Well, that's all I have. Yep, didn't mention a curse. Curses are excuses that stupid fans, who have no idea what is going on with their favorite team and the games they play, use to explain things. I reach for tangible reasons. I think the ones I listed above make add up to the early exit.
On that note how bout that Bears game? To think I got up at 6:30am (Hawaiian time) to watch. 2.5 hours of terrible Bears football, followed by 0.49 hours of great Bears football, followed by 0.01 hours of nutcrunching football. Hey, at least they are still in first!
GO BEARS!
Angry Mike, Ginger Russ (Drunk Rusty) and Lazy Steve. This scene will be repeated in March of 2009, come join in the Idiotic revelry.Well it looks like the players are already moving on.
I want to make one thing clear. I am moving on, but I am not over it and I won't forget this. I witnessed the most dominant Cubs season in my lifetime this year but this ending in unforgiveable. The best way to deal with this type of disappointment is to reflect and discuss how things went down so I am not going to think twice about doing so. I plan to continue blogging regularly about the Cubs, Bears, Boilers, and whatever else I want.
I will begin examining the ways I think the team can get better in the next few weeks while hanging in Hawaii. When the new year comes I will begin planning the Spring Training schedule for the Idiots (assuming I don't get stuck in the field again for work).
One thing I am not going to do is forget this and pretend everything is OK. Everything is no OK with this team. As it is currently constructed and presented to us on the field it is not going to win a playoff series. Let me be more specific. This lineup will continue to cost us in the playoffs. Yes, I am looking at you Soriano. You too Ramirez. Lee, Soto, Edmonds, you are to blame as well.
The first change that needs to happen is removing Soriano from the leadoff position. He is a talented hitter but he is too streaky and too susceptable to off speed pitches out of the zone. Theriot needs to lead off and Lee needs to be moved to the 2-hole because lets face it, he is not a big RBI threat. He does well getting innings started, unfortunately with 2 outs in the playoffs. Ramirez can move up to 3 and move Soriano to 4th with Soto/DeRosa fifth. Oh, have I mentioned I don't give a shit about righty lefty matchups? Although he had a nice season for us Edmonds needs to go and Reed needs to be resigned. Fukudome needs therapy bigtime but I think he can be an impact 7/8 hitter. No new players in there....yeah I know. I have the feeling a trade will happen before Spring. I think Hendry still feels he needs a lefty bat. He may have the best option in Iowa. I hope they really try to get the Hoff tons of outfield practice....
OK, I am rambling. I am tired of trying to be logical. If the Cubs organization isn't going to be logical neither will I. I will simply turn my attention to a good Bears team. I won't forget this though. Hopefully next time I tell the other Idiots not to speak of playoffs and World Series appearances prematurely they will listen.
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It's just a game... It’s just a game... It’s just a game.
These are the four words I repeated to myself while in vodka-induced trance about a thousand times last night at the end of the Cub's game massacre. It helped me to control myself from gathering every piece of Cub paraphernalia I own into pile, dousing it with lighter fluid and having my own little bonfire/funeral pyre/effigy.
Ironically, today I feel much better, almost calm about the situation. All my anger and hatred is gone. I take back denouncing the Cubs and claiming allegiance to the White Sox. It’s just a game. Next year will bring the Cubs to Mesa again and we can start it all over.
It was a good year. 97 wins. As a Cub fan in my (ugh) 30’s I have seen plenty of seasons where the Cubs didn’t even make it to the playoffs. I have seen seasons of being the laughing stock of the NL East/Central. I have seen more losing seasons than winning ones.
So should have history taught me not to expect anything more than a sweep in the first round? Probably. But I am a Cubs fan. Always (well almost) optimistic. I root for my Cubbies through thick and thin, which is usually more thin than thick. But as a Cub fan you always have that nagging voice in your head telling you are being foolish to expect more. It’s a curse they tell us. Billy goats, black cats, Bartman's.
Well, I don’t believe in curses. I don’t believe in destiny. It was such an almost perfect situation: 100 years of losing. A century of pain. It was to all be washed away with a World Series win. It’s gonna happen the signs said.
Most times this year, the Cubs looked unstoppable. Even when the Cubs were down, we saw them comeback. I saw the first Cubs no-no in my lifetime. We clinched the division and home field advantage with a week of baseball still left to play. Was it too much? Too good to be true? Unfortunately yes, it was.
I have no blame for the players or Sweet Lou. Sure Dempster didn’t have to walk everybody. Maybe K-Fuk shouldn’t be playing. How does the entire infield commit an error in one game? And the last time I checked, you have to actually score runs to win a game.
The Cubs have what I believe will be their last game of the year this weekend. So far we have looked like the sixteen year old who is about to pop his cherry on prom night. We’re at the big show, but now we have no idea what to do and are too nervous to do so even if we did. So let’s go out and have fun. Take heed of J dot’s advice: enjoy it. Show the fans the excitement you showed them all year. Gone is the pressure of the "fans" in Wrigley. We play in LA now, in front of movie stars and beautiful people that could care less about the game.
Can the Cubs come back? It’s not inconceivable. The White Sox won 3 "elimination" games to get into the playoffs. The Red Sox came back from 3 games down to the Yankees in 2004 and went on to win their first Championship in 86 years. In 1985 the Royals came back from a 3-1 game deficit against the Blue Jays and went on to win their only ring. The Cubs have won 3 games in a row 18 times this year. So is it impossible? No. Improbable? Yes. But remember whatever happens...
It’s just a game.
Go Cubs!
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...a classic choke to this point. This has nothing to do with a curse. Every member of this team is choking with the exception of Zambrano and those who haven't played with pressure on.
Recap - 2nd inning. DeRosa and Lee, you officially became chokers tonight. Last night was on Dempster but tonight you two helped seal the Cubs fate before you made the 4th out. Theriot isn't off the hook because his bare handed attempt was dumb as shit but you two could have picked up the pieces and you did the polar opposite.
Lou - Fukudome has to be sit down. You are a great manager but come on. He struck out 3 more times. You love vets but Fontenot deserves playing time. Oh, and maybe think about hitting Lee 2nd next season, you know, the perfect place for a light hitting guy who gets on base at a decent pace and tends to put the ball in play when you should be sending the runner.
I am going to be heading to Chicago to visit family this weekend before I head to Hawaii for work next week. You will hear nothing from me. The Cubs could lose game 3 and the Cubs could possibly force a game 5 on Tuesday. Either way you will hear nothing from me. They will get my attention during the games and that is it. If they lose I will move on to the Bears and this blog will be slow for quite some time. If nothing else it will be silent therapy for me. I can't continue to get upset about a GAME....yes a game.....that I have no control over. I'll leave that kind of stupid shit to the Red Sox fans of the world. I have too many other important things going on to worry about.
Good luck Cubs....I haven't given up....maybe you guys can play like you haven't once....maybe twice....this weekend....
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Showed up to the bar a tad early today (530PM CST) and got the pleasure of watching CC "3 Days Rest" Sabathia give up a grand slam. Nice. The Ghost of Yost (patent pending) rears its ugly head again! Now all I have to do is "manage" my alcohol intake for the next 2 hours until game time. I don't like my chances.
In the meantime, I have some burning questions about tonight's donnybrook.
1) Which Carlos will show up tonight?
As long as he doesn't try to gnaw on the rubber, I'm think we'll get good Carlos
2) Will the fans at Wrigley at least pretend to care?
Bars open at 11AM. Game is at 830PM. I'm just praying at least half are conscious.
3) Will D-Lee hit into ANOTHER double play.
Yes.
4) Can Soriano take a pitch?
If it's a slider away...all signs point to no.
5) What is the over/under of how many times my wife will refer to DeRo as "hot."
72. Take the over, trust me.
6) If the Cub's postseason was a TV show, what show would it be?
Right now, the new 90210. Lots of hype, very poor results.
7) What would make you more confident about the Cubs chances?
If they suddenly made this a seven game series.
There you go. BTW, the angel on one shoulder tells me Z is gonna pitch a gem tonight. The devil on the other shoulder is giggling. That can't be good, right?
Go Cubs.
PS. I'm gonna twitter the game tonight. I'm not sure what that means, but I can say with complete confidence that it won't be at all funny. Click here at your own risk.
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No, I am not panicking. What I am doing is voicing my frustration with all the SHIT I saw in game one tonight.
First, Dempster. WTF MAN! All you had to do with this team is throw strikes. I can see that proved to be too much to handle. Mr. Clutch in Wrigley proved to be anything but and now Lou looks like an ass for starting him in game one.
Second, the lineup besides DeRosa and Fontenot. Do you guys have a pulse? You let the Dodgers impersonate you tonight.
Third, the crowd. Would you all stop acting like you paid $300 a pop for tix even though you did. I had to listen to the asshole announcers talk about how quiet it was in Wrigley all game long today. OK, until I decided to stop watching in the 9th. Heres to hoping tomorrow's crowd isn't a bunch of stiff like you jerks.
Fourth, and finally, Lou. Fukudome second? Really? Come on man. I saved Lou for last because he learns quick and I expect this mistake not to be repeated soon. I don't mind having Kosuke in the game for his defense but he clearly has things to work on in the off season. I am guessing we are going to see DeRosa in RF tomorrow with Fontenot at 2B and possibly batting 2nd.
Other than that things went great. Keep up the great work guys!
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