten days ago.
I’ll say it again – if you want the best in Cubs info and a place to hang with fans as passionate and as steeped in team history as yourself, go nowhere else other than this li’l ol’ corner of the Interwebs.
CaliCub - October 5, 2008
Thanks for the kind words.
Much appreciated.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
2d that
Al gets my MVP as well.
wccubfan - October 5, 2008
this one deserves to go green
Emelie - October 5, 2008
truer words never been spoken
great post CaliCub
Gibbon Jockey - October 5, 2008
Amen!
I visit several Cubs sites, but this is my favorite. You do great work, Al!
deutschegirl67 - October 5, 2008
Thanks again to all of you!
Gotta get off the computer for a while. Enough for now.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
agree
This is the site, other sites do not compare
Grockcubs - October 5, 2008
I don't suppose
your name has anything to do with Stranger in a Strange Land?
epcub - October 6, 2008
that was spelled grok....
Grok?
zevkalman - October 7, 2008
Thanks Al, and everyone
This has been a great place to be for the past two years. I used to only read, then last year decided I wanted to join in and Al kindly e-mailed me a new password since I had forgotten it. I’m far away from Chicago now, but reading Al and the other posts is the next best thing to sitting at Wrigley talking to other fans. You’ve created a nice little community here, and I appreciate it. This morning I took my Cub flag off the front porch, folded it up and shed a few tears. I’m washing all my t-shirts and my lucky crocs—they’ll be ready in the Spring!
mlern - October 5, 2008
Al, I can't really elaborate on what's been said in response to CaliCub's post because it's all already been said
I am really grateful for the fun I’ve had on here that couldn’t have happened without you running the place as well as you have. I am also grateful for the fellow Cub fans on here who have shared a great season with me. It truly made the season a lot more fun than it would have been otherwise to get to talk to real Cub fans.
As for the recently completed NLDS, I have one word that sums up my feelings.
SOB!! (The crying kind that is, not the cursing kind).
I’ll look forward to sharing more Cubs moments (and Cubbie occurrences) with you all.
Cubfansince1957 - October 5, 2008
Thanks from me also
I read here more than post, but I am so glad to have this community to come to. Thanks to AL and everyone who makes this the wonderful place it is.
Kimanism - October 5, 2008
Al
I agree. This site is so well run, that I was actually a bit shocked to learn about the “other” BCB and the vile things that go on there. When I was new to this site, I thought that all the SBNation blogs were run this way — not so, and it’s been a lot of fun to participate.
I don’t know that I will be as active on here next year. Part of that is the emotion of the last week, part of it is the realization that I do need to put a little less emphasis on, as someone said, 25 men over whose actions I have no control.
I’ll always be a Cubs fan, and I suspect that I’ll continue to actively enjoy this site — even if I do dial it down a bit.
Thanks for the good reading, entertainment and the comaradarie that the site promotes.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
shanghai I do hope that's not true
that you will be less active. I understand how you feel but we need you here come hell and high water.
Emelie - October 5, 2008
hey shanghai
i hope you come back also!
zevkalman - October 5, 2008
BTW
Your sig line is, sadly, perfect.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
Please stay around.
I’ve enjoyed your posts and yuo have helped make it feel like family in here.
sue369 - October 5, 2008
Oh, I'm not going away - at least not yet!
And thanks to you, Em and zev for the nice words.
I suspect I’ll be a bit less active in game threads, though — not because I don’t enjoy talking with all of you, but because I think that I allowed myself to get too distracted from other things.
Naw, this site’s too much fun to walk away from.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
Shang...
…first Michigan, then Ohio State, now Cubs. And next week…Penn State. It’s going to be a horrible year.
dtpollitt - October 5, 2008
GO BEARS
kcjones - October 5, 2008
I know it
What a disappointment. I knew they were overrated at #8, but thought they could be a top-15 team. No chance now.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
hey, it's almost basketball and hockey season!!
stadiumguru - October 5, 2008
yeah you better stay...or well, you don't want to know the other option..
aight i’ll tell you…its more frank tv commercials!
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
hey man it could be worse,
I could have given you the option of constant Viagra//Cialis (aka “look there are bathtubs in the middle of nowhere, lets have sex in them!”) commercials
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
Yeah, good point.
I might be older than you, but not that old….
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
hahaha!!
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
hee
sue369 - October 6, 2008
You brought a lot to the party
just with that one post, CaliCub. Nice work, and I couldn’t agree more.
Al, this site is the best, and your elegy today almost moved me to tears.
Since 1971, when I attended my first game (Paul Popovich grand slam, I believe, and the Cubs beat the Cardinals), the Cubs have been involved in the longest love affair of my life. I just wish that once in a while, in October, the Cubs would love me back.
Not Bruce Froemming - October 5, 2008
Al - I have to agree on the MVP vote...
I used to belong to another blog-type site for a hobby I have which is not sports-related, and I have to tell you that I have all but abandoned that other site in favor of this one.
I used to only read here for the last year-plus, so although as someone else said of me last night, I don’t feel I am a “Johnny come lately” particularly because everyone here makes you feel welcome and like a part of the family.
I have found a new favorite hobby – being able to sit and watch a Cubs game with my laptop and feel like I am in a room with 200+ other hard-core Cub fans watching the game. It sharpens your mind, wit, and baseball knowledge in general.
Thank you once again for the experience – and for making me cry. I feel better now, and next year will be here before we know it.
Going to the Blackhawks game now – so I will see you guys later.
derv - October 5, 2008
Agreed
I’m a noob here, but I’ll be back. I love the people here, and I enjoy reading Al’s eloquent, passionate, and funny posts and recaps during the next season. I enjoyed myself here in ‘08 and I can’t wait to enjoy games here in ’09.
spoiledcubbage - October 5, 2008
+1
ketchup on a dog??!! But really, echo your sentiments. Myself, living far from Chicago, this is a community, a place where i feel comfortable. Great post from my Socal Cubfan Bro!
daily2b - October 5, 2008
+1
Used to read another blog…got tired of the negativity and “holier than thou” smugness. It was great to find BCB and enjoy following the season with lots of other down to earth diehards.
RIOTSHIRTS.com - October 5, 2008
I used to post on the Cubs.com board which is TERRIBLY run
plus it is very unorganized and confusing now. I like this blog much more!
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
This was my first season
with BCB and this site made the season even more enjoyable than it would have been otherwise. I live out of state, so there are not too many Cub fans around to enjoy the team with.
Despite the ending, thank you all for this wonderful season. Al, your ability to bring reason and withstand the emotional roller-coaster (seemingly at least) makes it a joy to read your recaps on a daily basis.
gwood - October 5, 2008
Absolutely positively
I agree with your sentiments. I recently checked out some other Cubs blogs and was pretty disappointed in both the content and the maturity of the posts. This is the best, and I appreciate all you guys/girls who are a part of this community even though I wouldn’t be able to pick any of you out in a crowd. Even now, only two days removed from hell, I feel better and come January I will be looking to book a flight to Sky Harbor for you know what.
epcub - October 6, 2008
My Group Is Already Planning for Mesa Next March
Usually we stay at the Dobson Ranch, which is where the team stays. They have a great package – room, full breakfast, free newspaper, and tix to HoHoKam.
CaliCub - October 6, 2008
BIGGEST DISSAPOINTMENT
would be a major understatement! I’m sure I’m still in shock. this season was for me a bigger dissapointment than the 1984 NLCS. I work at a burn plant (we burn garbage to make steam and electricity) and seriously considered burning all my cubs stuff. Thats how bad I feel. I probably wont though,and just wait for another dissapointing next year.
UTCUBS - October 5, 2008
I'm glad...
…Lee had the honesty to say there is additional weight playing with the Cubs, because we are dealing with human beings, not robots.
I mentioned before, it will take a “unique” group of players to get over this hump (similar to the Red Sox in 04). With this said, players feed off of each other and the first task should be to make the necessary changes with this in mind. If the team is constructed in a way where each position in the order has the skills to do what their spot in the order is designed to do, it will help to alleviate some of the pressing when certain players try and do too much.
In the playoffs especially, you need to be constructed to apply constant pressure to the other club, and if you don’t, they will be the one applying it to you – see 07 and 08 playoff results.
MPH73 - October 5, 2008
Right.
Clearly, this collection of players has talent and ability — they wouldn’t have dominated the NL all year if they didn’t.
They needed the mental toughness to get past the next obstacle. They didn’t have it. Can this group get it? Maybe. Or, more likely, they need a couple of key additions to make it that “unique” group that can end the drought.
The good news appears to be, that once the drought DOES end, the next group of players in (Red Sox, I’m referring to) doesn’t seem to have the same set of problems.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
I would argue...
…the 84 Cubs team hurdled a huge obstacle by being the first Cubs team in 39 years to make the playoffs. They also heard about the long drought, 69 Cubs and all that other crap on a day to day basis. Also, look at what they did to the 69 Cubs memesis (the Mets), they manhandled the Mets when it counted and they had a talented club.
That 84 team two important ingrediants this team doesn’t – a constant spark at the top of the lineup and leaders who I think rubbed off on other players in a positive way (Matthews is biggest example). That club also competed hard in the playoffs and although they lost in gut wrenching fashion, they constantly battled, where this club didn’t.
It won’t take a lot of changes to get this club playoff ready, but it will take the right ones.
MPH73 - October 5, 2008
It's too early to talk about this, in my opinion...
…but I have a hard time truly feeling out our needs. Some don’t like Soriano, I say it’s not easy to move a $136 million dollar man. We could use a everyday CF or RF or SS, but we did win 97 games with our mix-match of players in those positions.
I feel as if there is an emotional block, not a physical talent one. And that makes no sense to me.
Dan
dtpollitt - October 5, 2008
I don't buy the 100 year thing......
sorry. My guess is that there is more pressure to play in Chicago (and NY, Philly annd Boston, too)…..but the media and fans are tough everywhere. I some ways Cubs should be less pressure than the Yankees because “they do have nothing to lose”
kcjones - October 5, 2008
You're right.
BUT THE PLAYERS DON’T PLAY THAT WAY — that was the point. They shouldn’t put the 100 year pressure on themselves. But they do. They have to NOT do that.
Now, the key question is: “How do you do that?” Get that answer and you’ll be the genius that led the Cubs to the World Championship.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
Too me....that's Lee's on addmission that he's not mentally tough
kcjones - October 5, 2008
Yeah. It sounded like an excuse made in the moment.
Maybe it wasn’t, but that’s how it sounded.
zevkalman - October 5, 2008
You are wrong on this one, sir.
dtpollitt - October 5, 2008
sounded to me
like he was admitting that the pressure may have played a roll. But it didn’t appear to be an admission of lacking mental toughness.
If anything, Lee was the on Cub player who withstood the pressure and performed in this series.
Bill Potter - October 5, 2008
I would agree.
sue369 - October 5, 2008
Disagree....
0 RBI’s
Key error
1 Run scored
kcjones - October 5, 2008
.545 AVG
The one AB that really disappointed me by him was 1st inning game 2
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
that's the one that bothers me, too.
but, when the Cubs’ backs were to the wall in game 3, he was the only one coming through. Well, him and Daryle Ward.
Bill Potter - October 5, 2008
Lee's struggles really were disappointing
Because he really seems like a class act. But there is some truth to what kc said; he wasn’t the guy I wanted up most of this year when the game was on the line.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
And he really is a class act
kcjones - October 5, 2008
Yeah, I think Lee is a great guy
but that’s not why he was offered such a big contract. Right now, it looks like the Cubs are going to be paying $13 mil. for a singles hitter. That’s not what they are paying him for either. Downside of his career? I hope not. That’’s why they have the comeback player award. He’s definitely eligible.
mattvegas - October 6, 2008
RBI's not his fault
When your lead-off hitter goes 1-14…
Curtain Jerker - October 5, 2008
Yes...that was a big parrt of the problem post season....
But he had 1 – 2 hitters on base in front of him all year…he shouldda have like 120+ RBI’s with his OBP in the 3spot
kcjones - October 5, 2008
Lee was mentally tough in 2003, unfortunately
We all remember him coming up in Game 6. For the wrong team, unfortunately. The guy has proven himself in clutch situations.
J.Bo - October 5, 2008
Tune it out.....
MLB needs to see the BIG dropoff from no fans watching the rest of the yyear
kcjones - October 5, 2008
I'm probably going to tune it out...
… but what would that accomplish with MLB? Would they say, “Gee, no one’s watching now that the Cubs are out, we better make sure we have them win next time!”
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
Maybe they'd
Give us better umpires then ;)
You know what stinks most about this one? I have absolutely no way to defend it. I can’t say that it was because of curses, or blown calls, or just that one ball that didn’t carry quite far enough. They just sucked. Sucked in ways that I haven’t seen for years now.
It feels weird to admit that….
Hilary Lee - October 5, 2008
+1000
UTCUBS - October 5, 2008
I don't care how....
just win….and there is NO WAY I ever want to see the Dodgers ever win another game…I fid glee in teh Brewers being how and hope the Sox fans have to go through it tonight……I’m a bitter vindictive a$$ hole right now
kcjones - October 5, 2008
Right now?
;-)
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
No all the time....
just in rare form right now……Just kidding……..Bears looked good today….If Orton wants to show the restb of the world he’s an NFL QB, fine by me……
kcjones - October 5, 2008
Kyle was very
good today.
sue369 - October 5, 2008
NOT TONIGHT!
DrCrawdad - October 5, 2008
aren't there any white sox blogs you can visit to celebrate your victory?
zevkalman - October 5, 2008
Need a tissue?
n/t
DrCrawdad - October 5, 2008
No, I'm happy for you.
Just thought you should be celebrating with your own kind rather than hanging out with us.
What’s up with that? Afraid of going out tonight?
zevkalman - October 5, 2008
Afraid?
Only if Cubbie fans are in the area. They were violent when their team was winning (example 1, example 2), god knows what they’ll be like now after another choke.
DrCrawdad - October 6, 2008
Sad.
Seriously. You know baseball, and you do sometimes make good points, but you come here to provoke reactions. When someone stands up to you, you back away like a typical bully.
What the hell do you expect when you come here spewing your garbage — a welcoming party?
I’ve got plenty of real-life issues to deal with. If all you’ve got going on for yourself is to go to a Cubs blog and comment literally 200X more frequently than you do on a White Sox blog, then say Cubs fans are obessed with the White Sox, I truly pity you and your empty life.
Shanghai Badger - October 6, 2008
Sometimes I wonder why I love you so
Then you come on here, and remind me.
NittanyCub - October 6, 2008
Well put. Very well put.
willie mays hayes' gloves - October 6, 2008
And here I thought it was just a Big 10 conference thing
Shanghai Badger - October 6, 2008
Oh, bully!
So, I’m a bully? I’ve never been accused of being a bully, here or anywhere else that I can remember. And where have I backed down? Jeez, I’ve posted here for years, probably one of the early ones. And I’ve been here in good times and bad for the Sox and Cubs. I’ve stood up to the verbal assaults and answered them in most cases that I am aware of.
You want to consider a bully, perhaps you should look at yourself. You’re the one relentlessly posting the personal digs and taunts.
Regarding my post count here and on the Sox blog, I’ve gone over this time and time and time and time again. I regularly post on 3 Sox discussion groups, Southside Sox not being one of them.
If you don’t like my posts or me personally, here’s a clue…
Ignore me. In fact, please do so since you clearly can not have a discussion w/o resorting to smears, taunts or personal attacks.
DrCrawdad - October 6, 2008
Don't Let Today Get Stuck In Your Craw, Dad
CaliCub - October 6, 2008
Do tell
Seriously. Use that search feature that you pride yourself on, and list the smears, taunts and personal attacks. I’d like to see them, since I don’t remember a lot of them. Frankly, I’ve gone out of my way more than once to say positive things to you. You finally struck a nerve today and I have no regrets about what I typed. Isn’t that what you wanted, anyway?
If you don’t like people attacking you, stop posting on a Cub blog when things go poorly for the Cubs and/or when you want to crow about the White Sox.
Shanghai Badger - October 6, 2008
There you are.
I was afraid you were dead. Or in prison. Or wherever it is where White Sox fans go when they don’t listen to their parole officer.
cwyers - October 5, 2008
First the verbal attack then the physical attack.
That’s the M.O. of Cubbie fans.
Cubbie fans are such wonderful people and so much better than Sox fans!
DrCrawdad - October 5, 2008
You're safe.
Gas money is too expensive these days. It’s not THAT worth it to me.
cwyers - October 5, 2008
Dr. Crawdad's T-Shirt
zevkalman - October 5, 2008
"Don't tell my parents I'm a White Sox fan
they think I am a piano player in a whore house."
DrCrawdad 2007
Weeghman Park - October 5, 2008
Covering my eye sockets.
n/t
DrCrawdad - October 5, 2008
Really...you get off on coming in here and posting your Sox stuff...
and then crying “racist!” when your passive-aggressive shtick starts pissing us off don’t you?
santoswoodenlegs - October 5, 2008
Cry, cry, cry...
Did you cry and whine when I posted positive comments about the Cubs before they got swept?
DrCrawdad - October 5, 2008
LOL...who would? Really....do you have anything other than that to say for yourself?
You’re routine when coming here is….show up when things take a turn for the worse…make veiled insult about fans/team…announce White Sox superiority in whatever topic you happen to be on…flip out the race/bigot card when you finally get someone to respond to you in the manner you were looking for.
santoswoodenlegs - October 5, 2008
I'll call a ...
… bigot a bigot. It’s really not all that uncommon to hear those ignorant, bigoted remarks from Cubbies fans. If that displeases you then too bad.
And for the record, I never mentioned that in this particular discussion. Thanks for playing. Enjoy the off-season!
DrCrawdad - October 5, 2008
Yet.
santoswoodenlegs - October 5, 2008
Seriously Crawdad.
The Cubs lost. The Sox lost. There’s no glory in our city’s losses. You’re a regular poster here – mainly about how much the Cubs suck and the Sox rule – but there really is no glory to be found anywhere in Chicago baseball right now.
Dan
dtpollitt - October 5, 2008
Really? Because I actually feel better when the Sox lose.
Although to be frank it’s only because it pisses Crawdad off. Before I encountered him I really didn’t care about them.
cwyers - October 5, 2008
I received WAY more
nasty messages from Brewers fans last night than I did Sox fans. WAY more.
dtpollitt - October 5, 2008
this is kind of OT:
but I like your profile pic
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
Bartman seat. Had to do it.
dtpollitt - October 5, 2008
hhaha did you just happen to purchase tickets to those seats
or just go by there?
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
Post-game. Seat was marked with a Cubs sticker
a few years ago. They took it off, but it’s easy to figure out.
dtpollitt - October 5, 2008
haha thats neat
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
Not all that surprising.
Did you send them love notes today?
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
Nope.
Stayed above that. I know from here on in we will forever receive claims of the 2008 season from Brewers fans that cite: “WE WERE BETTER THAN YOU IN 2008…AT LEAST WE WON A PLAYOFF GAME!”. But I’ll remember. And know that we were and are better. It’s a new season.
Dan
dtpollitt - October 5, 2008
Yeah, I can't wait for that "1 playoff game" crap
That will be their rallying cry after they lose 1/2 their rotation.
I’ve got friends that are Brewer fans, but man — a good part of their fan base can really be jerks.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
Is aanyone watching the sox???
I heard those games are getting some of the worst ratings ever in MLB post season….
kcjones - October 5, 2008
Sat around Brewer fans at Camp Randall last night
And from their conversation, between 5 of them, I don’t know that they could name 15 players on the active roster.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
After living in Wisconsin for 5 years
most Brewers fans are just a notch above Sox fans in baseball knowledge.
dtpollitt - October 5, 2008
And next year
They may forget about the Brewers again for a year or two.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
hey we won the division two years in a row
-have a better fanbase
-have more fans in Milwaukee than actual brewers fans
-AL didn’t want them so they are now stuck in the NL
-that slide is annoying as hell!
-have fun without CC and Sheets
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
Apparently, CC is leaving the door open....
…to resign with the Brewers next year. See here.
BTW, if we resign Demp, and sign CC, we could just field a good defensive team (Dome and Onedec), and probably win a 100 games next year…
zevkalman - October 5, 2008
sure he says that now
but when the Yanks, Mets, and Cubs come to him with MUCH more money, then…
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
I honestly think Sabathia likes being a Brewer.
And I think they have the money to make a competative offer to him – maybe not quite as much as the NY times, but within the same ballpark. It’s something to keep an eye on.
cwyers - October 5, 2008
I don't see CC becoming a reporter.
santoswoodenlegs - October 5, 2008
Let him....
Cubs hit him hard…I’m worried about Carp coming back
kcjones - October 5, 2008
Carp is DONE
didn’t he have more surgery last month?
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
That's a great one!
DrCrawdad - October 5, 2008
You don't have to believe me.
But lemme tells yah something. Been to see the White Sox several times in person, both the old and new Comiskey (haven’t been back since they renamed it US Cellular.) Have a complete set of trading cards for one of the White Sox teams of the early 90s, can’t recall which year to be precise. Never really hated the Sox. Sure, at some point I stopped LIKING them so much, but never really hated them.
You, on the other hand…
cwyers - October 5, 2008
Wait, what's that?
Holy crap, it’s a 1989 Ozzie Guillen baseball card!
cwyers - October 5, 2008
I wonder what the market rate for that is....
if I have a chance today, I’ll look it up.
zevkalman - October 5, 2008
...
thats from one of the world series commerative books isn’t it?
carlos marmol - October 6, 2008
Think it's the 10th anniversary of the Donruss trading card company.
cwyers - October 6, 2008
But see Colin
the Sox do not matter to many of the local fans. They, as their team, are insignificant. They know that too. That’s why they whine and cry about not getting attention. Their GM does it, their manager does it, some of the players even do it.
It’s really unfortunate a large number of their fans do it too. Because there’s many of them I’ve met over the years at the Cell none-the-less that ARE NOT represented by what you see spewed here.
Frankly I could not give a rats ass what they do 156 games a season. In the playoffs, well who knows maybe they’ll catch lightning in a bottle.
But until the entire organization stops playing the “what about us” card, they will continue to be an afterthought in Chicago.
blackhawk24 - October 6, 2008
Why? Afraid the bile will spill out if you don't?
cwyers - October 5, 2008
I always found this joke humerous:
You know your a White Sox fan when the only day you can take your wife to a game is “Bring your Dog to the Ballpark Day”
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
That joke had
body fluids in it?
mattvegas - October 6, 2008
trailor park...
with a bottle of Jack and carton of Camels.
blackhawk24 - October 6, 2008
If the Dodgers don't win another game
then the Cubs really look lame. Like last year, when they were swept by AZ, who were then swept by Colorado. And Colorado got swept in the Series.
But then, with all due respect to the Dodgers, they didn’t win this series as much as the Cubs handed it to them.
ChipSet - October 5, 2008
The division series is a crapshoot....
I like Philly fans, and I think their team is classy. The Dodgers, OTOH, are just the opposite, and their fans are assholes. I’ve seen many games in that parking lot called Dodger Stadium, and I hope that the Phillies sweep those Hollywood jerks (Lasorda, Manny, and all the rest).
zevkalman - October 5, 2008
You like Philly fans?
Have you been to a Phillies game?
flachimesa - October 5, 2008
Yeah, but not dressed as a Cubs fan :-)
I’ve seen other teams.
zevkalman - October 5, 2008
I hear they can be ruthless
flachimesa - October 5, 2008
I refuse to watch another game until the World Baseball Classic
I am just so tired of the team losing. It won’t help when another team wins the WS in the year that we SHOULD have.
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
And I would like to add
great work with this board Al. It was fun posting on here. can’t wait for next season, i guess..
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
Thanks, Al...
For summarizing the way we all feel.
I live in Indiana, and was gathered with the gang this afternoon at our local saloon watching the Colts make an incredible comeback against Houston. As I was leaving the bar after the Colts game, I noticed that the Budweiser poster with the Cubs 2008 schedule was still hanging on the wall. Without hesitating, I tore it off the wall, ripped it to shreds, and threw the pieces in the trash. That pretty much is my editorial comment on the Cubs 2008 season.
perseman - October 5, 2008
I don't mind the Dodgers as a team but I HATE their fanbase
They are just a bunch of arrogant, bandwagoning pricks. They would boo almost every Cub player (I am sure they were booing when Fonty was injured) and for every pitch called a strike against them they booed. Classless, hell I even think Yankee fans are better..
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
I'm thinkin' that this horrible loss may be the catharsis the players might need....
…this year the players and a lot of fans thought it was the year, and there may have been additional pressure. When they are “resigned” to the fact that they will always choke, maybe that’s when the players begin to take it more easy in the postseason….
….but in the meantime, get Sori out of the damn leadoff spot, and get a good shortstop (I’m not dissing Theriot, I like him, I just want someone with a better range, better arm, and more OPS).
zevkalman - October 5, 2008
I thought LAST YEAR was the catharsis ..
This year was paralysis .. in the postseason .. once more.
I just don’t get this ..
cubnational - October 5, 2008
The hardest part of all this...
Is trying to figure out what the hell can we do next year? Like Al said, you win 97 games and are among the league leaders in every major statistical category, and yet this happens. I’m not giving up hope, and I’m not looking for a drastic blowup of this team. We still have a golden window of opportunity to win with the players we have.
However, I do think that it will be a Cubs team that comes out of nowhere, maybe a young developing future Cubs team like the Rays, or an overachieving Wild Card team that just sneaks into the postseason, that finally wins it all. The pressure and expectations of 100+ years is the curse itself. The fans, the players, we’re all cursed with wanting to win the World Series so damn bad, we let the pressure get to us all.
Someday, we’ll go all the way. Go Cubs.
CubsBullsBears - October 5, 2008
Here's a good reference
St. Louis Cardinals 2004
vs.
St. Louis Cardinals 2006
The team that was the best got swept in the World Series. The team that was barely .500 went all the way and was led by friggin’ Jeff Weaver and Jeff Suppan!
IllinoisCubs - October 5, 2008
so we gotta wait two years??
aww man!
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
This feels so much worse than 1998 or 2003 or 2007
which are the only series I’m old enough to remember. Last year I had the “Pick yerselvs up, this team is ready fer next year!!” attitude. Losing to Livan and Doug Davis (Doug Davis!!) didn’t seem real, it was surreal. I knew we were better than the D-Backs. 2003 I could taste it, the sweet bliss of winning it all, it was right in front of us, ready for the taking. It felt magical, Disney-like almost. It hurt to lose that NLCS, but I felt pride that we got so far, accomplished so much, and were only starting with Wood & Prior’s careers. 1998 I knew we were grossly overmatched, and was just happy to be playing. An anomaly, maybe, but hopeful for the future, yes.
This year, however, I felt as if my expectations were high – but not exuberantly so. We were first in runs, walks, slugging, OBP; we were second in ERA and runs allowed, first in wins, hits, and strikeouts. We were the second best team in baseball, and had eight men selected for the all-star game. No player stood out as the MVP, yet we can all name our favorite contributor – Soto, DeRo, Demp – and each and every man was worthy. We beat good teams and rarely lost to the bad ones – sweeping the Brewers in a four game series, taking six straight from the Braves, sweeping and getting swept by the Sox. Never did this team seem out of control, always in command. Our starter moved to closer, and our closer became our best starter. We traded for our #3, who would be a #1 on any other team. We were in first for 134 days, were 35 games over .500, and only 2 games under it. This team is ripe with age. We are not old like the Yankees, but we are ripe with veterans and proven youngsters. Batters are an average of 30 years of age, and pitchers, 28.9. The most fans ever came out to cheer this 2008 team on – 3,300,200 – and watched this team raise 97 W flags. We yelled our first “Shark in the water!”, figured out we have a Little Babe Ruth on our hands, and one of our most hated and respected rivals turned into one of our own, Jimmy Ballgame.
I am numb from this season. It held so much promise, so many memories, and felt like This Is The Year. I cannot give up, because I Am A Cubs Fan. I’ll be here next year, and the year after that, before, after, and when we win it all. But this one hurts.
Dan
dtpollitt - October 5, 2008
My vote is 84
kcjones - October 5, 2008
Agreed
Mostly because it was my first. The truth is I was just a little insulated this year. Sure it was a great team but deep down I always
think bad things might happen and I can’t get TOO excited.
Doggie Stalker - October 5, 2008
A question I've been pondering...
If you had the ability, would you choose to stop being a Cubs fan right now?
Now, let me preface this by saying (and I bet most people will feel similarly) that I couldn’t simply choose to stop being a Cubs fan. It’s been too many years. Sure, I could not watch the first month or two, but eventually I’d see enough on Sportscenter, and they’d get just hot enough to pull me back in and string me along for another year. The only thing worse than enduring another year like this would be not being around the year it finally happens.
Which I don’t think it will. Not anytime soon, sorry, and maybe that’s knee-jerk, but I don’t. I think we have too much money sunk into bad players (namely, fukudome and soriano) and too much turbulence from the impending sale to go out and get a superstar. Soriano was supposed to be that superstar, but we all know how that went.
Which leads to my question. If you had the ability to quit cold turkey and not care about the Cubs at all, ever again, would you? I never thought I’d say this, but I think I would. It’s moot anyway since I can’t, but I’ve seen 3 chokes like this in the last six years is almost too much for a guy to take.
RightFieldSucks - October 5, 2008
See above, I'm out...
NotSure - October 5, 2008
Why are you still here then?
IllinoisCubs - October 5, 2008
No way...
Being a Cubs fan is the perfect analogy for LIFE. We all go through hard times; life throws us the proverbial curveball that all of us has swung away at like Kosuke spinning in circles, but we choose not to give up.
Plus, if it does ever finally happen while we’re alive, all this pain an hurt will be worth it.
CubsBullsBears - October 5, 2008
Just read a post on the Tribune site...
"Being a Cubs’ fan is like being in love with someone who isn’t in love with you. You bring ‘em flowers, you bring ’em chocolates, you take ’em out for dinner, you worry for them then they’re sick or injured and then all they do is shack up with someone else and share their STD’s with you.
Yep, being a Cubs’ fan is like getting a dose of the crabs. You can’t get rid of that dang itch and you can’t get any satisfaction. "
Sums it up nicely for me…
NotSure - October 5, 2008
That's kinda how I view it too...it's a good source of "existential angst" ....
Besides, the Cubs are my childhood team. How can I leave that….?
zevkalman - October 5, 2008
I can't do it.
I can turn away for a while, which is what I did when they let Maddux go in ‘89. I really thought that did it, since it showed management didn’t care about winning.
However, like so many have said, once they start playing again, I can’t help myself. And if they are good (and remember folks, they are the favorite to win the Central Division again next year), I can’t help myself. I’ll watch and cheer.
To have one thing in life that remains constant, to have one thing that you stay with all of your life, is not such a bad thing.
Go Cubs!
Cubfansince1957 - October 5, 2008
Um Maddux was let go after 92 season
So I hope you did not give up in 89.
Doggie Stalker - October 5, 2008
Thanks for the correction.
It broke my heart when they let him go.
Cubfansince1957 - October 5, 2008
No more so than I could choose to not be 1/2 Italian
It’s part of who I am. All the pain and the disappointment doesn’t detract from the good memories that I’ve had in 25+ years of following them. It’s by no means the only bond that I have with my father, but it is a strong one that I would never want to give up.
None of us wants to hear about “someday” right now, including me, but if the Cubs ever do finish the job, the angst will have been worth it and it will be that much sweeter.
And, let’s take a step back for a second. Yes, this sucks. We thought this was the year — but — for those of us old enough to remember 1984 and the years in-between, the thought of contending nearly every year was a pipe dream and now it seems like reality. There are those here that go back further, and the thought of contending one year in a row was a pipe dream for them. As hard as it may be to see right now, things ARE better than they have been in a long, long time for the Cubs. Granted, you never know when you’ll be back to the post-season, but there is a commitment there that never used to be.
No, I wouldn’t give this up. I’m in it until I’m in the ground — even if the Cub baseball is what puts me there.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
It's OK to like other teams too
at least I hope it is!
Baseball has been going on for nearly 150 years, and there have been some great stories and traditions involving the other clubs. There’s the Red Sox and the quest to end their championship drought…the hapless Phillies who are the only team to have lost 10,000 games and just one lone World Series title since the 1870s…the Athletics and their dynasties of the late 20s-early 30s, the mid 70s, the late 80s, and the early part of this decade…and now the Cinderalla story of the Tampa Bay Rays.
So the baseball historian in me has come to appreciate and cheer for these other teams. Maybe not with as much zeal as the Cubs, but seeing them do well helps take the sting out of the Cubs’ misfortunes.
CaliCub - October 5, 2008
I said it in the other thread...and I'll repeat it here...
I am DONE with the team that I have followed since I was 6 years old. I’ll certainly be happy if they ever win it all, but I have zero faith that it will happen in my lifetime.
I have not lived in Chicago in 14 years, now getting closer to more than half my life away from Chicago, so it is increasingly silly to keep rooting for them.
The ballpark is still great, but I now have a championship-caliber team in my backyard here in Tampa. They play loose and the right way, and are fun to watch, and won the hands-down best division in baseball.
I just don’t have the time to waste on the Cubs franchise anymore. I will fully admit that many of you who will be back next year are stronger than I, and I wish you no ill.
But it’s OVER for me…GO RAYS!
NotSure - October 5, 2008
Thanks for jumping!
See ya soon.
dtpollitt - October 5, 2008
Uh, hard to be a "bandwagon" fan....
…when I’ve followed this team since I was 6.
You can stick your smartass comment in the orifice of your choice….
NotSure - October 5, 2008
Then what are you doing here? Leave.
And I choose…my left ear.
dtpollitt - October 5, 2008
Planning on it...
…I’ll be back to laugh at you kool-aid drinkers when they choke next year…
NotSure - October 5, 2008
That's fine.
I’ll know – as will everyone else – that you left the team, and your fandom, at the door.
dtpollitt - October 5, 2008
Exactly what would it take...
…for you to do the same?
This team has won NOTHING in three generations…what evidence is there that it will EVER change?
NotSure - October 5, 2008
Well for someone that has moved on to the Rays
What are you still doing here?
rlpete - October 5, 2008
Hmmm...
Yeah, no bandwagon-jumping there…
Goodie1969 - October 5, 2008
I've been attending games since 1998...
…and yes, it’s nice to back a winner…y’all should try it sometime….
Bucs winning it all in 2002 and Lightning in 2004 was tremendous fun.
I cannot and will not support this loser organization any more….
NotSure - October 5, 2008
Yet you're still here commenting.
Forgive me, but your words ring hollow right now…
Goodie1969 - October 5, 2008
Yeah, I'm commenting...
…so what? You’re a better fan because you’ll continue to support a loser organization?
The only way things will ever change is if people stop supporting this choking dog of a team.
NotSure - October 5, 2008
97 wins?
The Angels won 100 and could be done by 10 PM.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
Uh, they won in 2002....
NotSure - October 5, 2008
Yeah, so what?
How many of the current players were on that team?
Go ahead and vent all you want, or quit if you really mean it, but don’t tell people that they shouldn’t root for the Cubs.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
You can do anything you want...its a free country...
…but the rest of the world laughs at you….
NotSure - October 5, 2008
You're taking this far too harshly.
Seriously.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
You are probably right...
…but I will not put myself through it any more…
84, 89, 98, 03, 07, 08….
How much is enough?
NotSure - October 5, 2008
Bye, see ya.
sue369 - October 5, 2008
What have you done for me lately?
kcjones - October 5, 2008
I do not claim to be a better fan.
I only claim to be a fan. You claim not to be one. Am I wrong?
(Oh, by the by, the White Sox just put a 4-spot on your beloved Rays, who I’d like to point out, also still haven’t won anything.)
Goodie1969 - October 5, 2008
They are still up 2-0, and actually won a home game in the playoffs...
And you are right, I am renouncing my Cub allegiance. They are now just another crappy baseball team.
NotSure - October 5, 2008
Yeah,
they’ll probably use that in their marketing campaign for next year. I’ll make sure they give you credit, though. Thanks!
Goodie1969 - October 5, 2008
The Cubs are like a cancer...
…the best option is to have them surgically removed.
NotSure - October 5, 2008
GO ahead and cheer on YOUR Rays
Yes us Cub fans have been hit in the nuts more times than not, but it takes character and toughness to hang with them. A true Cub fan will take the hits, get up again and battle back, you, on the other hand wants to bail, so please do, and take your catapiller spine with you
Grockcubs - October 5, 2008
There's a difference between toughness...
…and blind unthinking faith…
NotSure - October 5, 2008
What is your point?
If you are no longer a Cubs fan we could care less. Is that supposed to make us feel bad? Does it increase your self-esteem to believe you have gotten over the Cubs and the people who post here aren’t? We don’t care if you are a fan or not. And we are Sure about that— unlike your screen name. What are you not sure about? You sure aren’t a Cubs fan-that is obvious. So go lurk on some other blog where you will get accolades for being a “former” Cubs fan.
Weeghman Park - October 5, 2008
What is your definition of "being a Cubs fan"?
Been around this team since I was six years old. This was the last straw…
Do you define it as blind optimism year after year? Continuing to support an organization that year in and year out kills its fan base.
If the Cubs were an abusive spouse, you’d have to advise a divorce.
NotSure - October 5, 2008
And who will you move to
when all the Rays have signed with Boston and the Yankees?
rlpete - October 5, 2008
Check your facts...
…most of their young players are signed for years…
NotSure - October 5, 2008
Longoria
is, not Crawford, not Shields, not Baldeli,
Grockcubs - October 5, 2008
Baldelli...not much loss there..
…they have David Price to step into the rotation…
NotSure - October 5, 2008
I don't care how old you were when you were first around this team.
You the one that said you were no longer a Cubs fan. Your friggin sig line says it. I don’t know what your definition of that is. So you think there is a secret 100 year old society at 1060 West Addison that tries to get fans hopes up and then dash them in Sep/Oct? Did Lee Harvey Oswald act alone? Please inform us. We all have our “I was a Cubs fan since the beginning of friggin time” story. I love that story! See you next spring. You’ll have to tell us what your new screen name is.
Weeghman Park - October 5, 2008
I'm starting to believe that, yes.
Being a fan of this team is a ridiculous exercise in futility.
NotSure - October 5, 2008
Great.
You’re learning. That’s a start. I thought you were gone already but maybe there’s hope for you if you keep posting here.
Weeghman Park - October 5, 2008
Do you stop and look what you're actually writing?
Honestly, do you look at what you’re doing? You were a Cubs fan less than 24 hours ago, and now you’re talking all this garbage?
The sad thing, YOU’RE the type of (former) Cubs fan that gives us a bad reputation. I bet you’re quick to chastise someone in public who has a baseball shirt on that wasn’t Cub-centric.
You’ve done this whole community a service by going with the tide, and becoming a fan of the hottest team in baseball this year; which I bet was really, really hard. I can’t wait to see you become a Yankees/Lakers/Patriots fan next year.
Good god, I can’t wait until this thread of Al’s post is over so you can leave this place.
NittanyCub - October 5, 2008
Gee, last time I checked, you're the jerk off who decided this was the place...
…to gloat about an Penn State win….
I’ll be rooting for them to get stomped by the SEC or Pac 10 in the bowls…
NotSure - October 5, 2008
Pushing 40, and still ends fragments with ellipsis.
How is that ?
NittanyCub - October 5, 2008
Sorry, I forgot about your superior education
Is that better for ya?
NotSure - October 5, 2008
Oh it is! Thanks!
How is that superior age, and job, and family going for you?
: D
I can only hope I have as much wisdom and knowledge to have comebacks over the internets… at age 40…
(Did you see those ellipses I made?)
NittanyCub - October 5, 2008
Great, actually...thanks for asking.
NotSure - October 5, 2008
I think
and I am not blind. I am loyal, you are not, Hey life is not fair, people are dealt bad cards, the difference between you and the rest of us you quit we don’t
Grockcubs - October 5, 2008
Like I said, there's a difference between loyalty and putting up with abuse...
…and this team is abusive to its fan base.
NotSure - October 5, 2008
Just go away
You are really sounding like a child
Grockcubs - October 5, 2008
They gave me a black eye two months ago
And told me if I ever told anybody, they’d kill my dog.
Sigh It feels so good to let that out.
NittanyCub - October 5, 2008
See, now THAT'S funny...
…thanks for the laugh….
NotSure - October 5, 2008
....
….
no…
…..
(wait for it)
….
problem.
(I was making fun of you the last post about abuse, unfortunately you’re too dense to see it. If an organization is abusive in the means of spending 118+ million dollars a year, well then, I hope they beat the shit out of me every 12 months……………………)
NittanyCub - October 5, 2008
Great, just keep drinking that kool-aid
NotSure - October 5, 2008
In the immortal words of the Andrews Sisters...
…“Beat me, Daddy, eight to the bar.”
cwyers - October 5, 2008
Hey Al,
Congratulations on another great year of BCB. Your work far surpasses that of any other board by far. Although the season ended on a sour note, you must take things in perspective. For me the most important things in my life are:
1) My health (excellent)
2) My family (love them)
3) My job (self employed)
4) Current financial crises (it hurts)
5) Cubs
6) Red Sox
I love the Cubs, but will not let it ever take over my other priorities. So the Cubs didn’t win it all this year. Hopefully you are still healthy and your family is fine. It’s not the end of the world-the Cubs will outlive us all. There are far more pressing issues in all our lives.
One more point. I know you think that the 2008 Cubs was the best team in your lifetime. Well, we are almost the same age and I have to disagree. No team can top the 1969 Cubs of Santo, WIlliams, Banks, Fergie, Holtzman, etc. for comaraderie and loyalty. Those were the days when the players LOVED playing for the Cubs, not just for money. Ron Santo probably would have played for free rather than get traded to the White Sox. I recommend the book “Miracle Collapse-the 1969 Cubs” by Doug Feldman to all BCBers to get a taste of what Al’s and my generation went through.
ronsanto10 - October 5, 2008
That depends on how you define "best team".
I think the ‘69 team had more great individual players, and you’re right about the camaraderie and loyalty.
But up to this week, 2008’s TEAM was better.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
+1
As someone who also went through ‘69, I think this team was much deeper on the bench and on the pitching staff. There aren’t four hall of famers on this team (like there were in ‘69, and if you question my math, I’m adding Santo), but once you got past those guys, that team had a couple of other starting pitchers, Hundley, Beckert and Kessinger, and that was it. Everyone else was a journeyman ball player. This team didn’t have a weak link in terms of baseball talent.
Cubfansince1957 - October 5, 2008
Anyways......
My last opinion today……I have mixed emotions about weather or not 2003 or this year was worse….in some ways this year was because I expected the Cubs to do well in the playoffs….where as 2003 was a pleasant surprise….but in 03 they did compete and play hard every game…this year seemed like a “ghostwalk”…..I really think 84 was the most painful b/c the Cubs were supposed to have home field advantage that year and the TV networks took it from them.
It is just baseball….we all like to watch baseball and comment on it more then the “average” person…so it is a bit “emotional”….The sun will come up tomorrrow, the holidays are coming up, winter will come and go andd spreing will be here again b4 we know it…….as Stephen King once titled a short story “Hope Springs Eternal”….
kcjones - October 5, 2008
And...btw...thaks to everyone who shared ...
their thoughts and emotions throughout the season (and previous seasons)…and to Al and anyone elsse who moderates and keeps things “going”….
kcjones - October 5, 2008
That homefield advantage myth
Has been debunked numerous times, including on this site.
The NL West team was scheduled to have home-field in 1984 — it alternated in those years.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
I disagree....
84 was NL East turn……..taken away by NBC b/c Cubs didn’t have lights.
kcjones - October 5, 2008
That's simply not accurate
The East had it in 1983
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
Right....
2 in LA
2 in Philly
Game 5 in LA wasn’t necessary
kcjones - October 5, 2008
Wrong, wrong, WRONG
They didn’t have the 2-2-1 format. Go and check other LCS’ when it was a best of 5 format.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
Cards had it in 82, Dodgers in 83....
It was Cubs turn in 84
kcjones - October 5, 2008
You are wrong
Check the link above. It was a 2-3 format, not today’s 2-2-1.
Besides, even if they were supposed to have it (MYTH) — can’t win one game on the road? NBC didn’t cause the Cubs to lose. The Cubs caused the Cubs to lose.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
Yes...the Cubs caused the Cubs to lose
It’s really not wworth arguing…….my recollection could be foggy
kcjones - October 5, 2008
ABC televised the NLCS in 1984
CaliCub - October 5, 2008
Last word on this.
The NLCS was a 2-3 format in those days. The NL East had the home field in ’83 — the West was scheduled to have it in ’84. The Cubs lost nothing — except the series.
They WOULD have lost home field IN THE WORLD SERIES had they made it.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
They should have went bowling
I mentioned this once before. Bruce Weber took his young and nervous U of I team bowling often just to break up the tension among the players. These past 3 games you could see the lack of cohesion among the players.
All I can say is that this has been a year of many firsts…including the first time I’ve seen the Cubs win the division two years in a row.
coral - October 5, 2008
They did go bowling
Kerry Wood’s event
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
but more often
What I’m trying to say is I think the team should have been sequestered more after clinching and during the playoffs. And during the process they should focus on something else – together.
coral - October 5, 2008
Pretty simple on improving..
Add a Lefty power hitter, and sign a sinker baller pitcher, and a fuy like Juan Cruz, and we improve a ton.
Lets say we got a Dunn. That’s your power hitter. Sign Lowe. Sign Cruz to get the ball to Marmol, Wood.
But if I were Hendry, I’d offer whatever Texiera wants. There’s your Superstar/MVP candidate.
ARAM FOR MVP - October 5, 2008
Where are you going to play Adam Dunn?
The NL doesn’t have a DH. He can’t play the outfield any more. We have a first baseman.
I swear, again, people keep talking these deals like this is fantasy ball where you can fix stuff with a couple of mouse clicks. Real life doesn’t work that way.
Teixeira would be great, but then D-Lee has to be traded.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
I think DLee HAS to be traded
….if possible. Not just because his decline is likely to continue (IMO), but also because he’s been the defacto team leader the last few years. I think his nonchalant attitude may be a big part of the cubs looking so lifeless in the playoffs. I think he’s a fantastic guy, but we need to move forward and he’s proven he’s not a part of the final answer.
RightFieldSucks - October 5, 2008
I'm certain he could be traded
lots of teams are looking a 1B that has a OPS+ of 123 and 3 Gold Gloves.
Jesus Christ.
dtpollitt - October 5, 2008
With two years left at $13m per?
Quite a bit of $.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
Say we could somehow sign Texiera.
The Angels have a gaping hole at 1b now.
I’d send them Lee and say some porspects for Joe Saunders who will become expensive soon.
ARAM FOR MVP - October 5, 2008
Good Point
If the Cubs were to pick up Texiera, then the clubs that missed out on him (Angels, Yankees) might be interested. Also possibly Boston, if Mike Lowell can’t come back from his hip problem and Kevin Youkilis has to play 3B instead of 1B.
CaliCub - October 5, 2008
Lee's contract has a no-trade clause
Plus, if the Cubs put all their money in signing Texiera, Lee’s value goes down since teams know the Cubs have to move him.
Again, no trade clause unless Lee says differently.
flachimesa - October 5, 2008
I'm guessing Lee would probably accept a trade to the Angels.
He’s originally from California.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
I think Dunn can still play LF...
…certainly better than Abreu or Man-Ram. He’s not a good fielder, no. But he’s not an utter disaster.
cwyers - October 5, 2008
speaking of man-ram, if we're gonna spend big piles of cash on an FA, hell i say we get him
philadelphiacub - October 5, 2008
Those are all
great, horrible ideas.
dtpollitt - October 5, 2008
i agree we should move dlee
it will be best for all. he symbolizes cub frustration now. (but only AFTER his clutch hit for marlins sunk us in ’03……… irony!)
nervousCUBlover - October 5, 2008
He hit this series
slocs55 - October 5, 2008
when nobody was on base....
GIDP’ed when he coulda made a difference…..
kcjones - October 5, 2008
Bat Lee Leadoff, Sori 3rd, Problem Solved!
CaliCub - October 5, 2008
How many did he leave on base?
3 maybe?
slocs55 - October 6, 2008
Nobody was EVER on base!
vonde6 - October 6, 2008
I can't talk
about the Cubs making moves right now.
slocs55 - October 5, 2008
wait. are we talking about the same Adam Dunn?
Yes, he kills Cubs pitching, but for the last 5 days, we’ve been upset at the lack of clutch hitting. And over his career, Adam Dunn has not hit in the clutch.
And his defense is gawd-awful.
Bill Potter - October 5, 2008
I don't think the team HAS to "improve."
What happened in the playoffs had nothing to do with not having a lefty power hitter, or a missing link in the bullpen. What happened in the playoffs was a team that was more than good enough to win it all just completely fell apart. That isn’t fixed by adding lefties and bullpen help.
Gator Cub - October 5, 2008
Just say NO
to Dunn.
Now Abreu would be my choice even though he is beginning his power decline, he still gets on base.
I love Lee, but the Yanks might be interested as well if we can land Big Tex.
airweino - October 5, 2008
In addition to what others have said about the bats...
We don’t need Juan Cruz. We have an Angel Guzman (who seems better suited for the bullpen vs starting). If they want to improve this team through free agency and you guys don’t want to pay to 75 dollars for bleacher ticket, they are going to have to try to have some parts be from their system. If they think Marmol is ready to close and Wood wants more than a one year deal and they think that Guzman can be the next Marmol than they have to cut ties with Woody. He is too big of an injury risk.
TheRiot Police - October 5, 2008
Al, Thanks // Loyalty
i had fun joining this group this year, i looked forward to the games when i was home doing work on my pc & jumping in with the comments. it’s a great group! i did want to say the following:
My feeling is not unique — I agree with RightFieldSucks that I’d like to be able to quit now, and am going to try. Tthese guys really stunk it up, and made me embarrassed to face all my other-team-fan friends (the damn Sox fans, my cousin from Philly, my Yankee branch of the family, etc…) It does STINK that we play great for 162 games, then 3 bad ones and we’re history… but we knew the rules. Right after Game 7 in 2003 NLCS, i felt like, let’s just fast-forward to this spot next year — i can’t go thru a whole regular season again. Like getting to level 20 in a video game, dying, and you don’t want to have to go back to level 1!!!
I greatly enjoyed all the games on tv and the 10 or so i attended this year. But, I honestly do feel BITTER that the team let me down, and that maybe all this time and energy could have been better spent on my part, pursuing other interests or outside activities. The emotional payoff of a WS would’ve been HUGE for me, but, honestly, I feel kind of STUPID and like a CHUMP for putting so much attention to the Cubs in my life.
I have been a Cubs fan since I came here in the mid 90s, and a big baseball fan since I was a young ‘un. I feel like I’ve gotten in too deep here.
So, I am going to try to “get out of this relationship” — however, I want to assert the following:
- If the Cubs make it back to the NLCS and WS and maybe win it, if I choose to do so, for my own pleasure, I will jump right back on board and enjoy it, guiltlessly. Realistically, my interest doesn’t hurt or help the team or players in any way. It’s just entertainment that I am paying them for. So, I am going to try to distance myself next year, but, if we make it to the NLCS/WS, you’ll see me right here to enjoy it…. I’ve put in my time, and I’ve earned it.
nervousCUBlover - October 5, 2008
This Season
Admittedly, I only saw parts of the game last night. I was an usher in a wedding and was only able to sneak away to watch parts of the game. I’m a Marquette alum, and they had about the worst possible loss ever in the NCAA tournament, and I was really, really down for 2 or 3 days. This season, I’ve felt different about all lot of the losses. I remember watching the St. Louis game on July 5 and just walking away and thinking if Kerry doesn’t hit Ryan that whole inning is different. It was a whole new experience for me. I really think that Marquette loss changed me, the Cubs losses just didn’t affect me as much as they had before.
Lee is right thought, there is a lot of pressure in Chicago, and that’s unfortunately how it will be. The Cubs organization has terrific fans that has always cultivated a relationship between the players and the fans. They employ a fan as their radio color guy. When you watch a game on television, and Len Kasper’s voice reflects exactly how you are feeling on an opponent’s bloop single late in a game. Who else exhaled a ton when DeRosa hit that home run Wednesday? It was like all of the pressure for that week and a half was gone for a split second. It will have to take a group of guys that just wants to win and will be immune to all of that. Does anybody else find it weird that the guy you would think be immune to all of this, was 1 for 12 and killed the series in Game 3?
And for the record, I have my Marquette tickets the upcoming season and I will have Cubs tickets again next season.
MerigoldBowling - October 5, 2008
Any good literary agent would ask you...
Give it all the writings and ideas a good rest. Let the ideas stew in the subconscious and come back to them in a few months. For me, I will be heading up to the mountain streams with fly rod and reel for some close encounters with wiley trout and cool clear air. Good times be with you, and thanks Al for the time and effort……..we’ll be ready for 2009 when the air begins to warm and baseball returns once again. You can count on few things in life, but you can count on that. Go Cubs!
Cajuncub - October 5, 2008
Here's the Diatribe.....take it for what it's worth
The confessional is cute, but there are a few points I have a philosophical problem with:
1) The whole Red Sox ‘idiots’ thing.
It’s made to sound like some team identity decison when in fact, it arose from one guy – Kevin Millar – who made a point to tell everyone that would listen AFTER their 19-8 drubbing that they didn’t give a care about anything. It was entirely a win-win situation. A goofy clubhouse presence making a move that had absolutely ZERO downside. What the Red Sox experienced was a historical anomaly from a talented team, which is why I never bought into the notion that the Cubs would ever come back. It was a freak occurence and it happened to a different team. Stuff like that doesn’t repeat.
2) The Season Was a Failure
I just don’t believe that. The CEO of this website was in the bleachers for something he repeatedly said was the greatest season in his fandom. Now it’s worth terming a failure? Then why was everything else so wonderful? You want to espouse the notion of living in the moment, then don’t say it’s been a great season and this is a great team, repeatedly.
Look, Soriano hadn’t hit since his stoned/slumpbuster photos showed up on the internet. For being the offensive straw that stirred the drink, is it any doubt that the offense failed to show.
And from a non-cubbie related philosophical note, this notion of shutting the team down once the division is captured should be well-received as a terrible idea. Once you willingly drop momentum, what makes anyone think they can pick it up again? Think about the simple fact that had the Cubs actually played out the string like a bunch of professionals with the best team in the league and actually taken the last series with Milwaukee as a challenge rather than an obligation, they may have never even had to deal with the Best Hitter of our Generation and a pitching staff that matched up well with the Cubs lineup.
Forget historical pressure, this team completely failed in the stretch from the top-down. There’s no one to blame but themselves. Leave history out of it.
Gibbon Jockey - October 5, 2008
Failing In The Stretch
Couldn’t failing in the stretch (and in the NLDS) be because of the historical pressure weighing on the players? Doesn’t seem so unrealistic to me.
CaliCub - October 5, 2008
I disagree with that notion
I don’t believe it’s a reason for blame anymore than I believe it’s a reason for succcess.
So 100 years without a championship somehow kickstarted the team toward the best record in the National League this year? That’s silly.
Gibbon Jockey - October 6, 2008
On the Red Sox "idiots" thing...
… you can call it an “historical anomaly”. But the fact is, IT WORKED.
What would the Cubs have to lose by trying it?
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
You're changing the argument
My point is simply that it worked…..once.
And not with the Cubs.
It was pointed out earlier in the posts, few teams have come back from 0-2 deficits. And fewer came back to win the World Series. I’m not trying to stir a pot here.
What happened with the Red Sox was an historical anomaly. Good for the Red Sox. It happened to them. I guess.
Gibbon Jockey - October 6, 2008
Historical anomaly or not...
… what would be the harm in trying such an attitude?
Al Yellon - October 6, 2008
Nothing at all...
Heck, I’m all for trying whatever attitude adjustment it takes to get these guys to stop choking in the postseason. What worries me though is the expectation that ‘well, it worked for them, it’ll work for us’ – I just don’t believe that’s the case.
Gibbon Jockey - October 6, 2008
I seem to recall that Joe Pepitone was kind of a crazy guy in the Cubs clubhouse
in the old days. That’s the kind of wild and crazy guy we need to defuse all the “supposed” pressure these guys are supposed to feel…you know, like the “idiots”…
I think that Pepitone is still alive—a friend of mine who went to Cubs Fantasy Camp in AZ mentioned that he hangs around there during the Spring.
zevkalman - October 6, 2008
Pepitone was interviewed on XM radio earlier this year
and he was on a jet-ski with his kids down in Florida somewhere where he lives. He sounded great and mentioned the Cubs and the pressure. They felt it even back then. I saw his first game as a Cub at Cincy and he almost hit a home run in his first at bat-one of those calls that would now be replayed. Some Reds fan behind me was complaining about Joe’s sideburns and said, “He’s got more hair on his face than I have on my ass.” I never have figured out what he meant by that. We could use a Pepi now for sure, though.
Weeghman Park - October 6, 2008
I've always loved Pepitone
the man doesn’t lack for personality and self-control never was part of his vocabulary.
Emelie - October 7, 2008
my peace is that
I went to bed happy 97 times this year….without the Cubs,,that number would have been far less…
cozmotaylor123 - October 5, 2008
TWSS
last one of the season? :)
nervousCUBlover - October 5, 2008
Last one forever, hopefully
Gibbon Jockey - October 5, 2008
I'm just not ready to be without Cubs baseball
That first week after the season is over is really tough for me, it leaves a gaping black hole of time. Hope there are some good movies to watch.
Al, I love the Roger Hornsby quote but I don’t think I can look at that for a while. The waiting begins, again.
I don’t even want to talk about this team/series/year right now.
slocs55 - October 5, 2008
AL...great post
Just wanted all you to know the pain is felt everywhere. I am an Angels fan —a Cub’s fan by marriage. I lurk here frequently and just felt compelled to post a little something.
I wanted nothing more than a Cubs/Angels World Series match up. The Cubs seem to have lost the fire in their eyes….much like what my boys have done.
Don’t know what else to say other than “sorry” and there is always next year. I keep telling myself that about the Angels. It doesn’t help though.
ladybug - October 5, 2008
Overall,
Gator Cub - October 5, 2008
Overall
I’m pretty sure I’ll look back on this season (maybe as soon as during NEXT season) positively. Notwithstanding the postseason, this team was FUN to watch. I had more fun watching the 2008 Cubs, day-in and day-out, than any team I’ve followed other than probably the 2007 UF basketball team. But those two teams (despite the opposite playoff results) were much the same in how they both made the game they played a true joy to watch. I’m sad it’s over, and that the past four days have been so disastrous, but it still somehow doesn’t completely erase everything that happened over the past five months, all the days and weeks and months of good feelings this team gave me can’t be swept away in four days. Just not possible.
Still, this hurts more than last year, for sure, and the 2009 Cubs will be under even MORE pressure to win it all, because even if that team is great in the regular season, Cubs fans will be on guard even more than before.
Gator Cub - October 5, 2008
Thanks for the post and this site Al......
I haven’t been here in awhile and only jumped back on site for these past few games primarily because I wanted to share the ups and downs with like-minded fans.
We’ve been through the agony and the ecstacy as Cubs fans. We came really close this year but 2003 hurt alot more. I told myself at the beginning of this year I wasn’t going to get emotionally involved because the Cubs represent unrequited love. Someone else mentioned that earlier, and it’s something I’ve felt for a long time.
Of course I’m disappointed. I’ve been a Cubs fan since I saw Ernie Banks play and thought as a kid, “what the hell is this great player doing with this bunch of bums?”
But as fans, we have no input, no authority and no responsibility for how they perform or don’t perform on the field. We either show up and support the club, or we don’t. My guess is that next year, the stands will be full and there will be new fans, old fans and the merely curious. They won 97 games this year. That is something to celebrate and as fans, we did.
I believe 100% that the hype gets to them. If someone asks you every day about the last l00 years, and you are “human”, there’s no way you can’t get caught up in that. I would love to see them add a sports psychologist to their staff. Really. Forget the holy water, get a specialist in to help them deal with the pressure.
I already miss the warm summer days, listening to Ron and Pat, hearing the song, “Go Cubs Go”. It was a great year.
And I know, I just know that no matter what, I’ll be listening to every game next year. I’ll put up my “W” flag when they win and will wear my Cubs cap anytime I’m on the court playing tennis.
tigerperson - October 5, 2008
Know what?
This one hurt more. The 2003 team came closer, but they didn’t really belong there. They weren’t that good.
This team was. It should have won. That, and the fact that they played SO poorly, makes it hurt more.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
I'm not sure for me
They hurt differently. You’re right that the 2003 team had no business being there. However, to be 5 outs away, regardless of the legitimacy — you’ve got to get it done.
This year was the best I ever felt about their chances going in, and I told people that — although I prefaced it with the “anything can happen . . . short series” bit. They looked like they didn’t even belong there. Put the 2008 team in the position the 2003 team got to, and we’re reading fanposts about where to meet for the parade.
Both very disappointing. I need time to digest this and determine which one hurts more. Can’t tell yet.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
How can you say...
…the 2008 team would have done better than the 2003 team if they were in that spot?
We have seen the 08 team give a series away by playing putrid ball, and the 03 team beat a 103 win team and had the Marlins gasping for air. Frankly, the 03 team had more fight and would have kicked the 08 team’s ass. Could you see the offense we saw in the 08 playoffs trying to score runs of Prior or Wood? They would have thrown back to back shutouts.
MPH73 - October 6, 2008
Because they let the pressure get to them
And I think if they manage to win game 1, things are different.
Either way, it doesn’t matter — that’s not what happened.
Shanghai Badger - October 6, 2008
I didn't allow myself..
to get emotionally involved. It was a conscious choice especially after 2003.
We’ve been to the wedding shower and it won’t be until we actually go to “the wedding” that I’ll give myself over fully to the experience. Until then, I’ll remain loyal, I’ll listen to every game, wear my hat, put up my flag, go to games, I’ll even believe and hope in my own quiet way, but I won’t get swept up with the hype.
tigerperson - October 5, 2008
This team gave us many exciting
late inning wins this past season. The year before they would have lost many of those. I feel horrible that they lost but I have a very loving family and that is comforting to me. I also have a love of football and basketball so I do have those to look forward too.
I don’t follow any other baseball team so I doubt I will watch much if any baseball the rest of this season. I am a Cub fan so I will be here next spring cheering for this team. That will never change.
sue369 - October 5, 2008
Let's get those Hawkeyes on the right track Sue
or it will be a long fall!
mrcubsfan - October 5, 2008
I know. They've
been close in a few games so maybe they’ll get it going here soon. :-)
sue369 - October 5, 2008
Thanks Al
As one of the more visible Cubs fans in a small eastern college town (Ithaca, NY), I’ve attracted a lot of interest (and now sympathy) from friends who don’t share or fully understand my peculiar passion. But your comments, and those of many others on BCB, have kept me emotionally conntected with those who, like me, at some point in their lives, lived and died with every Cubs game.
That said, leave it to the Cubs to script new ways of losing that leave one feeling worse than the letdowns of years past. As William Faulkner said, the past is never dead. It’s not even past. Faulkner may not have been a Cubs fan, but he’d understand how we feel. And he’d also know that we’ll be back again next year.
Now it’s time for my Cornell Big Red hockey team to get ready to take it to your Colgate Red Raiders.
sweetswinger - October 5, 2008
Oh, you think so?
Go ’Gate!
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
I'm still wearing my BLEEDCUBBIEBLUE shirt today because
that’s what I believe and that’s who I am. I’m just bleeding a little more today. I will miss the cubs, Pat and Ron and all the positive things I’ve read in the most enjoyable summer in my lifetime as a cubs fan. I’ll keep reading this website because it’s the best thing that has happened to any cubs fan. Thanks Al, I just can’t believe the time you devote for all of us. I can’t wait for spring training and for a new season. I will watch with interest as this team changes, as all teams do in this age of free agency.
Lastly, my 2 cents. My quote with my screen name was from Pinella last year. Changes were made in the Cubs and look where we’ve come from. A miserable 2006. Playoffs two years in a row and the best record in the NL. We have another step to take. I think we’ll take it but I can’t predict if it will be next year, the next or sometime after that. I enjoy the winning, this is uncharted territory for all of us. Three years in a row will be something and I believe it will happen. We’ll get to the series, Pinella has us on the right track and I’m anxious for the future.
I will never abandon the Cubs, never. Here’s to the final step, this is still only the beginning.
mrcubsfan - October 5, 2008
+1
sue369 - October 5, 2008
+2
wombat - October 6, 2008
next year....
“….I realize the phrase I hated most ‘wait till next year’ is actually the most beautiful thing about baseball. Just like life there is always the chance that tomorrow will be a better day someday the cubs will win it all and as Cubs fans we’ll be there in the mean time we will celebrate the wait.” -Chasing October
Right now I cant celebrate the wait but the pain will fade someday…I am only trying to numb the pain now. I have cried several times today thinking about everything this team accomplished, the come from behind wins, 8 all-stars, the soto game, the clinch, sweeping the brewers, a-ram’s walk-off vs. the sox…almost every game this year MEANT SOMETHING. But the only 3 games that actually mattered we lost. We did nothing at all to remember in those 3 games. It took only 3 games, 3 losses, and THE SEASON is over. The season I’ve been waiting for, the season I thought
It hurts so bad.
I have a trip to Chicago planned this week, I just wanted to be in town for a couple days and be near the magic of this season. Now I will just have to enjoy the city and drink with fellow sad cubs fans.
KC in OK - October 5, 2008
Well, shit
Just another season to put under the belt. But I look at like this: the sweet will never taste as sweet until you’ve tasted the sour. This one was really, really, hard to take in; but whenever it happens, God-willing, it will be the sweetest thing I’ve tasted in my life.
See you guys in the Spring.
NittanyCub - October 5, 2008
Thanks, Nittany.
Enjoyed spending the season with you.
dtpollitt - October 5, 2008
See you around.
sue369 - October 5, 2008
Ughh..
I’m just disgusted beyond belief today and feel really numb… It’s going to take awhile to get over this feeling and I’m sure once February comes around I’ll be excited once again.. I’m crushed but they just didn’t have it… I too thought this team was different but I was wrong… Ughhh and I’m still shocked it was over in 4 days after everything… Damn it!
blueivy - October 5, 2008
STILL A CUBS FAN I MUST BE.........
Well I must be I am still wearing a Cubs sweatshirt and we have a Cubs flag in the yard . But does this ever hurt . The Cubs are the only sports team our family follows and even tho we are 400 miles from Wrigley we make it to Chicago and often see 3 games . So until March when I hope to see a lot of you in Mesa keep the faith there is always a next year ……………..Thank Al……..
cubs north - October 5, 2008
My cubs flag
is flying at half mast today.
mrcubsfan - October 5, 2008
I have to be a "grown-up" again. That's the saddest part.
When the Cubs season ends each year, I go though a rather depressing realization that for the next few months (until spring training opens), I have to ge a “grown-up” again.
Today, I did many of the summer-transition-to-fall household chores that I had been delaying hoping for an extended October playoff run (maybe even ending in the World Series!).
I took out the window air conditioners and closed all the storm windows. I put in the front door storm window. I put in a new air filter in the furnace and made sure all the room vents were open and clear.
I began to pack away the deck furniture and took my son back to his dorm after he had come home for our MSU Homecoming weekend.
Soon, I’ll take apart the hammock and store it for the next five months. I’ll get out the snow thrower, start it up and make sure it’s ready for a Michigan winter.
Leaves are falling and will need to be raked.
THIS is the stuff I now have to look “forward” to – …with no Cubs baseball to be my companion as I do my chores.
I don’t mind it really. I just wish I could have delayed having to do it alone for a few weeks more…
Zeke - October 5, 2008
Good post.
I enjoyed reading it alot because it targets my feelings too. Was that you in my backyard putting away the summer gear?
tigerperson - October 5, 2008
I just don't get it.
It’s still hard for me to wrap my mind around exactly what happened, or exactly why it happened.
I think that years from now, far removed from the emotion of the last four days, it’ll still be hard to comprehend.
I need a break from baseball for a while. But I’ll never truly leave. They’re still my Cubbies.
Just over four months to spring training…
hip2bsquare - October 5, 2008
RIGHT FIELD SUCKS.....
For me I would never change a thing …Nothing will ever change in my mind anyway always a Cub fan to the end …..When ever that may be ….
cubs north - October 5, 2008
Thanks Al
Thanks for all of the effort you put into BCB for us all year long. Yes, we’re all heartbroken. It will be a long winter. We’ll get through it …
StampMe - October 5, 2008
Hats off to you Cubs fans who have "been around the block"...
I am only 23. I have religiously watched this team since ‘98 and it is taking it’s toll. I’m sure I’ll bounce back but I really could have cried last night. Hats off to you older fans who have seen this kind of thing happen on numerous occasions and still root for the Cubs. I hope I have the same will as you do if, God forbid, I don’t see them win by the time I’m 60.
Bricks and Ivy - October 5, 2008
Hang with me, kiddo, and you'll be fine :-)
Just got done telling my wife how I hid in my bedroom after Game 5 in 1984 and got teary-eyed. And the despair from 2003 still lingers. But as long as we got each other around here we’ll persevere.
CaliCub - October 5, 2008
I remember '89
I was a little kid, 6 years old.
Every day after school I rushed home to see if the Cubs game was still going on WGN. I would catch the 8th, 9th inning of a lot of games. I love watching the Cubs, listening to Harry, etc.
Then they got to the NLCS against the Giants. They had three outs left and I couldn’t take it. Nothing was working. I grabbed my wiffle bat and charged outside. In my backyard, the Cubs had taken the lead and were going to win the game! I only hoped that my actions had helped the real Cubs to take the lead and continue to another day.
I was about to strike out the last of the Giants hitters when my mom came outside with a sad look on her face. I knew the Cubs had lost and started fighting back tears as my play was in vain.
IllinoisCubs - October 5, 2008
I was In Gullly's (3rd and Green)...
For that game 5……and remember the exciting tension….all it all spilled out with a sigh…..and you knew at that point it was over…….about 1 year and 3 and 1/2 months later watched the 46-10 in the same spot…..
I’ve seen a lot of people comment here that have their priorities straight…….the Cubs are….well … the Cubs…..and for whatever reason, we all keep calling ourselves Cub fans…it IS just a game….
I get on D Lee’s case all the time….but in REAL LIFE he is a winner…..and he has his priorities straight…so when you ever see me say anything about D Lee is specifically about his performance as the Chicago Cub 1st baseman and 3rd hiter.
84 hurt….89 and 98 not so much because they were pleassnt surprises…..for me personally….I think the Bears loss to the Redskins in Dec. 86/Jan. 87 1st round at home as heavy favorite in Payton’s last year hurt “most”.
For the mmost part I’m ignoring the “get so and so”, “release so and so” or “trade so and so” posts. It’s hard to get to the playoffs….let thingssink in we have all winter to disscuss…
kcjones - October 5, 2008
meh, I am 17, watching almost religiously since 05 (great season to start, huh?)
Though I do remember watching 2003, since my grandpap was from Chicago and I guess thats how I started rooting for them.
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
Dear Al
I would first like to say thank you for all your hard work on this sight.
Great Job.
Second, I think you are being far to kind in your assessment of this team. They quit. Plain and simple. They quit.
Shame on this team. They have, at the very least, lost my respect.
BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness - October 5, 2008
I second that completely...
Al, great job…but Cubs quit.
NotSure - October 5, 2008
Expand NLDS to 7 games...
To play 162 game and go into an immediate pressure of a 5 game series is not right. Got to extend the series to 7 games. Besides, more TV revenue.
ronsanto10 - October 5, 2008
Disagree
If a team can’t handle the pressure of the NLDS, I think the world series would swallow them.
slocs55 - October 6, 2008
completely agreed.
What are we going to do next..Make NLCS and World Series best of 11? To say that best of 5 games is not enough for a team playing good, sound fundamental baseball to beat another ‘good’ team is absolutely ridiculous
cubsnlinux - October 6, 2008
Thanks Al
That is the first and most important thing to get off my chest.
I sat watching the game last night just hoping and thinking that we would rally in the ninth and get game 3, but…
I also did not read or listen to sports radio cause I do not need to hear the same garbage that they spew.
But this one is tough, for me worse than all of them. This is a good team. We can sit here and throw around names, make fanasty trades, but we all know any major moves will be tough to make considering the salary structure of the players. Trying to move Soriano will be like trying to sell a house right now.
But this season is over, and this will be a long winter.
But I will be back, not going anywhere, But I sure was ready to unload my Cub gear at 1:20am last night.
Grockcubs - October 5, 2008
Maybe Morgan-Chase Will Take Soriano Off Our Hands! :-D
CaliCub - October 5, 2008
THANKS AL FOR EVERYTHING THIS SEASON....
this is, without a doubt, the best Cubs site on the web. (And I’ve looked enough around SBNation to think it’s the best BASEBALL site on the web as well). Though it may be a hobby for you, you should be proud of work you do for other Cubs fans around the world.
08 was a very memorable season, and it’s tragic that it had to end so suddenly. Baseball is officially over for me this season, I’ll probably just casually tune in to games from here on in.
Holidays are almost upon us, and the chill of winter, but I know as soon as my mind starts to fill with family events and holiday gatherings, I’ll suddenly see a report that “Pitchers and Catchers report to Spring Training” and then it’ll all start over again. Maybe this time with fewer expectations. Maybe this time not living or dying with each game. But I’ll be there. Like I’ve been there for most of my life. Thrilled that I’m watching a game from Wrigley field again. Thrilled to see the blue pinstripes. Thrilled to be alive.
Have a good winter Al.
carmen_fanzone - October 5, 2008
Thanks Al
What a great site you provide for us “die hard” cub fans!
As to the ending of our season, yes it was awful. However, that is why the game of baseball is so beautiful. It is so unpredictable and you never know what is going to happen next. Which is why every single person that comes to this site will be back again next year with the same hopes they’ve had for the past 100 years. Go Cubs
NorthsidePHAN - October 5, 2008
Thanks Al!
This is a real community. I come here if I’m watching the game alone at home or work because I know you all will be here, too. Al, thanks for helping provide that for us.
Back here in March, even though I’m angry and disappointed right now. I know I’ll be back.
jlpcubsfan - October 5, 2008
Two questions:
Al, do you intend on writing any series this offseason (like the previous Top 100 Cubs and Homeruns)?
And when do pitchers and catchers report next season?
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
the next regular season Cubs game is six months to the day tomorrow
damn..
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
I think a "100 worst Plays"
could also be possible for the off-season.
The E-Man - October 5, 2008
I haven't actually planned anything yet.
Because… well, I figured I’d be posting here for three more weeks, at least.
I’ll come up with something. When the pitcher/catcher reporting date is announced (and the date of the first ST game), I’ll post countdowns.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
I dunno what to do with my time now since this board is going to be less active...
I heard there is this new fad called “going outside” which I might take a look at..
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
over-rated
daily2b - October 5, 2008
There's always...oh, I dunno........girls. :D
sue369 - October 5, 2008
hahaha!
but I am still at the age where they have cudies!
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
actually it is kind of getting serious....with a girl :D
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
Good for you. :-)
Enjoy your teenage years while you can.
sue369 - October 5, 2008
thanks!
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
Enjoy them, but it's spelled "cooties"
vonde6 - October 6, 2008
Give up the Cubs while you can...
Save yourself. It’s too late for me but you can still get out. I’ll hold them off while you make a break for it.
Weeghman Park - October 5, 2008
hahaha can't now; I'd rather watch this team never win a WS
than root for a team like the Yankees or Dodgers who have the worst fanbases in the world. I had a GREAT summer, unfortunately the fall sucked. Plus I gotta keep on the family legacy!
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
AL! Thanks so Much
for allowing the divergent opinions at this terrific blog!
Each of us have our own interpretation of what “fan” means, and its cool that we get at each other – yet ALL still want the same thing.
Re your shirt thrown in the garbage – while walking on Waveland to get into our gate for NLDS Game 1, my teen daughters asked, “Dad, will you buy us a Central Division Champions T-Shirt?”
I said, “Guys, wait ‘til the next round – I’ll be happy to buy you whatever you want. This alone is not satisfying.” They agreed having suffered last year too…
The E-Man - October 5, 2008
man, i have this great post semi-composed
in my mind, but I’m a little buzzed and tired from playing today. I will say this , I’ll always be a Cub fan. Right or wrong, good or bad, I just don’t care. Go Cubs
daily2b - October 5, 2008
Bears win helped today though
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
I suppose, but
ANY time any of us have the Fox network on for a football game, we will be seeing promos for the NLCS and WS!
The E-Man - October 5, 2008
Yeah
I cringed every time I had to hear about the Dodgers watching the Bears game today :(
southloop - October 5, 2008
It did...
But then the game ended, and I was back to thinking about this disaster.
CubsBullsBears - October 5, 2008
All of baseball is cold and dead to me...
at least until Spring Training.
Reddevil - October 5, 2008
agreed
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
Thanks for another great season on the blog, Al
It’s nice to have a site where we can all rant and rave, cheer and cry. Too bad it’s the last verb that many of us would like to do.
I’d like to speak to the pressure. It’s everywhere anyone looks, even well outside Chicago. I have colleagues all over the country, relatives all over the country; and any time the mention of baseball and Cubs in the same topic arises, it’s 100 years, goats, black cats, Bartman’s; the whole nine yards. Everyone who knows me knows I’m a diehard. To the point where the first thing mentioned to me in discussion is about the Cubs (Apr-Oct) and the Blackhawks (Oct-Apr).
It’s like the cool line I like to repeat from Cheers. Carla Tortelli used to say, “you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting….”. Well, guess what; you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting someone talking about 100 years.
It IS pressure, whether anyone wants to admit its a good enough excuse or not. They simply didn’t perform. IMHO the 100-year season-long RANT across the country has played a part. There were no STUPID anomalies in this years’ playoffs. They didn’t pitch, field or hit PERIOD. LA isn’t a better team. They simply took advantage of Cubs mistakes. Game 1 was Dempsters’ walks (AND WHERE IN THE HELL WAS ROTHSCHILD WHEN DEMP WAS WALKING THE UNIVERSE? But that for me at least is a different rant). Game 2 was 4 infielders playing hot potatoe. Game three was…..guess what? The 100-year drought.
If there’s something to change its to change the attitude of players to filter this crap out (next to impossible) or get players that are proven post-season performers (more likely but with a lot more coin to drop).
Well, Sammy Zell, now you can quickly sell the team. Sell it before the value starts to drop. You didn’t just happen to be owner of the team that “finally did it” so now you can go capture your cash to pay down debt for the late 2009 payment. Let’s hope the new owner gives Jimbo the green light ($$$) with LOTS of INPUT from LOU.
blackhawk24 - October 5, 2008
Agreed, and im a huge hawks fan too so at least that is starting up this week
Should be a really exciting season
CubsBall2202 - October 5, 2008
I intend to be at Wrigley on January 1.
That ought to be fun.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
I hear that's the hottest ticket in town!
Wish I could be there too, but I hear tickets are almost impossible to get. My son is a huge hockey fan, so I’m counting on hockey filling the void this winter.
tigerperson - October 5, 2008
They are...
The NHL is running it (sort of like MLB and the playoffs). These tickets are not even the official part of the season ticket package.
blackhawk24 - October 6, 2008
Me too
just haven’t settled anything yet.
blackhawk24 - October 6, 2008
I guarentee the Cubs will NOT lose that day!
Zeke - October 6, 2008
Khabibulin
is gone. That is huge. Now if they can actually use that cap relief for another forward. They need some one up front, someone on the PP who can take abuse in front of the net or even at the off-wing.
Lang and Koci are gone, now Havlat doesn’t have his entourage. He needs to be a team player and stay healthy. I’d still rather have seen Dale move him, not only for cap reasons but attitude and the chance for another of the Rockford kids to step in.
Buckle up, this could be exciting. Barring serious injuries and the kids stepping up that I’ve watched for the last few years now, I fully expect the Blackhawks to not only be in the playoffs but challenge for the top 4 in the conference ~100pts.
blackhawk24 - October 6, 2008
Oddly enough...
… the team may be worth MORE now. Sounds like a paradox, but now the NEW owner gets to be the owner that takes the Cubs to the promised land.
You don’t think that’s worth more? I do.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
Agreed
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
Yeah, probably worth more
I spoke originally based solely on them losing. but it makes complete sense a new owner would want to be the one to finally be at the helm when “it happened…..you know hell freezes over”.
The frustration level is extrememly high right now.
blackhawk24 - October 6, 2008
Vegas says thanks to Al
Al,
Just wanted to throw my thanks out to you as well.
My brother and I grew up on Buckner, Trillo, DeJesus, Murcer, and our favorite, the man himself, Kingman, first with Brickhouse then Harry. We’ve been Cub fans since we were 7 and 8 and 33 years later, we’re still Cub fans. My wife has succumbed to the family Cubdom as well. Check out my Cub rooms pictures via my signature.
I have greatly enjoyed this season on the BCB boards, through the many wins and the losses as well, but it’s like sharing a part of one’s life with others who are equally as passionate about the Cubs. Your recaps are succinct and from the heart, I enjoy reading them.
As for 2008, yes it was a failed post season, a great season, and I look forward to a Braves type dynasty, we get there every year and one has to believe, it will happen. Do the Cubs have issues ahead, yes. I believe Lee is done as a power hitter and as a clutch hitter (see his GIDP stats), Soriano cannot hit a breaking ball, Fukudome, who knows? But Hendry seems to be going the right direction each year making the moves and signings.
Others post that they cannot root for the Dodgers, don’t blame them for our failures. I always root for the NL in the Series, none of that foolish DH crap. Real strategy is required. Does that mean I’ll be rooting for the Dodgers in the Series, no, but I will be rooting for the NL.
Thanks, Mike
VegasCubFan - October 5, 2008
100 year focus
>They shouldn’t put the 100 year pressure on themselves. But they do. They have to >NOT do that. Now, the key question is: "How do you do that?" Get that answer and >you’ll be the genius that led the Cubs to the World Championship.
All season they have one giant burden in their minds. The closer they got to it the worse they did. Just like ‘69. Coincidence? Uh, I don’t think so.
Change their focus!!! Get them to quit looking long term by stressing each series. That goes for the management, players and the fans. Look at the season as 52 “playoffs”, rather than 162 games that leads us to the grand event. That way, when they get into the real deal it is just a continuation of what they have been doing all season long.
BTW, Al… you are the best!
3fingerbrown - October 5, 2008
For what it's worth
one of the radio announcers for the Red Sox just said a short (don’t know when) while ago that he was in Lou’s office at Wrigley Field and he, Lou, was talking about “Americanizing” Dome’s swing next year and was generally positive about his future with the Cubs and in the ML.
Bad things happen to good teams: the Angels just let a ball drop for a 3-run single that any one of three guys could have caught. Playoffs are unpredictable. “Are the Angels a little tight?”
Weeghman Park - October 5, 2008
That is good to hear
about Dome. I figured they would work with him in the off season.
sue369 - October 5, 2008
See...the best team in the AL is struggling/likely won't make it either....
kcjones - October 5, 2008
Domer is the least of the Cubs problems going into 2009
His [good] attitude is a major reason why.
blackhawk24 - October 6, 2008
Thank you Al!
Been reading your posts about the Cubs since you posted on the Cubs newsgroup days. I followed the crowd here when you started this site. I enjoy reading your insight on the Cubs.
We have many scars over the years from not winning a World Series. But this era is different. In the last 5 years they have played in October 3 times. I will take that over a floundering team that can’t even reach .500 any day. We should look at the glass as half full.
We have a good team lets get a little bit better and have some more fun next year!
Lets hope for a productive winter and look forward to next spring.
billkelly - October 5, 2008
Well I guess I am not the only one to say this, but
WHY COULDN’T WE FACE THE DAMN METS!
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
because we beat them up at the end of the year....
santoswoodenlegs - October 5, 2008
Where have you been hiding all day?
It’s been pretty dull here with no pics.
Weeghman Park - October 5, 2008
I've given up posting pictures until the Cubs win the World Series.
santoswoodenlegs - October 5, 2008
Oh
Sorry to hear that but I understand. The only good thing about that is that my computer will load the threads a lot faster for the next 12 months.
Weeghman Park - October 5, 2008
This was the first I've laughed since the game. Thanks, SWL.
dtpollitt - October 5, 2008
you kind of like Chad Johnson
when he said he would never do a TD celebration until the Bengals were over .500
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
I applaud you
santoswoodenlegs.
I shaved for the first time since the Cubs were dead.
Beards never work to break slides, in my experience.
The E-Man - October 5, 2008
reply button is your friend,
but you chose poorly!
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
well they would have been easier than the Dodgers,
but oh to hell with it, shouldn’t dwell..
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
Blame the Mets
They lost a critical do=or-die game on the last day of the season when they could have forced a tiebreaker play-in game. Talk about choking.
Goodie1969 - October 5, 2008
hmm..it feels kind of weird listening to "Go Cubs Go" right now
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
So listen to "All the Way" and it will feel normal.
Weeghman Park - October 5, 2008
Maybe it was the fact I was not in Chicago,
but it felt like the “spring training” feeling of the final week really carried into the postseason for the Cubs. The last series sortof seemed like a meaningless series, but then it seemed to get worse when the playoffs actually started. Everything seemed to lack life and excitement.
Al, thanks for everything you have done this season…win or lose, you always provided great recaps and commentary. I look forward to another(my 4th) season following the Cubs with everyone here.
stadiumguru - October 5, 2008
Al: thanks for this site, it helps me stay a happy Cub fan on the left coast.
Now I have to face all these obnoxious fair weather Dodger fans tomorrow. So I have to cheer for the Phillies as I need to see these Manny lovers put in their place ASAP.
It really is a shame that we are all so die hard and constant in the love we have for our team, and now the players say that it weighs on them in October. I don’t buy it. If that is the case, Hendry and Lou have to go a lot younger and get rid of these guys who are letting history get to them. You either embrace history or run from it.
But these are topics for another day and time. Let’s all do our appropriate mourning and then return to loving our Cubs like a battered wife so often returns to her unhealthy marriage.
LAcarl519 - October 5, 2008
Public apology
I wouldn’t mind a public apology from the players expressing their sentiments for the incredibly pathetic performance for us obsessed, sick, and teased Cub fans who were fooled yet again.
Full page in the Trib, would do.
Every one of ’em is accountable for that crap.
The E-Man - October 5, 2008
just to piss off Zell they should take the full page in the Sun-Times
or USA Today
LAcarl519 - October 5, 2008
Now that's funny....
Remember the Eric Karros ad after 03?
Or how about Deron Williams??
kcjones - October 5, 2008
what did deron williams do?
RightFieldSucks - October 6, 2008
LOL!
tigerperson - October 5, 2008
I was thinking the same thing.
Fraggin Judge - October 5, 2008
BCB in SI.com
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/10/05/cubs.fans.ap/index.html
dtpollitt - October 5, 2008
recieve attention for the wrong reason..
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
We drove down from Northfield MN to Chicago for the 2nd playoff game
on Thursday nite. I was pretty jazzed since I’ve been at Wrigley many times in the past but never had a bleacher seat. Section 339 Row 7. Really neat seats right under the scoreboard…
Something seemed wrong from when we got there. We got there pretty early, around six thirty. There weren’t many other folks on the L who got off at Wrigley. And there weren’t all that many folks hanging around the street. Not like what I’d somehow expected. Went into Wrigleyville and bought a couple of souveniers and then went up to our seats. Watching the batting practice I kept thinking the energy level would get better but somehow as the seats filled, it got a bit better but still not like what I’d expected.
Watching the game was heartbreaking. It was like the Cubs somehow forgot to show up. Until about the 8th inning when they scored a few hits and runs but just seemed to not really ever be in the game…. And as we all know they lost, and lost pretty big…
I just felt like crap leaving there. I’ve been a Cubs fan since the mid 60’s, since 3rd grade.. And this was supposed to be a big deal, being in the bleachers at Wrigley in OCTOBER….
Drove back to MN on Friday. Couldn’t bring myself to watch the game yesterday. Took off my “Believe” bracelet (I’d been wearing it all season) and avoided this blog and the sports section of the newpapers. Told myself I was taking a break….Finally today took a look at this blog..
Just feel empty and dead and flat and numb…. This team was so good all year.. and so bad in the post season. This does feel worse than those other years I suppose because I really did allow myself this year to believe it was going to be different.. and once again my heart is in pieces. And I also went to a funeral yesterday. A good friend, a wonderful guy who was recuperating from some minor knee surgery and had a blood clot which caused a heart attack.. Unexpected, sudden, senseless….
It’s just been a crappy week. And I’m not sure how to try to make some sense of any of it so I’m not even trying for now… Just letting it sit…
MinnesotaFan - October 5, 2008
The question remains...
what’s to be done with our AC chart? Add another row…fuck me I know ESPN will be all over that shit.
dtpollitt - October 5, 2008
Get rid of that stupid chart
cubsnlinux - October 5, 2008
absolutely
I am so sick and fucking tired of failure being celebrated. Take that thing down.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
I think you're absolutely right.
They should take it down.
Al Yellon - October 5, 2008
By any chance, do you know them?
If so, please encourage them to do so.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
I don't know them.
But you can contact them through their website. Maybe if enough of us do that, they’ll take it down.
At some point, maybe I’ll post something about this.
Al Yellon - October 6, 2008
I sent an email.
derv - October 6, 2008
So did I
Of course, if one of them is a poster here, now they know who I really am . . .
Shanghai Badger - October 6, 2008
I always thought it was cool,
but yes, now that we are adding a digit, maybe it’s time to take it down until we put all zeros up. I do think they should keep the “Eamus Catuli” sign-that still is pretty neat
stadiumguru - October 5, 2008
I say just slide it over...at least we can win divisions within 10 years to reset that number to zero.
AC063100. Or just get rid of it.
RIOTSHIRTS.com - October 5, 2008
Why for the love of God would you do that?
Other teams have pennants celebrating their successes — this sign celebrates failure. Tear it down — NOW!
DaveinHouston - October 5, 2008
+ 1
Fraggin Judge - October 5, 2008
I'd narrow up the edges of each letter & numeral
especially the “1” digit and it’ll all fit.
I dreaded the day this would come but let’s face it: AC0063100
blackhawk24 - October 6, 2008
Well... I'm finally back here to post a note
I just wanted to crawl into a hole. What a horrible feeling.
SackMan - October 5, 2008
You can't quit being a Cub fan....
…it’s like the Mafia. You can’t get out.
O'Cub - October 5, 2008
true but is that a blessing or a curse...
MinnesotaFan - October 5, 2008
sadness
Imtrejo - October 5, 2008
...
Dongfang Hong - October 5, 2008
The downfall of Kosuke Fukudome
talk about such a total collapse. He was an IDOL in Chicago for the first two months, now we don’t even know if he will be on the team next year..
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
what's the main theory on Fukudome's downfall?
was he never that good to start?
or did something happen to knock him downward?
nervousCUBlover - October 5, 2008
I think he is a great player for Japan
but I dunno if he can make that transition to the ML. I think the league found him out or he just got extremely tired or impatient. There are many factors
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
the league adjusted to him, but he wasn't able to figure out how to change his approach.
if doing a pirouette was his idea of adjusting, he’s in for a rough career.
RIOTSHIRTS.com - October 5, 2008
To me the story on Fukudome is that no matter how many years a player played in Japan...
he’s still a rookie in the major leagues.
Fraggin Judge - October 5, 2008
League adjusted
he didn’t adjust to league’s adjustment.
It’s a learning thing on top of new country, new language, more games, more travel, time zones… it all adds up.
Kosuke-san WILL come through this. His excellent attitude (something I wish other name players on this team had) will help him immensly.
blackhawk24 - October 6, 2008
I agree
People forget that he IS a rookie in MLB. I also agree with you that he has a great attitude, and I bet anything he will be working hard and doing any and every thing the Cubs ask of him to improve next year.
I know he had a horrid second half, but I still love Dome. I have a sneaking suspicion that if more of the players had his attitude, we would be getting ready to play the Phillies right now (or at least getting ready for Game 5 against the Dodgers).
SuperContext - October 6, 2008
Second Year
I do think that Fukudome could improve in 2009. It took Hideki Matsui a full season before he blossomed against MLB pitchers, so there just may be a long adjustment period for the change in leagues (though most other Japanese imports have stayed mediocre if they started out that way). The problem is that the Cubs can’t just assume that Kosuke will automatically figure it out by April (or even July) of 2009. IMHO, they need to get their hands on an experienced and productive RFer and throw Kosuke into the CF mix. Getting deeper as a squad is never a bad thing. As long as Fukudome knows that he will start if productive, I assume that he will continue to work hard to improve/fix his hitting approach.
Qixotl - October 6, 2008
If he learns to Americanize his swing
instead of leaning into the pitch onto the front foot like many Japanese players tend to do. Some are successful, while Fukudome looks silly spinning his way into the clay when he does not make contact.
flachimesa - October 6, 2008
On the Positive Side
I should have the Fukudome stuff all to myself at the convention this year.
They’ll probably have his jersey up on the rack with the coaches.
08Cubs - October 5, 2008
THIS JUST IN!!!
Cubs Sign Sage Rosenfels!
nervousCUBlover - October 5, 2008
I know Sage Rosenfels
and his wife Maria.
sue369 - October 6, 2008
great, that statefarm commercial with the cubs did NOT help
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
it's a cute, sensitive treatment of a "true" cubs fan, though. I like it. Pass it along and it will come back to you. It's alll what is right vwith America, not what's wrong.
Only a 16 year old Cub fan would have such life maturity to realize that giving the ball to the younger kid wouldl have a more of an impact on his life that his own keeping the ball. Waveland is the center of the universe and amazing things happen. Believe.
Weeghman Park - October 5, 2008
erm almost 17...
this month :D
No I understand that part, and I love that part about the commercial. The part that makes me cringe now is Hughe’s call of the HR and Santo’s excitement.
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
wait I think I completely misread your post
NVM
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
w/e
Weeghman Park - October 5, 2008
Nicely done, Al.
This season shows you how the stars have to lined up right to go deep into October. This team was not nearly as dangerous in september and October as it was earlier in the season when Fukudome was going good and they were getting major help from nearly everyone on the roster.
In the end, it seems our heroes just aren’t quite the players we’d like them to be. The clutch RBI machine that is the June Aramis Ramirez has barely done anything since he hit the grand slam in game four of the ‘03 NLCS. Lee is not what he was and Soriano hasn’t done much in his six post season Cub games either.
The pitching was not great in the post season but the utter lack of offense makes blaming this pitcher or that pitcher moot. I will say that the Cubs do lack a starter who is likely to get you to the seventh or eighth in the post season. The Prior of ‘03 was the last guy they had like that and, obviously, Dusty screwed up by having him go into the 8th during a blowout in game two of the NLCS. Reminded me of how the Brewers rode Sabathia to the post season and he didn’t have enough left to finish the deal.
the nth - October 5, 2008
interesting
i remember ‘03 like yesterday. i hadn’t remembered about Prior going 8 in Game 2.
i will point this out – Torre, compared to Lou, and Dusty Before him, seemed super-duper, a notch-up more On the Ball and pressing every advantage. (So did McKeon) IE, torre walking theriot with 2 out last night to face Harden w/ 2 men on base – rather than going after theriot to have harden lead off next inning – that was twisting the knife and being REALLY smart & aggressive. ditto with Torre last night leaving a HOT setup man in there (Broxton) rather than a struggling closer. LOU would’ve slavishly stuck with “Marmol 8th, Wood 9th” just cause that’s the routine. And McKeon in ’03, threw every starter into Game 7 – because there WAS NO TOMORROW, when in the 8th inning of Game 6 we see, what, Farnsworth, Remlinger, Dave Veres, Alfonseca… yechhh…. our coaches have just seemed duller than the competition.
nervousCUBlover - October 5, 2008
I think you're on to something
we seemed like a bunch of guys at a senior citizen center talking about what they would rather than just being the real people who could do those things. We were one degree of freedom removed from actually being IN the game. Makes no sense. Just hire 4 of us off this blog to be the coaches and we’ll kick ass and take names.Totally. Got to be. Damn. That;s what I’m talking about. Why don;t the Cubs see that? Maybe by spring training they will have and some of us will have new jobs snuffing out the curse.
Weeghman Park - October 5, 2008
Actually Prior pitched all 9
ending up with a 2-hitter… and had a heckuva pitch count. The sole Braves RBI was one Mark DeRosa.
ChipSet - October 5, 2008
No, that was the NLDS
In the NLCS Prior had a huge lead from the fourth or fifth and Dusty kept sending him out there until he actually had to be pulled in the eighth.
the nth - October 5, 2008
Yes, you're right
I am thinking of the NLDS game 3. Sorry!
ChipSet - October 5, 2008
Yeah, led by a touchdown and field goal
and Dusty ran his pitch count to the 120-range….nice, thanks buddy.
blackhawk24 - October 6, 2008
here it is
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200310080.shtml
prior pitched 7 and then faced 2 batters in 8th. 115 pitches. in the infamous game 6, he pitched 7.1 and 119 pitches
i am pathetic — as tom petty would say, “God, it’s such a drag when you’re livin’ in the past” (from the song “Even the Losers Get lucky sometimes”) appropriately
nervousCUBlover - October 5, 2008
And it was hardly a "blowout"
Cubs: 3 runs, 8 hits, 0 errors.
Brave: 1 run, 2 hits, 4 errors (!). Hadn’t remembered all those errors either.
Correction: DeRosa didn’t have the RBI, he had the one run scored. Retrosheet
ChipSet - October 5, 2008
You guys keep looking at game two of the NLDS.
I’m talking about game two of the NLCS against the Marlins. It was a blowout. Go to the link provided by nervousCUBlover above.
the nth - October 5, 2008
Or right, game three of the NLDS.
Anyway, game two of the NLCS Cubs led 8-0 after three and 11-0 after five and Prior went into the eighth before tiring and being pulled by Dusty.
the nth - October 5, 2008
aight I'm out for the night..
its gonna be weird not having a Cubs game to watch everyday..
Chanman25 - October 5, 2008
Baseball has become more like other sports...
Having the best team is meaningless when October rolls around. To win in October, you don’t need to be the best team — just play like it. It makes no difference whether you win 105 games or 85. The records are wiped clean in October.
Yes, this was a good team, but I told many friends all year that means jack when you’re playing in October. This team was far from playing inspired baseball in September (save a few games). Sadly, I don’t find the early exit all that surprising. I am surprised that so many others are surprised by the way this played out.
DaveinHouston - October 5, 2008
Thank you Al
You provide a great forum. It’s a lot of self-sacrifice on your part. Thank you.
I can’t think about the future of the Cubs other than to say that 2008 will, in my opinion, go down as our best shot at getting to a World Series. Cubs will be hard pressed to get the type of years they got out of so many players all over again in 2009. Opportunity lost is one of the ways I will remember 2008. Probably best opportunity since 1908 in fact.
MDBNIU - October 5, 2008
Concise, and consoling summary Al! Thank You!
All season long, I felt that in an ironic twist of fate, I was “missing” THE year that the Cubs would finally fulfill all of our dreams!
Medical and health ordeals plagued me with surgery in January, and four additional hospital stays from June through September.
Each medical staff was treating me as a “Mystery Diagnosis” case, and upon each hospital admission, I was tagged with a wrist bracelet that stated, “Fall Risk”.
Given my naturally sarcastic sense of humor, I would quickly quip to the nurse applying this band, “How did you know that I am a Genetic Cubs Fan, or is this the solution for my mystery diagnosis?”
Well, none of the nurses were very quick on the uptake, and I had to explain to them that the Cubs have a long-standing history of being a “Fall Risk”!
I do not believe in any of the curses nonsense, but OH, what ominous and ironic foreshadowing these “Doomsday” bracelets have now become!
I will sadly keep these bracelets as ironic markers of the greatest Cubs season that I nearly missed!
GeneticCubsFan - October 5, 2008
One other thing concerning 2008
I too liked this team because you looked at the bench and didn’t see a total clown over there. Yeah, Ward sucked but overall, I can’t remember a Cub team that didn’t have a few guys that just made your teeth grind when they were inserted into a game. (I’m talking position players, not right-handed relievers name Bobby) But while this team had a lot of decent players, we probably overrated them a bit because of their record.
The National League stinks right now and that certainly helped the Cubs pile up some wins. In ‘84, the Cubs’ division was far superior to today’s Central and the Cubs had to play each of the teams eighteen times. The Cubs’ interleague record this season also speaks to their being something less than a steamroller. And as was pointed out above, the idea is to get to october which they did. Doesn’t mean the best team will be together enough to win.
the nth - October 5, 2008
Just Another Thanks
… for Al, who again has given us insight and understanding throughout the season.
As for the rest, I’m still processing it and chewing it over.
08Cubs - October 5, 2008
Shame
That’s all this team should feel. These are individuals who went out there and embarrased themselves.
The worst part for me was the complete cognative dissonance exemplified by Derrek Lee, who essentially said “Eh, whadda ya gonna do? I won’t bother sulking.”
It’s amazing how as a fan every once in while you realize that at times of failure, the individuals in whom you place so much hope look back at you at the end of a terrible performance and merely shrug their shoulders.
And perhaps no one shrugged their shoulders more than Lou. “Hey, ya gotta score runs” is essentially all he had to say.
I’m not asking for Dusty Baker contrived crestfallenness, but as a fan I wouldn’t mind hearing (and maybe I just didn’t see it) for the manager and at least one player to look into the camera and apologize on behalf of the worst playoff performance in the history of the Cubs.
To Al- thanks again for maintaining a great website.
To myself- I think it may take quite a few seasons, and maybe a new manager before I truly find myself caring about this team again. Then again, we’ll see how we all feel at the end of March.
SouthsideCub - October 5, 2008
This was worse
than "84 for me. They hadn’t been to the postseason for so long in ‘84, I guess I at least took some solace in them taking the next step that year. I expected this team to contend this year and really felt like they were the odds on favorite to win the Series. I really believed that, and I’m generally a pretty pessimistic guy. Just incredibly disappointing. I don’t know who they need to bring in, but it is apparent to me that some changes need to be made if this team is ever going to get over the hump and get into the World Series. The team as it is constructed right now has proven to me that they will crack under the pressure.
The worst disappointment as a Cub fan for me was 2003, because we were so close. I remember sitting there with five outs to go in game 6 thinking, “I can’t believe the Cubs are actually going to the World Series.” Turns out I shouldn’t have believed it, because they didn’t. That one hurt for weeks. Last night, I didn’t even really get pissed off when they lost because I expected it.
It hurts now, but I’ll be back next spring chomping at the bit for the first pitch of the season.
qccub - October 5, 2008
Thanks Al
I sit with you guys in left when I go to Wrigley.
Thanks for the good company and for your website.
‘84 and ’03 will always sting worse for this lifelong
Cub fan. [First game: vs Dodgers in ’70….Pepitone GrandSlam]
But I’ll be back out there in April……I’ll never give up….
See you then…..
John “Cubspizza”
quarryfan - October 5, 2008
This was a fun year with a disappointing ending
BCB was an everyday part of my life.
Thanks to Al and the BCB community—except the naysayers—for allowing me to be a part of your neighborhood.
I will stayed tuned.
I’m ready to fly to Mesa for Spring Training.
I will take a day off to sit in the Virtual Waiting Room to buy tickets.
I will buy two 9-packs to guarantee me some games even though there are other games I know I cannot attend and sell them at face value at the Ticket Exchange.
The Cubs are one free agent signing and a blockbuster trade away from drawing us back into the fold.
Time to turn the page and start a new chapter.
I want to say, “Go Cubs Go” but it feels inappropriate at the moment.
flachimesa - October 5, 2008
Epic Failure...
I kind of sensed it coming…they really did not have a great September….so I was not too surprised when it did fall apart.
How will I remember this season. I will remember it as just another season where they did not accomplish their goal. I love the team to death but just getting to the playoffs is not enough for me. Hell, at this point, I would just take them showing up for a game or two. The individual game memories will probably afford me a smile but christ even a Nat’s fan can probably say that about a game or two.
Where do they go from here…I don’t know. As has been said many times, they need to find some talented cocky, dont’ give a Sh!t players who can lead and strive under pressure.
Looking forward to the 09 Convention…but I am not sure I can be as happy when I see the everyday players this year.
A question that I have been pondering lately: If God came to me in the spring and said, this year the Cubs will win the world series on one condition: That condition is that you can’t follow them anymore. You have to give up your allegience. Would you be willing to fall on the sword for the sake of the rest of Cubs Fandom. I think I would…but I want this burden lifted off my shoulders and I would like for my children to experience some amount of baseball nirvana during their lifetime
TheRiot Police - October 5, 2008
An interesting philosphical question
My answer — if my dad gets to see it and enjoy it, absolutely yes I would.
Shanghai Badger - October 5, 2008
That question
is like asking an alcoholic to give up drinking. I couldn’t do it. As miserable as this team makes me at times, life just wouldn’t be the same without the Cubs. At least they don’t ruin my liver.
qccub - October 5, 2008
If Steve Garvey cam to your door and needed help....
Would you kick him in the face…or help him? (He still “works for” the Dodgers)
kcjones - October 5, 2008
*&^%$ Steve Garvey!!!!
&*^%$# Steve Garvey I’d Cut his hand Off!!!!!! that little bastard!!!!
Cubspursboys - October 6, 2008
steve garvey is one of my least favorite players of all time.
…and the fact that he still works for an organization like the dodgers (if he still does) is probably not surprising to me.
PS: the only person in the dodger organization I really like and admire is Vin Sculley.
zevkalman - October 6, 2008
+2
Vin is pure class; he had only positive things to say about the Cubs during the debacle in LA.
Steve Garvey is the opposite.
Weeghman Park - October 6, 2008
Thanks Al
You run a fantastic site. My biggest regret is that I lurked for as long as I did.
Baseball isn’t my favorite sport (basketball, especially the NBA is) but the Cubs are my favorite team. And while this loss hurts, I’m already looking forward to next season.
Keep the faith…
Curtain Jerker - October 5, 2008
Thanks, Al.
Our hearts were broken by this group of chokers. There’s really no other word. Next year our hopes will be up again, but perhaps with the caution that this experience will leave us as an emotional scar.
If management does the right thing there will be changes in the team. At least one good player will be gone as the price to acquire new and good players. I hope those players have the tough mentality and the right attitude to change the clubhouse mentality. We agree, Al, that we need a group of players who really don’t pay attention to the media and don’t feel the pressure. They will be a good influence to the rest.
As Derek Jeter once said about the playoffs: The best get in but only the hot teams win. May the Cubs be that team next year.
Fraggin Judge - October 6, 2008
Thank you Al
Al – I’ve enjoyed your site for the past few years, but this year, your words were the first thing I read every morning. The passion and honest critique of the team was something that wasn’t available in the newspapers and for that I just want to say THANK YOU.
I’m a season ticket holder like you and was at game 1, 2 and the end in LA. Still trying to understand how we go from 97 wins to swept (again). It was a very long flight home from the west coast.
Regardless – spring will come and baseball will begin again. I look forward to your continued honest and heartfelt reporting on our boys in blue. Next year is THE year.
3746Cubs - October 6, 2008
Many Thanks, Al
This year’s ending hit me hard. I felt it in my heart this was the year. After every Cubs home win that I could watch or listen to on the net, I would have a few tears listening to “Go Cubs Go” and everyone singing along at Wrigley. This year seemed magical, the come from behind wins, Marmol and Woody, Z’s No No, Soto’s veteren-like play all year, beating the Brewers 4 in a row when we really needed to, and all the rest. We were going to kick ass and take names in the playoffs.
I feel a little better today and will a little more each day. I can’t wait to talk Cubs baseball with you again next year under the scoreboard, enjoying the springtime Arizona sun, getting that feeling back that THIS year it will happen.
Thanks for this blog, the sounding board for the best fans in sports, period. I enjoy the discussions, the what-if’s, the catharsis, the joy of talking about a Cubs victory. Thanks to all BCB’ers. We need each other to get through this tough time to Spring Training.
Go Cubs
BigJohnAZ - October 6, 2008
One Cubs fan in San Antonio Texas that is P******d!!!
Don’t get me wrong I love my Cubs as much as I do my Spurs, and Cowboys. But to be swept in the post-season after posting a best record in the NL is Bull****. I am sick and tried of watching this team get screwed over when managers make bad choices. Frey did it in ‘84, ’03 with Baker, and both in ’07 and ’08 with Lou. What I am also mad about is that pothehic performance we made. I know I may piss off some cubs fans but i would boo the hell out of them. These guys get paid big bucks to perform well, and this team played scared, Chicago deserves a better team than this, and better yet a new stadium grand slams hit by the opposition at Wrigley….makes me sick to my stomach. Yes it’s historic but ….we ned a new home so A*****es like Mike Clark, and that other &^%$# Dodger 2nd baseman stopp hitting the long ball out of the park.
I hate our team being the doormat of baseball and the court jester of it all…..
changes have to be made…..and i’m sick of this 100 year BS!
Cubspursboys - October 6, 2008
regular season starts six months from today!
that’s exciting
Chanman25 - October 6, 2008
Regular Season: New Spring Training?
I’m not to the point where I expect the Cubs to make the playoffs every year. After 2 straight simply awful postseason series losses, I don’t know if I can view regular season games as being too much important than spring training games.
Of course, if the Cubs tank during the regular season next year, I will change my views. The opening game of the playoffs for every team that gets there should be viewed as a new opening day. It’s almost as if the Cubs played in the division series as if they were granted a 2 games to nothing lead because of their great regular season. Regular season means nothing in postseason.
Well, this was a very enjoyable season overall. We can clear that first hurdle, the regular season, fine. We’ve got to figure out a way to get beyond the LDS hurdle before we can worry about the LCS and World Series hurdles.
memphiscub - October 6, 2008
Thanks Al, it's been an interesting year.
I must admit that participating int this blog has brought many entertaining hours of enjoyment. The individuals that I have corresponded with have provided many spirited discussions and have given all of us many unique takes on the Cub experience. Only a Cub fan can understand what it’s like to pour your heart into a team and be so utterly disappointed. That common thread binds us all here.
The most discouraging thing about this year is the way it ended. To call this exit a wimper would be kind. The team that stumbled it’s way through the final three games in no way resembles the juggernaut that inspired us in the first 162. The final taste left in our mouths is so bitter that one cannot help but recoil and wonder if the last week is real or some cruel dream. Only time will allow us to objectively critique this season and put it into it’s proper perspective. For now, the pain is too great. Like a heavy dose of novacaine, the numbness must wear off before the damage can be assessed.
I would like to personally thank you Al, for provided this outlet to commumicate with my BCB bretheren. You have probably allowed much more rope to many of the participants than what was deserved, but your patience has allowed all of us to express our feelings in a unique forum that really seems to bring out the best and worst of all of us. Although this was my first year to the party, I feel a special kinship that has sustained me in a special way throughout this interesting summer. Keep up the good work Al, you do a service to us all.
Finally, to my BCB faithful, I say, thanks for the ride. I hope this is the first of many interesting seasons and I have to believe that the prize that we covet so dearly will be in our future. If the joy is in the journey, then many joyous times lie ahead. Thank you all!
willie mays hayes' gloves - October 6, 2008
Thanks to you, too, Willie.
It’s been fun joking around, and I think we’ve seen eye-to-eye on most things. I totally agree with you that the pain and sadness is just too great right now to really assess what the Cubs – and we as fans – have lost this postseason. For now, we suffer together and wait for the numbness to subside.
daver - October 6, 2008
Thanks DCD, it's been a joy to spar with you. I'm looking forward
to better days and many more intelligent post. I’m not sure who will provide them, but I’m looking forward to them!
willie mays hayes' gloves - October 6, 2008
It has been fun
At times it almost seemed like you two were a comedy team that sometimes let me in on the act.
Shanghai Badger - October 6, 2008
Don't worry Badger, you held up your end just fine.
willie mays hayes' gloves - October 6, 2008
TWSS
Sigh…even the TWSS’s don’t have the same ring right now.
daver - October 6, 2008
You're right.
willie mays hayes' gloves - October 6, 2008
Every act needs a straight man! :-)
And you’ve definitely been one of the most reasonable, good-natured posters here this year. Thanks! And best of luck to your Badgers.
daver - October 6, 2008
Thanks
At this point, it’s pretty much basketball for the Badgers . . . the football team went at the same time as the Cubs.
Shanghai Badger - October 6, 2008
At least you have basketball. As a Michigan alum, all of the sudden, field
hockey has turned into a real interesting sport.
willie mays hayes' gloves - October 6, 2008
Well,
We could always start a Big 10 Track and Field discussion post…..
Shanghai Badger - October 6, 2008
That sounds interesting, almost compelling.
Weeghman Park - October 6, 2008
Rich?
daver - October 6, 2008
and hockey!
that’s what I’m looking forward to, in addition to some easier football games after this weekend(hopefully)
stadiumguru - October 6, 2008
Drop the puck!
Shanghai Badger - October 6, 2008
Thank you too willie.
It’s been a fun summer.
sue369 - October 6, 2008
You're welcome sue, I'm really looking forward to next year.
willie mays hayes' gloves - October 6, 2008
Wow
I’m sorry Al, but at the risk of repeating what I presume to have been written above this post somewhere, I don’t have the time nor desire to sift through the 500 posts to make sure, I don’t think there is any way the 2008 season can be considered a “failure” as you’ve suggested.
Just as every season is, it was full of ups and downs…this time a hell of a lot more ups than downs even if the final result was the same one that nearly 100% of us on here have seen every year of our lives. And without becoming philosophical or trying to rationalize the ending, what keeps us coming back year after year is the journey, not the reward.
Yes, perhaps one day that reward will simply add to the journey but using a championship as the only measuring stick is foolish. Using that logic, only 1 team, one group of players, one group of fans can consider their season a lasting success…and that is wrong. Obviously, that commentary isn’t necessarily accurate as teams and fan bases use progress, growing pains and other similarly non-win related measures to judge success and failure. But no matter what you consider the ending of the 2008 season to be, the 2008 season as a whole is clearly not a failure.
Sure, we’ ve had to swallow yet another missed opportunity and it hurts. A lot. But live goes on. Players come and go. Teams rise and fall. Maybe the Cubs never win a world championship in our lifetime. Maybe then go on to win 5. Who knows. But at the end of the day, the 2008 season was indeed a good one. I will share numerous memories of it with my kids and we’ll be back for more in 2009.
Don’t think for one second that I’m not hurting like everyone else is but just as all things do, it will pass. Probably not until the World Series is over and the real 2009 calendar begins but it will pass. And all we can do is get ready for another ride in 2009.
Thanks Al for all you do on this site. See you in 2009.
krummy12 - October 6, 2008
Just curious, have you ever succeeded at anything in life? Conversely,
have you ever failed at anything in life? How did you feel in both cases? Can you honestly say that the feeling you had as a success is anything close to how you feel at this moment? With that in mind, can you honestly say that this seeason is not a complete and utter failure? Think about it honestly.
willie mays hayes' gloves - October 6, 2008
Since when is a lack of progress a success?
Fraggin Judge - October 6, 2008
So...
every team that has won the WS is a failure?
chr15 - October 6, 2008
I am assuming you mean that every team that has
not won the WS is a failure. If the goal of every team is to win the WS every year, then only one team succeeds at that goal every year. There are many different goals that teams try to attain every year. Just because they don’t gain the ultimate goal, that doesn’t make them any less of a team. People seem to recoil from the thought of failing because of negative conotations associated with the word. Failure make success that much sweeter. It makes you want success that much more.
No one is saying to flush the season down the toilet or that you wasted you time by going to a game. The team didn’t succeed at the ultimate goal. Plain and simple.
willie mays hayes' gloves - October 6, 2008
No...
I meant WS winners have no further chance at progress and therefore, it seems from Fraggin’s question, success. And from your comment(s), a Game 7 blown call could keep a team from the ultimate goal but could hardly label their season a complete and utter failure. A WS ring is nobody’s until they win it. Not winning the WS is not a complete and utter failure. As you mentioned, almost everybody does it.
chr15 - October 6, 2008
I never said the season was a complete and utter failure. I said that
the team had failed to reach it’s ultimate goal. As I said, a team will have many goal, winning a certain number of games, winning a division, winning the LCS and so forth. Failure to reach the ultimate goal in no way diminishes the effort put forth by the team, but it is a failure nonetheless. The Cubs succeeded at winning their division, but they failed to win the championship, that much is a fact.
willie mays hayes' gloves - October 6, 2008
Exactly, willie. Winning two consecutive WS would be progress for any team.
Getting short of the goal in the same spot in two consecutive years is stagnation, regression, lack of progress, you name it. It’s a failure.
Fraggin Judge - October 6, 2008
willie mays hayes' gloves Oct 6 2008 9:05 AM CDT...
You didn’t write, ‘…With that in mind, can you honestly say that this seeason (sic) is not a complete and utter failure?…’? Sorry if I’m somehow reading more into that than there is. And Fraggin, now we need two consecutive WS wins for success? Pretty tall order. Your most recent comment shows you were talking getting past the first round. What’re you guys doing next summer?
chr15 - October 7, 2008
Read again, please.
Not advancing isn’t progress. Improving is. I just refuted your point that according to my analysis, there’s nothing else to achieve after winning a World Series. I answered that then a team improves by winning another one. It doesn’t improve by choking in two NLDS in a row. That’s failure.
Fraggin Judge - October 7, 2008
While I don't want the White Sux to 'win' anything, I'm glad...
…that they did win at least one game – at least Chicago won ‘something’ in the post-seasons… if that makes ANY sense (not much does these days…)
malicedoom - October 6, 2008
I'm gladd the Sox fans got to watch The Rays celebrate on their field.
kcjones - October 6, 2008
Flawed Team
You mentioned about the losing streak in August. I flew to Chicago and I witnessed four of those six losses. I knew then, that this team was not going to go all the way. In fact, if it wasn’t for the bumbling Brewers, this team would not have even won the division. This team does not have fire in the belly. When they have a left fielder who is more about style and bunny hops, versus learning how to lead off and get on base for the team, it’s a disaster in the making, which reared its ugly head in August. That same player, in post game comments after the sweep talked about how the “team” didn’t do this or that. What about another 1-14 playoff run and not placing blame directly on yourself? It has nothing to do with too much pressure, it has everything to do with too many similar type players. This team needs a young Ron Santo, someone who’s not afraid to call out a player or players for not putting it out on the field. At what point as a player, do you finally get so pissed off and say enough is enough? If any of these players go home this winter and try to forget about this year…they are doing exactly what a loser does. This year should burn a hole so deep into their guts that they come out so angry at themselves that they refuse to fail. That hasn’t happened yet with this team and it might not. The attitude should be, damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. It was this lack of passion, when they could have put the division away at the end of August by playing smart baseball. It’s called a killer instinct and this team has failed miserably in that score. If they can’t play with a killer instinct they will never play well enough to kill this silly notion there is a curse on this team.
Galtwho - October 6, 2008
I think you are right.
I admit that Sori is a good hitter, and allegedly the spark plug of the team’s offense, but I never really liked his bunny hops, his style of play, or (what I think to be) his unwillingness to play smart team-oriented baseball.
After his comments suggesting that Hendry didn’t construct a team able to win in the division series, it seems to me he is going a bit too far to hide his poor hitting in the post season (both this year and last year).
As far as Soriano goes, I think he should be put further down in the order, and hopefully we can get a real leadoff hitter who can play good shortstop (not Theriot) and have a bit of extra-base hit ability in 2009.
zevkalman - October 6, 2008
What you call "fire in the belly"...
I call killer instinct….and yes…this team lacked it. The only Cub team I remember with it was the 84 team.
kcjones - October 6, 2008
I had this feeling
and I didn’t want to share it before the playoffs that this wasn’t the right way to win the championship. I could almost see how much pressure this team had on them going into it.
IMO, the only way the Cubs will end their drought will be as an “underdog” or with a late season run to make it into the postseason. Just a feeling I have. A lot like the 03 Cubs.
Lou In Blue - October 6, 2008
Please....no more ... no more curses...no more pressue....
no more favorite/underdog BS……..Once the Cubs have some players with “killer instinct”…they will win..
kcjones - October 6, 2008
Dreadful
I don’t break bad on my team, but…I’m mad so here it goes.
To paraphrase National Lampoon regarding the Cubs performance in the post-season:
Getting there was a fluke of the Universe, they had no right to be there.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen them play that badly (about a year). If I didn’t know better I’d think they were throwing the games. Just about every contact with the ball was straight to an infielder or a rainbow to the outfield.
The very notion that the team mates in the dugout were sitting back on the benches instead of being at that railing cheering the others on no matter what was happening out on the field is unforgivable. The best team in the National League? My wife said that they played like Little League team and she’s right.
So it is with a heavy heart that I move my Cubs jersey to the back of the closet for a few months and take off my “Believe” bracelet and step down off my soapbox. Yeah, I’ll be back in April with my hopes renewed. Why? Because my name is Dave, and I am a Cubs fan. (Hi Dave!)
jonede - October 6, 2008
Actually they played worse than many little leaguers.
Fraggin Judge - October 6, 2008
Al, I'm not sure if you're still reading this thread...
…but I want to add my thank you to the list. This blog enhances my enjoyment of the Cubs, serves as a quasi-support group and, best of all, helps me learn more about baseball than I ever could on my own.
Your elegy echoes many of my own thoughts. We are all grieving – mourning the loss of something that appeared to be so, so special but turned out to be just another illusion that disappeared before our eyes before fulfilling its ultimate promise.
daver - October 6, 2008
Like last year
I was telling myself that I would not need to be bothered with the Bears’ futility because I could hope and hope the Cubbies would keep me occupied deep into October…At least I have something to watch other/read about other than the rest of the baseball postseason!
April 6, 2009 can not come a day too soon…And I know that we will all make it through this, and have a great winter of baseball talk on BCB to guide us until next season! Already looking forward to the free-agent frenzy contest…
PurpleLineToWrigley - October 6, 2008
It was a helluva ride....
it just ended to abruptly. Yea, they choked at the most important time but for 6 months they gave us some great memories. I’m past the anger and sadness now and looking forward to April.
Thanks for the great site.
brianf7408 - October 6, 2008
Felt your pain, Al...
Funny/sad thing about it, Cubs still have best record in NL right now? I’ll take a162 game regular season over a short series any day. Just wore my Daytona Cubs shirt the first time today. Maybe now that that 100 years thing is past, there won’t be any pressure next year. (By the way, what was D. Lee’s and the rest of those wrinkly-assed guy’s excuse 10 or 20 or 50 years ago? I’d’ve fired them all after the first 20 or 25 years, at least.)
chr15 - October 6, 2008
The Cubs will do fine in 2009!
I have no idea if Ernie will utter those words or not at the Cubs’ Convention, but I do believe they will move on and dominate the NL again and this time since it counts, they will help to win the All Star Game and get Home Field advantage throughout the playoffs and finally take advantage of having it. They need to keep the edge they lost this year in lat August and September ALL THE WAY through the playoffs. Anyone who is our age, as Al said, has seen the terrible teams of the 60’s and suffered through our first broken heart of ‘69 and then ’84 and most Cub fans today remember the ’03 debacle and then there is this year which is defined in Websters as “unfullfilled promise” and I truly feel as though the Cubs broke a promise with their fans in the way they failed miserably to execute in every phase of the game. Hell, a triple A team most likely could have beat them in the playoffs the way they didn’t play. Oh well, my grandfather who saw them win at the Westside Grounds in ’07 and ’08 used to say, Hey, what do you expect, They are the Cubw after all!
Have a great winter and how ’bout dem Bears!
Cub's Paperboy - October 6, 2008
Even if they win 100 games next year
I will find it hard to get too excited about it until they actually have some success in the playoffs.
I think that is one of the most horrible things about the way it went down this year. It completely devalues the regular season for me. Maybe I will feel differently in April, but I just can’t imagine I will be able to get too excited no matter how well they play.
SuperContext - October 6, 2008
i agree
if they won 162 games next year… i will not be able to get overly excited… until they get 3 wins in the NLCS
Cubster - October 6, 2008
+1
I think we will all be a little less giddy next time around. I’m starting to relate to The Brave’s fans.
willie mays hayes' gloves - October 6, 2008
If they went 162-0 diring the reg season....
anything less than 11-0 in the post season would be failure
kcjones - October 6, 2008
Yep, this postseason was absolutely stunning in that regard.
And I mean “stunning” literally. I am numb and frozen with disbelief and sadness at how this team collapsed. And I can’t even imagine feeling confident going into any postseason ever again.
daver - October 6, 2008
I am going back to my old avatar
sorry… it expresses how I feel of being a life long Cub fan… always waiting for the second shoe to drop… but hoping somehow… it doesn’t
Cubster - October 6, 2008
Well, as your Number One critic for having that avatar, let me just say...
…go right ahead. As much as I hated that image during the regular season, I can’t deny that it perfectly sums up how I feel inside right now.
daver - October 6, 2008
Stop Being a Cubs Fan - How?
I see the messages from folks saying they are giving up on the Cubs. But I don’t know how to do it. Is there a 12-step program? Is there a methadone surrogate? How do you stop? If I could I would; getting gut-punched like this gets old in a hurry. And we all know and fear it isn’t the first or last time. The joy is as durable as a soap bubble, and gone just as quickly.
Al, great job as always, and a great message today. May be all recover by the last week of February.
AlaskaFan - October 6, 2008
Wow..a really strong Soriano bashing.
http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/rosenblog/2008/10/the-marathon-mo.html [Rosenbloom]
cubsnlinux - October 6, 2008
wow. sounds like Blue Mike there.
…and i see that a lot of people are echoing his statements. can’t say that I disagree with them….it’s not Soriano’s business to judge what kind of a team Hendry put out there…it’s his job to field and hit. I wonder what Hendry is thinking now that Sori says that the Cubs were built for a marathon and not a sprint…
zevkalman - October 6, 2008
Thanks Al
Your dedication to this community is appreciated.
dr stabbingworth - October 6, 2008
I am having a hard time finding anything worthwhile to say today in regards to the Cubs...
..but I want to offer a very sincere thank you to Al for running a wonderful site and bringing together a great community of Cubs fans. Thank you Al, your efforts and never ending optimism. Your passion is infectious and I really appreciate it.
JB 23 - October 6, 2008
I am having a hard time finding anything worthwhile to say today in regards to the Cubs...
..but I want to offer a very sincere thank you to Al for running a wonderful site and bringing together a great community of Cubs fans. Thank you Al, your efforts and never ending optimism. Your passion is infectious and I really appreciate it.
JB 23 - October 6, 2008
Yes, thank you. Regardless of how things turned out this year...
…one bright spot that will remain… is this site and this board. It’s been the ‘constant’ I’ve looked forward to for pretty much the entire year.
malicedoom - October 6, 2008
Maybe we should start a petition to ban the first 10 home games of next year
derv - October 6, 2008
No way I'm missing the Cards series :)
flachimesa - October 6, 2008
Even if a massive petition could influence only a 50% turnout...
…it would send a clear message to the organization that we are pissed and they need to do something to limit this from happening again.
derv - October 6, 2008
Dodger fan here
I thought I’d drop a line saying this is a great site with obviously lots of passionate fans. As I’m ecstatic about the outcome of series, I’m sympathetic to the other side.
I also was reading the post from the fan who attended game 3 at Dodger Stadium. I can’t defend the drunken idiots who harassed Cub fans, god knows there’s lots of them. But there’s also many good loyal Dodger fans who know the game and can appreciate fans for the opposing teams. I took a friend with me to game 3 who’s a 50 year Cub fan. I made sure he had a good experience, outcome notwithstanding.
Keep the faith, it’ll happen when it happens.
mleadman - October 6, 2008
Curious? Did you arrive before the 3rd inning and stay for the entire game?
Or is that a myth about Dodger fans arriving late and leaving by the 7th inning?
flachimesa - October 6, 2008
No
We were there for batting practice and left midway through the celebration. I figured my friend didn’t need to go through that. Sure some get there late and leave early. Every stadium has fans who do that to some degree. Plenty of reasons for this. Lots of passionate fans who have jobs that don’t let them get to the game at the start, people who have to get their kids to bed, truly horrible traffic getting into and out of the stadium, and yes, people who don’t care that much. I saw people leaving Wrigley early on the broadcasts. Not trying to argue, just saying an awfully broad brush gets used when this subject comes up.
mleadman - October 6, 2008
Not disagreeing with you about Cubs fans leaving Wrigley early
but it was a later than usual start time (8:30 PM CDT) to accomodate TBS and the West Coast seeing the game after work hours.
So much for the home field advantage when TV dictates when you play the games.
Oh, and the score was almost out of hand, too, although I stayed until the last out.
flachimesa - October 6, 2008
That's the reason for most people though
Late games, early jobs, people have to leave.
mleadman - October 6, 2008
Moving a game from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM makes a big difference
getting out of Wrigley at 10:00 as opposed to 11:30.
10:00 PM is respectable, 11:30 PM is just late.
flachimesa - October 6, 2008
Thanks
for that, ml. I also think it’s overlooked how Dodger Stadium is designed very poorly for any kind of convenience as far as getting there and leaving there. So some of the leaving early rep has come from what an entire pain in the ass it is to get in and out. Unlike places like Wrigley, Yankee Stadium and PhoneCo park in SF, Dodger Stadium does not have any good direct public transport to the park. They’ve tried to fix that this year with a new trolley system that takes people to the train/metro station not too far away, which helps I’m sure. But that plus the famous LA traffic has contributed to that rep. i know when Eric Gagne was in his prime in LA people were less prone to leave early and this year during their playoff run. During the celebration on Saturday (sorry) it seemed most fans stayed around for awhile afterwards. Anyway, it’s part myth/part truth but has some reasons behind beyond just “LA fans don’t care.” It’s such a diverse crowd. There are drunken idiots/ass___es, and I’m sorry for any Cubs fan who had to take abuse at the game there, but I know at least from my friends who were there (I wasn’t) they tried to be polite and had some good conversations with knowledgable cubs fans sitting near them. I guess it depends on which section, etc.
I’ve taken my share of abuse as a Dodger fan now living in San Fran, I’ll say that, and it’s never fun if it goes beyond good-natured. I’ve always admired the passion and loyalty that Cubs fans have shown for their team over the years and hope it’s someday rewarded with a championship. Cheers.
underdog - October 6, 2008
The trolley
Yeah, the trolley is a nice try. I took it once. But the buses have to be in the same traffic lines as the cars, so it doesn’t work that well. If they had dedicated bus lines, it would be great.
mleadman - October 6, 2008
OTOH, I've lived in LA before, and somehow rapid transit never really caught on
Everyone loved to take their expensive cars everywhere…and those who took the bus or public transit were considered losers. Maybe things have changed recently, but I doubt it. I have family there, and I visit there often.
zevkalman - October 7, 2008
Congratulations and good luck.
Fraggin Judge - October 6, 2008
Added Pressure from Above...
All year Lou has pushed off talk of curses and goats and other superstitious garbage…
and then just before Game 1 the moron Chairman of the club has a Greek Orthodox Priest
sprinkle Holy Water in the dugout…
Who let this jackass out of his skybox…
Send him and Soriano packing…
Endrick - October 6, 2008
I Kenney's defense
He knows baseball. I think the has done more good than bad, but that stunt was a mistake.
Shanghai Badger - October 6, 2008
Mistake...
Lou spent all year trying to shut up idiot sports writers who want to write about curses and
black cats and Billy Goats and the weight of 100 years of no WS wins…
and in 1 fell swoop He makes Lou look stupid by going over his head and
doing that…
Endrick - October 6, 2008
I agree 100%.
zevkalman - October 6, 2008
Yes, I agree with you.
I wasn’t justifying what Crane did — I said it was a mistake. Just said that he’s done good things. I think he has. Not that particular thing, though.
Shanghai Badger - October 6, 2008
the power of Christ compels you
Cubster - October 6, 2008
I guess the priest really used tap water. :-)
Fraggin Judge - October 6, 2008
maybe the baseball gods don't like being tinkered with...
zevkalman - October 7, 2008
Thanks, Al
Wanted to pile on and say thanks, Al. It was an amazing ride. As always, I came here for informitave, non-bias, Cubs news and looked forward to making BCB as much a part of the season as WGN.
To all the regulars: Wishing you nothing but warm wishes and the best throughout the winter. See you all in a few short months when pitchers and catchers report and hope springs eternal once more.
GO CUBS GO!
Tangled Up In Blue - October 6, 2008
'pressure'..'pressing'..yada yada
Even though I don’t believe in the above buzz words that are freely floating these days even though for the sake of argument if we believe that the Cubs players simply didn’t perform under ‘pressure’ and hence they were ‘pressing’ what is the guarantee that this won’t be repeated next year? Soriano is now a flop in the two post season appearances he has been with the cubs, Ramirez and Lee (Though Lee is the only one who came to play baseball on saturday night) have been no better in their last two play off appearances. Now if we believe that these professional athletes somehow wilted under pressure the last two years then it would be rational to say that they will again fail in the post season in 2009 (if the cubs get there) because they would feel the ‘pressure’ of 2007 and 2008 and hence will again press in 2009. So this is a catch 22 and hence there is a high probabliity that they will no longer be able to produce anything in the post season with the cubs because the pressure will only get cumulatively worse. In other words there is absolutely zero light at the end of the tunnel.
Having said all that I think attributing all the failure to ‘pressure’ and ‘pressing’ is garbage. The signs were there to be season through out the season. When DeRo was going through his slumps we have seen that he was trying to pull every darn pitch. The same is true with Soriano (actually more true with Soriano as he ALMOST ALWAYS try to pull every damn pitch) and Lee (remember all the double plays and rally killing grounders?). Out of these only DeRo and to an extent Lee adjusted to the pitchers pitching him outside in the playoffs. ARam and Soriano were swinging for the god damn fences every single time when all they had to do was to get a base hit to get the ball rolling.
cubsnlinux - October 6, 2008
Maybe they were trying to pull everything because of pressure?
CaliCub - October 6, 2008
ac0063100
:(
Cubster - October 6, 2008
I would say get rid of the damn numbers altogether?
Why do we want to advertise any futility? We don’t need these reminders in this age of technology and communication. Now I am fine with just the words – “EAMUS CATULI”.
cubsnlinux - October 6, 2008
Yes...a few of us sent the LakeView Baseball Club (or whatever they're called)
e-mails telling them to dump the year counter
Shanghai Badger - October 6, 2008
Al is Mr. Cub
Thanks for another great year of BCB. You are the Mr. Cub of the internet. Your commentary is always thoughtful, insightful and pitch-perfect, through the good AND the bad.
Over the last few years I’ve become concerned about my growing lack of passion for the Cubs. I used to live and die with them everyday, but since I turned 30 I kind of mellowed out. Well, this year I again experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows. Sometimes the pain lets you know you are still alive.
I’m still alive.
And it will be extra sweet next year when we run the table in the postseason.
MikeIowa - October 6, 2008
My sentiments exactly!
But given our horrid performance, I am leaning towards the curse theory again, but sprinkling holy water ain’t gonna cure it.
tigerperson - October 6, 2008
There. Is. No. Such. Thing. As. A. Curse.
“Curses” are in the same category as Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy — things not to be believed by any sane adult.
SuperContext - October 6, 2008
You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch!
CaliCub - October 6, 2008
Al, thanks for so much. This site has been a wonderful way to follow the Cubs
for those of us who don’t get to go to all that many games because of living far away. Your insights and comments were really great. And to everyone on this blog, thanks for the game threads, it was a way to be a part of something bigger while watching/listening to the games in my house in MN. I felt a part of something bigger, almost like being at the game.
Thanks to you all. Especially Al…. Maybe by the spring I’ll be able to believe again that this team is worth watching.
MinnesotaFan - October 6, 2008
There is always next year...
I’m a Dodger fan who was 8 years old during our magical run in 1988. As a kid, I believed every year was supposed to be like that only to grow up into adulthood with the frustration that reality says otherwise. Aside from my beloved Dodgers, the Cubs are one of my other favorite teams. I rooted you guys on in 1989 to beat those damn Gnats, and I felt your pain in 2003. There’s something about the Cubs organization with your long history, the color blue, the beauty of Wrigley (I’ve only seen it on TV as I haven’t had the honor of visiting legendary Wrigleyville yet), the magic of the ivy, and the perseverance of a fan base to unabashedly love your team through all the heartache. There is no such thing as a curse. Baseball is just a funny game, and one day the breaks and bounces will go your way. Good luck next year.
ishXdavid - October 6, 2008
Thanks Al
Thanks Al for a chance to vent . Instead of venting I will tell you what I will do tomorrow. Last Tuesday I purchased a Cubs T-shirt and a white W flag. I wore the tee shirt the following day but did not have a good vibe about opening the expensive W flag. I shall return it and get my money back. That is a hell of a way to end the season.
CubFan69 - October 6, 2008
Nice summary post, thanks!
Yes, there is added pressure here we all see it, but it’s hard/impossible to say how much that affects performance. The red Sox and White Sox both ended long losing periods. The team can take the mental approach that it’s possible and achieveable given what other losing organizations have accomplished.
Winning in a given ear can be due to luck, winning consistently or at least getting to that final stage consistently is by design.
The Cubs have no choice but to try and win by design and if luck helps out along the way then so be it. But this team was playing mediocre to poor baseball for the final 4-6 weeks, so I don’t think they just choked in the playoffs. The pressure of 100 years did not have nearly the affect of good Dodger pitching executing against Cubs hitters that have weaknesses.
Now, why our Game 1 SP was so awful, I don’t know—but the MANAGER should have jumped on tat. For all his baloney about only playing guys who produce when he banished Fukudome, Lou was MIA watching Game 1 go down the drain early.
I don’t want to digress here, the Cubs need to make improvements and give it another shot. The pressure and curse and all that crap only goes so far as you let it in to your head.
DudeVf11 - October 6, 2008
Wow! 600+ posts and this is not a Cubs v. Cards game thread--that's awesome!
DudeVf11 - October 6, 2008
It still smarts
And it will until probably about October of 2009 (if we’re lucky).
Brett Taylor - October 6, 2008
MDBNIU - I agree w/Blue Mike
“I can’t think about the future of the Cubs other than to say that 2008 will, in my opinion, go down as our best shot at getting to a World Series…”
We were fortunate that we caught the Redbirds, Astros, and Brewers not at their best – IO can only imagine what LaRussa would have done with this team (sorry Lou, but in the Playoffs you are overmatched) – the ’Stros, just were in too deep of a hole, and the Brew Crew just could not pitch CC everyday.
there are no guarantees that the Cubs will be even able to “get back” again in 2009.
Sorry – but, I would have to agree w/Blue Mike here: we missed another Golden opportunity. – Sigh -
The E-Man - October 6, 2008
Down in the tropics...and feeling sad
I thought it might happen this year. It even made some sense to me that this year—a year when I couldn´t even watch the games in English, where I only could watch the end of a game in some dive bar after the futball game was over—that it would happen.
But after seeing that grandslam in game one. Well, I hate to say it, but I just knew it was over. But now I just don´t get it, two days later. Where was the team I watched all year, amazed, I watched them. Where were they? And how do we get there if this team doesn´t do it?
Someone was telling me there is an Argentinian futball team that has similar luck. But not nearly as sad. And, to top it off, I´m missing Autumn too.
At least you all don´t have to deal with the rainy season.
panamagirl - October 6, 2008
We have come a long way so far
I turned 50 this year, been a Cubs fan pretty much the whole time (though in Kindergarten and earlier I was probably equally a fan of the Sox). I have vague memories of hearing one of my big sister’s friends announce that the Cubs traded Lou Brock.
The first 25 years of my life, I never saw the Cubs finish a season in first place. They came so close in 1969 and that stung for a long time.
At age 12 my parents allowed me to go to Cubs games without adult supervision. That summer I probably made it to a dozen games, funded by what I earned mowing lawns on my block. $3.00 made for a pretty good day – round-trip CTA fare, my grandstand or bleacher ticket, a hot dog, a cup of pop and peanuts. I could manage on $2.50 but would have to skimp a little on the snacks.
In 1973 they were in contention until the last few days of the season. It would have been a long shot — potentially a multi-way tie — but it was not to be. But the sadness of being so close for so long, only to not make it, still lingers.
Then, 1984. The year that Harry Caray commented on a freak play by saying, “God wants the Cubs to win!” Ryne Sandberg, Rick Sutcliffe, “building a new tradition”, and finally, for the first time in my life, a first place finish, and a 2-0 lead in the NLCS. That series really stung, to get so close and then fail. That was the worst until 2003.
That was also pretty much the last year you could just walk up to the park any day and get tickets from the box office.
Since then we’ve made the post-season in ‘89, ’98, ’03, ’07, and now this year. That’s 3 times in the last 6 years. If you had told me at age 11, after the 1969 debacle, that the Cubs would win division titles 3 times in 6 years I would have been ecstatic.
And I’m not saying that that’s good enough. Especially when franchises that are younger than some of my Cubs hats, like the Marlins and Diamondbacks, have World Series titles. “Some day we’ll go all the way” – and I hope it’s soon. I was fortunate enough to have a glimpse of the Cubs dropping to their knees in joy when I witnessed Z’s no-hitter in Milwaukee. And I am ready to see that after that 11th October win, Some Day. Not this year. But Some Day.
But I’m sure happier with this decade’s Cubs than any of the teams I knew growing up.
I can’t get to nearly as many games as I’d like to — a 9-to-5 job, and 58,492th place in the season ticket waiting list — but I’m thankful to have BCB. A place to learn, to rant, to chat, and (too often) commiserate. Thanks so much to Al for all his work in running the site and keeping it humming — and to the BCB community for, well, being a community.
And we’ll hang out together for the post-season, and hot stove season, and finally that joyous countdown ’til pitchers and catchers report to Arizona. Then we begin anew.
ChipSet - October 6, 2008
I've been a Cubs fan for all of my 25 years...
and I feel fortunate to see the ‘07 & ’08 Cubs teams. Too long I have followed the Cubs for losing season after losing season with a touch of hope in the form of a playoff appearance sprinkled in. Sure, the Cubs went three and out again. This isn’t a curse, this isn’t destiny, this isn’t the weight of 100 years…this is a crap-shoot (the playoffs, I mean). It doesn’t make sense for a team to play 162 and prove that they are the best team just to be the first to three wins in a short series. Let me put it this way…if the Cubs and Dodgers would have played 162 times, the Dodgers wouldn’t be 162-0 against the Cubs. I would bet they wouldn’t even be 81-81 against these Cubs. The fact is that the Cubs came up short in three games. If you would award the championship to the team that was the last to lose three games in a row in the regular season, it would have been the Cubs.
So, Cubs fans, mourn now but look to the future. The Cubs will be in a good position to make it three playoff appearances in a row. The Cubs are building for sustained success for the first time in 100 years. What Cubs fan can’t get excited about that? Think about those teams that win championships often. They don’t make the playoffs every sixth or seventh year. They make playoff runs over six or seven years. This will be the fate of the Cubs.
I’ll enjoy the rest of the playoffs, but I am already counting down until pitchers and catchers report. (I hope to see Dempster in Cubbie blue pinstripes next year!)
Cap'n Awesome - October 6, 2008
Oh brother...
were you one of the people that said, “Cubs in Four”?
Another drink of the Kool-Aid for you, bartender.
The E-Man - October 6, 2008
I prefer Old Style over Kool-Aid.
But why beat yourself up? It could be a heck of a lot worse. It’s better than being the Brewers. They threw all their chips on the table and lost.
Sorry you can’t see that.
Cap'n Awesome - October 6, 2008
The Brewers won one
more Playoff game than the Cubs. And they have a terrific nucleus of young players.
Sorry you can’t see that.
The E-Man - October 6, 2008
Though there isn't much difference, right now we can't claim to be above the Brewers. Actually, they outlasted us.
And that team is improving. So, watch out.
Fraggin Judge - October 7, 2008
Damn
I don’t know if I can stop being a Cubs fan … but I can stop being a hopeful, optimistic Cubs fan.
Win, Lose. I don’t care. I’ll watch. I’ll enjoy baseball. I’ll enjoy the green grass and the sunshine and a beer in the bleachers. I have no interest in looking up to see if there’s a blue W or L.
Doesn’t matter anymore/
jaxinnabox - October 7, 2008
I was "lucky" to be out of town from 10-03 through 10-07
So, I missed most of the sturm and drang after Saturday’s death walk. I’ve seen several references to the Dodger fans here (I was at a BB King concert, so I only saw the final 2 innings) as well as to Ethier being asswipes. Also, I missed all the local medias’ Sunday reports.
Anyone care to give me some lowlights? Thanks.
thermal54 - October 8, 2008
that should be “sturm und drang.” I should know that…I work for a German company;)
thermal54 - October 8, 2008
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