The Cubs: A team of destiny?

There are two ways to look at it. You chose the optimistic way. Being a 47 year Cub fan, I look at the bullpen giving up 6 runs in the top of the ninth. Bad. As far as the fans go, I don't know. Same thing at the cell a couple of weeks ago. I do know they are very, very sorry when they go to jail and find out it is a felony.

A team of destiny? I don't think a team of destiny would have had the April this team had. And the Brewers keep winning.

Wait till after the Brewers series to judge how the Cubs are doing.

Well, let's not talk about destiny with this team. It has been like a hundred years, ya know. Plus the Brewers have some pitching and a lot of power hitting, and the Cardinals showed last year that that can go a long way (knock on wood).

The Cubs still need bullpen help, and a more solid line up. Lou has done a good job the last couple weeks with the personnel he has. Getting rid of Barret was a good sign, but there are a lot of mistakes left to be made, and the beginning of this season proved that the Cubs are capable of making them. They've also shown that they are capable of winning games when they don't make too many mistakes, and when a few "intangibles" go their way.

Really though, if you want to start talking all mystical, the Cubs should have a Welcome Back Bartman day. He was the worst victim of Cub fan bitterness ever - far worse than a snotty ticket counter not letting a goat into the stadium. I'm sure it's not original to say that Bartman was the metaphorical goat for that ill-fated playoff series, even though his actions were completely understandable. He was not the only one to reach for that cursed ball - the fact is that 9 out of 10 fans reach for any baseball that is in his or her reach, and I have the films to prove it. It happened in the playoffs that year more than once, including in an earlier game at Wrigley! The ball was popped up and Miller was about to catch it when a fan reached out and deflected it out of his glove. But no one remembers that fan because we got out of the inning unscathed.

Bartman happened to be listening to his radio - to Ron Santo, that sage of Cubbies lore, and didn't see Moises Alou running towards the ball. He coached little league, for Cripes sake! I can't believe the misguided spite that came out of Cubs fans when the Bartman incident occured.

We should welcome this goat back into the stadium and see if that breaks the curse. We should also give him a free private box complete with security for five years as compensation for the rude and slanderous remarks that Dusty Baker and company made concerning his character - especially the accusation that Bartman was a Marlins fan.

Whatever happened to Steve Bartman? Does anyone know? If he's out there, he should know that it wasn't his fault. Look at how many critical errors the Cubbies have made in the last hundred years - how could we blame a loyal fan for making just one?

And another thing, did anyone notice how that after the Bartman incident Cubs fans in the stands started diving away from EVERYTHING that came their way, even if it was our guy popping up and the ball was clearly in the stands. There are some variations, of course, but as a general rule you have the right to catch anything on your side of the railing, but you should only do so if your team is batting. And these people who were getting out of the way of our opponents' gloves were the same people who shouted insults at Bartman.

Go Cubs! This week has been awesome!

Well, let's not talk about destiny with this team. It has been like a hundred years, ya know. Plus the Brewers have some pitching and a lot of power hitting, and the Cardinals showed last year that that can go a long way (knock on wood).

The Cubs still need bullpen help, and a more solid line up. Lou has done a good job the last couple weeks with the personnel he has. Getting rid of Barret was a good sign, but there are a lot of mistakes left to be made, and the beginning of this season proved that the Cubs are capable of making them. They've also shown that they are capable of winning games when they don't make too many mistakes, and when a few "intangibles" go their way.

Really though, if you want to start talking all mystical, the Cubs should have a Welcome Back Bartman day. He was the worst victim of Cub fan bitterness ever - far worse than a snotty ticket counter not letting a goat into the stadium. I'm sure it's not original to say that Bartman was the metaphorical goat for that ill-fated playoff series, even though his actions were completely understandable. He was not the only one to reach for that cursed ball - the fact is that 9 out of 10 fans reach for any baseball that is in his or her reach, and I have the films to prove it. It happened in the playoffs that year more than once, including in an earlier game at Wrigley! The ball was popped up and Miller was about to catch it when a fan reached out and deflected it out of his glove. But no one remembers that fan because we got out of the inning unscathed.

Bartman happened to be listening to his radio - to Ron Santo, that sage of Cubbies lore, and didn't see Moises Alou running towards the ball. He coached little league, for Cripes sake! I can't believe the misguided spite that came out of Cubs fans when the Bartman incident occured.

We should welcome this goat back into the stadium and see if that breaks the curse. We should also give him a free private box complete with security for five years as compensation for the rude and slanderous remarks that Dusty Baker and company made concerning his character - especially the accusation that Bartman was a Marlins fan.

Whatever happened to Steve Bartman? Does anyone know? If he's out there, he should know that it wasn't his fault. Look at how many critical errors the Cubbies have made in the last hundred years - how could we blame a loyal fan for making just one?

And another thing, did anyone notice how that after the Bartman incident Cubs fans in the stands started diving away from EVERYTHING that came their way, even if it was our guy popping up and the ball was clearly in the stands. There are some variations, of course, but as a general rule you have the right to catch anything on your side of the railing, but you should only do so if your team is batting. And these people who were getting out of the way of our opponents' gloves were the same people who shouted insults at Bartman.

Go Cubs! This week has been awesome!

Good Grief! What a weird game! The LSU duo showed why LSU won a championship with them on the team; Itzuris(an error and another third out with bases loaded) showed why he should be given to the Brewers; Eyre showed why he should join Kott so they could hold hands and commiserate over their mutual pitching incompetence; and Howry should donate a part of his salary to Mitsui's favorite charity for turning his (Howry's) deserved loss into an undeserved win. The only thing that could keep tonight's game from being anti-climactic would be a no-hitter.

P.S. Where was Soriano his first five at-bats?

C'mon.....destiny??? I'm as happy as anyone with 4 straight W's. But to call it destiny is a bit over zealous. We should get over 500 and within striking distance of 1st before we can start talking about destiny.

That was the worst and best inning the Cubs have had in the past few years. Shocking doesn't describe it. A good team would have held off the Rockies in the first place but only a great team would have come back after allowing a six spot in the top of the ninth. This game brought back memories of the Bears game at Arizona.

Team of destiny...it's about time we got one of those.

As for the idiot who ran onto the field, he should be banned for life at all baseball stadiums. Maybe then they would stop behaving like animals.

Suddenly the Cubs win some games (and almost blew last night's), and now they're a team of destiny???? They are still 7 1/2 games out and below 500!

Regarding the drunk fan, I'm sure it will be downplayed, unlike what happened on the other side of down a few years ago!

We witnessed the passing of the torch this weekend. Cubs did to the Sox what the Bulls did to the Lakers many moons ago - they took the mantle as best team in the city of Chicago. We all pretend it doesnt mean anything, but it does. When the Sox were on top I wore my colors with a little more swagger and looked at every crosstown classic as nothing but a rite of passage, and prelude to the playoffs.

Cubs have all the moxie the Sox had in 05. This makes for exciting baseball and I will support ANY baseball in this city. Before this season - Cubs were not worth supporting unless they were your team - because they were not about BASEBALL. But they surely are now. I am a Lifetime Southsider, and I know real ball when I see it. That squeeze play that Lou put on the Sox this weekend was beautiful baseball. I REFUSE TO HATE on them. It made me sick when "Chicagoans" were hatin on the Sox. Let it go fellow Soxers and root for BASEBALL.

We're under .500, we're 7 1/2 games out of first, we just lost a series to the Rangers in which every one of their starters had a ERA over 6, we swept a free falling Sox team that everyone is beating and we blew a 5 run lead in the ninth last night.

I'm a Cubs fan and I'm happy we're playing better, but the topic of this blog is nonsense.

I feel it Romo!

I felt the wave break all the way out here in Hollywood last night. I think I had my board in my Jeep before I realized it was just the roar from Wrigley bouncing off the Rocky Mountains.

It is still early, but woo!

GO CUBS!

Roman responds: I knew I'd hear from you about it.

They can limit the amount of alchohol, but unfortunately they can't limit the number of jerks. I'm not as peeved about the fans running on the field as I am about the idiots who throw garbage and plastic bags onto the field during the game. The camera men are wise enough not to show the intruders on television, thus removing the incentive to create a scene. It was shameful to see an opposing batter have to take a timeout because the garbage is floating past his sight line, distracting him from the pitcher. What message is this sending about my city. Am I going to be affected by things like this when I move elsewhere and people find out that I grew up in Chicago?

Sorry Cub Fans, but
until August roll
around this is when
I will join the
(well not JOIN), but
at least clap for
the Cubs.

I am a White Sox Fan!

Hey Cub fans can we borrow
the security guy to play
Tank's position this
upcoming season?

Here's how I see it. The Cubs somehow win the Division with a record below 500. They get hot and win it all. and get zero respect because everyone in the Division has a losing record.That would be the proper way for them to break the curse!

a team of destiny????? well as long as everyone in the stands doesnt interfear with flyballs then maybe a team on a mission, not a destiny.

steve bartman had nothing and i will repeat nothing to do with that loss because if you remember there was one out??pierre on third luis castillo walks the very next batter hit a taylor made dp ball if alex gonzalez does not boot it people dont know steve bartman from a hole in the ground i would be honored to sit at wrigley buy steve bartmann and buy him a beer

What I have been noticing about the Cubs lately is that the chemistry of this team has been phenomenal. They have been playing a lot better since "the incident". Don't get me wrong and think that I'm saying the WS is in the bag by any stretch but I do think that they are definitly on the right track.It's hard for me to believe the starting pitching can do much better then it's doing lately ,which by the way is above average at best. If it can ,then watch out>

What I have been noticing about the Cubs lately is that the chemistry of this team has been phenomenal. They have been playing a lot better since "the incident". Don't get me wrong and think that I'm saying the WS is in the bag by any stretch but I do think that they are definitly on the right track.It's hard for me to believe the starting pitching can do much better then it's doing lately ,which by the way is above average at best. If it can ,then watch out>

John S. and Robert Nolting, I wholeheartedly agree with your comments about the Steve Bartman incident (an incident that should have been buried a long time ago as a non-issue). You guys are living evidence that there are great and intelligent fans on both sides of this town.

Destiny? Is this some magic land where fairies drop out of the sky
and put fly balls into left-fielders mitts,as to avoid interference from the fans? No,I think that it was established. Fairies are never gonna show up.Destiny IS a choice. So far our beloved cubbies have chosen to lose more games than win. That is as simple as it gets. As usual. Goooooooo Gooooooo Cubbies!

A team of destiny? Only if they are destined for bad things. If that was a playoff series and the Cubs blew that lead to a good team the game would have been over on that error by the Rockies' shortstop because a playoff team wouldn't make that mistake (nor would a good playoff team blow a 6 run lead in the top of the 9th--unless they are the Cubs).

Hey, I want to see the Cubs win just as much as the next guy or gal, but let's face it, right now they're too unpredictable. They need bullpen help and still need to make it over .500 and catch the very-hot-at-the-moment Brewers.

I'll say this: Where the Cubs are is a good start. But they need more than what they've got to be a team that is destined for greatness. Until they get some bullpen help, they'll just be a team that is destined to blow huge leads late in the game and crush the insatiable spirit of Cubdom that yearns for a World Series... well, appearance at least.

Team of destiny ?The cubs have a long ways to go still 37-39 & must continue to show they can win .Cubs something like 5-15 in one run games? A team of destiny doesn't blow games like cubs have. Cubs need improvements in pen ,something Hendry hasn't addressed in his spending spree. Hopefully Jacque strike 3 Jones will be gone by weekend? Maybe cubs can get a warm body for him? Cubs have played better minus Barrett & Jones not playing. Barrett could hit at times but that was about it. Jacque's game is weak all the way around. Bowen certainly a improvement over Barrett .

I agree. Looks like a new season. I think with a new Manager and other major changes the team just needed a little ramp up time to get in sync. Lets just hope it keeps going. Go Cubs!

Roman responds: Good point.

I can tell you what is wrong with Jacque Jones hitting. I watch almost every game when aired on WGN, and when I watch Jones bat, it is his swing. When he swings, he starts downward, and when the bat reaches the strike zone, he then swings upward, kind of like a chopping motion. His swing is not level, it is always down and up, so he either grounds out if he connects going downward, or pops it up when he connects going upward. Watch his swing on replay, or video tape, you can see it. Dropping his shoulder to much. He must be playing way to much golf, he has a golf swing.

The whole "team of destiny" concept is 100% bull$@#%. I wanted to literally throw up when I read that title. What happened to the Detroit Tigers last year? If anyone, they were the "team of destiny" that the media and their touchy-feely wannabe-real-analysts talked up like there was "a magic in the air" in Detroit. The playoffs are about luck (maybe, MAYBE having 3 great starting pitchers will tilt the odds significantly in one direction, but they are luck). Getting there is skill.

As for the Cubs' chances, I am a White Sox fan that picked them to win the NL Central. And I picked the Brewers to be the team close behind them, because anyone remotely near baseball could have told you that the Cardinals were going to be crap this year, just like they were last year, and that the Astros wouldn't hit even with Carlos Lee because 7-8-9 are like auto-outs (I just didn't think they'd have the sense to give Hunter Pence a shot so early).

Make no mistake about it, the Cubs have been very unlucky this year. W-L is 38-39, Pythagenport W-L is 42-35. If they can keep this runs scored vs runs allowed pace, they're bound for an improvement. If you take into account that the Brewers have been a little lucky in the same way, I'd predict the two teams to finish VERY close to each other.

The problems I see with the Cubs are as follows. Jason Marquis and Sean Marshall are absolutely shattering their 90th percentile PECOTA projections. Marquis is a bad pitcher. Plain and simple. I'd be willing to bet people that he'll finish the year with an ERA over 5. Marshall I'm more optimistic about, but still, a 2.44 ERA thus far is not the true Marshall. Plus, up the middle, the Cubs are pretty weak, even though it's been masked most of the season. Theriot (.326 SLG!!! ), Izturis (.315 SLG!!!), and Pie (.280 OBP!!!) are absolute offense-killers. The Cubs have been lucky in that always seem to have one guy absolutely outperforming himself out of his mind (DeRosa first, then Theriot, then Pagan). Right now it's Fontenot, who has been fun to watch, but will fall to earth, as that .434 OBP is nearly all batting average and therefore fluky. He doesn't walk much, folks.

Who does walk a lot, and is an absolute godsend to replace Michael Barrett, a catcher who is literally allergic to OBP, is Rob Bowen, a guy who coming to the Cubs had been walking once of every seven plate appearances, roughly. He's been an OBP machine in the big leagues despite a low batting average (.360 is tops on the cubs outside of Lee, Floyd, and Fontenot/Ward on a small sample size). Bowen is ridiculously underrated, and Hendry made a complete sucker out of San Diego (Barrett isn't even better than their regular catcher Josh Bard???), making off with the best catcher on either team AND getting a minor leaguer to boot!

It'll be a close race, folks. I'll be pulling for the Brewers, as all red-blooded Sox fans, but I'm not one of those guys that's blinded to what's actually going on because of South-Side bias. The Cubs and the Brewers are two teams of similar quality that will be neck and neck for the chance to get lucky in the playoffs.

Yes, they are destined to finish below .500 while drawing over 3 million sheep for the season.

A few of them may actually watch some of the games.

"while drawing over 3 million"

Yes, and cellphone park will be empty in a week showing the true nature of her fans.

Cubs could be a team of destiny if disappointment is the destination.

Let's see, Zell nixed jones trade and he doesn't even own the team yet and will be selling it immediately when he gets it? So zell is the future interim owner, and he is interfering with the day to day operations of the team, and the GMs dealings???

Only the cubs, with their corporate committee of owners would have this happen. With this calibre of ownership and management hard to see the cubs going anywhere.

Maybe the new owners will just convert the cubs to a nascar team, more money in that, can pack in more ads on the uniforms, and going round in circles is the sports main objective.

Hey Philtration, if you have to bring up the Sox fans, it's called we are passionate and demand and expect an excellent team and if they can't produce one, then I won't give them my money and watch little leaguers play! You fools on the northside, couldn't care less what crap team is out there!!!!! It's all about going and experiencing and being seen (vomit)at Wrigley (you could be the only team in the majors where people wear a t-shirt with the name of your "park" on it.....1/2 the people that go to Wrigley have no idea who's on the team (and that's being nice)! You'd rather have an attendance trophy, that's all your so called fans rant about! Admit it, for once! GO BREWERS!!!! Now that's a team of DESTINY!

After today ,maybe,just maybe! If they haven't looked like a close,tight group,i don't know what one is.

So because Cubs fan aren't fickle fair weather fans they're not true baseball fans? I seem to remember last decade that you got a ticket to a Sox game with a meal at a fast food resteraunt and no one would be caught dead rooting for them. Now they win it all and everyone was there all along! Now THAT makes me vomit. So I guess we'll hear from the Sox fans in 4-5 years if they make the playoffs again.

Good move, Roman. Yesterday's game was almost as fabulous as the original of the post. The big difference was the bullpen. Happily Eyre did not get in to help Milwaukee add on a run or two. I still think he should be sent down to keep Kott company.I guess I would most like to see Theriot play shortstop every day, but DeRosa and Floyd certainly deserve to be in the lineup. Could we get a special dispensation to play ten men? After all, they're the Cubs and need all the help they can get. A sweep of the Brew crew would be sweet. I could even switch to Miller rather than drink that Budweiser stuff out of Cub loyalty.

If destiny is defined as finishing most seasons below .500, then yes, they have been a team of that kind of destiny. I don't have a crystal ball to tell what will happen this season, so I wish them good luck and hope they will not have to face the St. Louis team once they displace the Brewers from first place. Did anyone think about the Cards? They have won more world series than any other NL team and this ain't got nothing to do with them having, or not having, a 7th inning stretch or the Great Friendly Confines, as much as it has to do with the Cards having a true "great baseball tradition" (the quote is from Don Baylor when joined Cubs organization as a manager and it refers to the Cubs).

Possible. They have to seal the deal. Win in October. Does anyone know what the Marlins did before the break last year? How about after? The reason they weren't a team of destiny, no October. The ingredients are there. Like Adrian said to Rocky in RockyII, WIN.

I am just amazed at not only Cubs fans but even more so the Chicago press in the way you all deal with your team.

Three losses in a row from now and you'll all be tearing this team apart and saying they're a bunch of overpaid, underacheiving losers.

Three wins in a row after that and you'll be printing playoff tickets again.

I watch it year after year after year. I expect it from fans, but it never ceases to amaze me how your press will tear at the flesh of this ballclub like a starving mountain lion devouring it's prey after a few losses and then start waxing romantic about how amazing the team is after a few wins.

I think football is your game folks. A nice 16 game season where you can follow your team for the short haul. You all don't have to look so bi-polar that way.

Roman responds: There's probably some truth to what you say, but a seven-game win streak and eight out of nine isn't a few wins, especially after taking two of three from the first-place team in your division. This year is different just because of the offseason spending, and expectations were higher.

Sorry Spencer but you are looking at the wrong name for your quote. I made the comment about the 3 million sheep showing up to see a team finish below .500.
I am a Sox fan and I completely understand the difference between real baseball fans and those on the North side who are just showing up for the beer garden.

By the way, this is not the first time that people here get confused about who wrote what because of the way that the comments are posted. Why have the line separating the comments ABOVE the posters name?
Can't the Sun-Times fix this already?

Roman responds: I've asked about it before. I'll remind them again. I can see why it's confusing. Sorry.

My three pet whipping boys all showed me why yesterday.Izturis goes down again ( is he even batting .100 at Wrigley?),Eyre gives up two runs, and wee Willy gives up a homer to a guy who usually barely gets the ball to the middle of the outfield.Did it seem to anyone else that the home plate ump liked low outside (low inside for lefties ) pitches for strikes, especially when Cubs were batting with runners on base? Obviously the ump didn't lose the game for the Cubs, but he might mave contributed to the Cubs being unable to get a vome-back started.

"So because Cubs fan aren't fickle fair weather fans they're not true baseball fans?"

When the primary attraction for attending a game is to drink, that doesn't make you a "baseball fan." But I guess when the term "fan" is used liberally - as Cubs "fans" seem to do - it's easy to call one's self a "fan." The majority of people attending games at Wrigley are there to keep the beer vendors and local Publicans employed. If these fools truly cared about the quality of the baseball-product that was on the field they would have spoken with their feet and stayed away from the park during the team's down years - which really has been pretty much every year since 1908. Nothing serves as a better illustration of the Flub's "fan"-base than the women that reside in the area that go to a dozen or so home games a year, call themselves die-hard "fans", and then when asked to name a player on the current roster instantly shout "Kerry Woods" (note: I realize his name is not "Woods", but a large portion of your co-"fans" don't) - or worse yet, say their favorite current player is Mark Grace. Face it, "fans" with this mentality make up a large portion of your "fan" base and attendance figures, and they really don't give a damn about the baseball.

Hey,Jack Armstrong,have you only attended games at Wrigley? "Busch" stadium and "Miller" park, not to mention that Rocky Mountain field place, come to mind as places you might visit before condemning Cub fans for drinking. Personally, I don't drink at games because the cost is outrageous, even for Pepsi and peanuts.You sound like a guy who wouldn't attend your son's games unless his team won their conference every year and he batted .500. I never considered loyalty as an overrated commodity.

I think this topic, while a laughable one to me personally, is brilliant. It's bound to draw a lot of interest when considering how ridiculous it sounds to some people and perfectly rational to others who actually believe the Cubs are a team of destiny. But hey, Cubs teams with winning percentages close to .500 are hard to come by. So Cubs fans believing this is their year might as well do everything they can to enjoy it.

I made a post on a Sox topic a few weeks ago saying how disappointing it is to see a Sox topic morph into a forum for Sox-Cubs banter. This topic doesn't seem to be much different. The issue is not what the Sox are doing, how good or bad their fans are, or anything else about the Sox. So why is that even discussed? This topic is about the Cubs and if they are a team of destiny. And I just cannot see how they are. Do they have a realistic chance of winning the division? Yes. But I think their chances of not winning the division or the wild card are much greater. A lot can happen in the next 30 days and don't be surprised one bit if the Cubs fall a few more games back of the Brewers and become sellers by the 7/31 deadline.

Cubs are playing pretty solid right now and winning some big games, especially taking 2 of 3 from Brewers. But I still feel they just don't have the personnel to get into the playoffs. With the possible exception of Zambrano, I see the entire starting rotation having a worse 2nd half then the 1st. And in the absense of a meaningful trade or 2, the bullpen will definitely struggle in the 2nd half as well. It won't matter how good the Cubs offense will be if their pitching is in the bottom half of NL.

Despite being a Sox fan, I try to be objective about this and resist the urge to just hammer away at the Cubs at all costs. I think the Cubs have a lot of proving to do before their fans should invest feelings like "we're a team of destiny." If they're a team of destiny, they can start by showing everyone something impressive this week on the road vs. Nationals and Pirates......perhaps winning 5 of 7.

Destiny? Too early to tell, but what is obvious is that they are finally coming together as a team. They are making up for some of the earlier mistakes that cost them way too many 1-run games. One thing that seems to be missing and not discussed is that they have gained more in the Wild Card race than in the division. 6.5 behind Milwaukee, but 5 behind the Dodgers.

In the next 30 days everyone will know where they are heading - home in October or to the Playoffs.

I don't think five out of seven against the Nationals and Pirates would impress me as much as it would you,Sean.Have you looked at team records other than that of the Sox? Of course it's too early to call the Cubs a team of destiny.Roman knows that better than you do. Did you see the question mark he put on the blog tag?

the only desting here is all of your mouths and a gather of baseball critics better called liars of sports

Paul Manter, where did you get the impression I would be impressed if the Cubs took 5 of 7 this week? I simply suggested the Cubs better at least do something like that this week before Cubs fans allow themselves to any more giddy about their prospects of going anywhere this season.

I really can't decipher what it is your're trying to tell me in your post but I assume you're questioning my comments. To answer you're question, yes, I do look at other records besides the White Sox. Not sure what you meant by that though. And yes, I did see the question mark in Roman's tag. Thanks for pointing that out for me in case I missed it. How that has anything to do with my comments is a mystery to me.

Just to be clear, I do not think Roman is suggesting this team is a team of destiny. I just commented on how smart it is to put this topic out there because the Cubs fans with blinders on will come out in big numbers to support the notion that they are in fact a team of destiny. It's Roman's job to generate traffic to this site and if he creates a topic that interests people, he's doing his job. I think this topic is great bait for wishful-thinking Cubs fans and disgruntled Sox fans like myself who can't help but think the whole idea is a bit funny.

Is there some element to your comments toward me you wish to expand on?

Tunney, why does someone with so little to say...have such long posts? This is humorous. Sox threads turn into cubs-sox banter.................................because there are no sox fans to post in them. Us Cub fans have to keep it going.
I have to admit,I didn't read the rest of your post,but it looks like garbage to me. You can use less words. We are not reading.

The Cubs are destined to out-perform the White Sox. That's for sure.

WELL A FILLY WON THE BELMONT STAKES THIS YEAR, FIRTS TIME IN OVER A HUNDRED YEARS!!!!!. THE CUBS ARE ABOUT DUE TOO

There are a large portion of Chicago residents that call the Spaceship Soldiers Field even though the signage has only one S. In my estimation, adding an S to the end of names is just a Chicago thing.

Roman responds: Like Jewels.

No,Sean, labeling yourself and others as "disgruntled Sox fans" explains it all. We "wishful thinking" Cub fans at least think nine out of ten is a good start.

Cubs now 42-40 & gaining on Brewers.On paper the cubs should be much better than 42-40.But looks like they finally know how to win. With Barrett gone the defense has improved & catchers calling better games. In Jacque Jones situation he'll never get the playing time to come out of his batting funk. Jacque not noted for a strong arm either should bring the cubs a arm for bullpen. Jacque is not helping club & should of been dealt by now. Teams like KC or Washington could use a Jacque Jones.It would be better for all concerned ,Jones couldn't hit my pitching at this point! Plus I certainly can at least throw as well as Jacque for a 60 yr old!

Posted by: stuckimwisconsin | July 2, 2007 10:01 PM

Tunney, why does someone with so little to say...have such long posts? This is humorous. Sox threads turn into cubs-sox banter.................................because there are no sox fans to post in them. Us Cub fans have to keep it going.
I have to admit,I didn't read the rest of your post,but it looks like garbage to me. You can use less words. We are not reading.
___________________________________________

StuckinWisconsin:

I suppose if my posts were as miscalculated and needlessly confrontational as yours, I'd be able to keep them shorter. But I am making an attempt to explain myself. So thanks for the advise on how to improve my posts. But I'll take a pass. As for Cubs fans needing to post on Sox topics because there are no Sox fans.....yeah, that makes perfect sense. I hadn't considered that. You know, if it weren't for your stupid screenname and slowwitted comments that sound like a kid in junior high, you'd be an afterthought on this message board.

You want your kudos as a Cubs fan for 2007 dominance over the Sox? No arguments from me that your deserving of them. All Cubs fans are entitled to it after the way Sox fans have (rightfully) celebrated for 20 months. But if you want to get into it with me on this message board, please bring more to the table than "too long of posts" and "there are no Sox fans". Because that is weak and has been said a million times before you.

To Paul Manter:

Pointing to winning 9 of 10 games doesn't tell the whole story when talking about a team of destiny. You suggested I look around at other teams records and I suggest you do the same. Winning 9 of 10 games is a claim almost any team in MLB will be able to make by season's end. While this streak is helpful, I'd be more concerned with what type of team you have going forward and where you currently sit in the standings.

Gee, Sean, I'm hurt.The Cubs are still four and a half back and only won three out of four at Washington. Clearly, you're right, and we Cub fans are prematurely optimistic. That "Team of Destiny?" tag really bugged you, didn't it?

Lets just have all the Cub fans fight the Sox fans out by the water tower after school today. Everyone would feel better and oh what a story for the ole S.T.! I think it would go something like this..

The brawl went down at an undisclosed location in the city, but sources tell me that the Nortsiders were delayed because they had to stop and get rainbow cones. Despite the apparent home field advantage the Sox fans were out numbered ten to one. They didn't seem to worry about this unbalance because 9 out of 10 Cub fans were already three sheets to the wind before they got to the park and the tenth was on his way. The rumble started quickly, the Sox fans sent their famous father and son duo out to decimate the Cubs fans' geriatric section. They didn't know what hit them. It was not pretty; wheelchairs and walkers all over the place. From there on out it just got ugly for the Cubbie Fans. The Cubs Fans were wandering around as if they had no idea why they were there. The Sox fans took advantage by taking most of them out with liners to the head using rocks they had placed in the field before hand. The Cubs fans fought valiantly all the way to the end, and even though most of the Sox fans left before it was over, they still managed to beat the drunken nortsiders up. The Sox fans were so jacked up they just started beating on each other too. In the end no one was left standing save for one, Ditka. After it was over one Sox fan was heard saying, "It was as if they were just zombies looking for the beer guy. What morons! So we kicked their ass!! YeaH!" Most Cub fans insisted they had no idea about a rumble, they came to party, the rest thought Jimmy Buffet was playing. The Cub fans left the park optimistic saying, "we will get um next year". The Sox fans mobbed Ditka for autographs. The Coach was heard saying "I would have it no other way"

As for the real fight on Saturday night Romo I am taking Evans. Titos time is over. That whole card looks great doesn't it?

What I don't get about Cubs fans is why they are even concerned about the Sox. A team of destiny? I don't think so but two games over 500 is a start; soo savor it Northsiders, who knows maybe someday your team can win a WS too. Besides every franchise can have a down century!

Paul Manter, you've now made like 3 different posts on this topic directed at me and I still have no idea what the hell you are trying to say. Why would you think that the post about "Team of Destiny" would bother me? I actually enjoyed it. I just wish people like you would post a meaningful opinion rather than stating the obvious like how many games the Cubs just won in Washington or how many games they're back in the division. I think I would rather watch the Sox give up 32 runs in a day/night doubleheader than waste another minute reading or responding to comments on this topic. Best of luck in your whimsical journey to destiny with your Cubbies. God, I wish I could get as excited as you about winning 81 games.

Destiny is just a superstitious word that is usually used in retrospect or when the odds are heavily in favor of the destined. Let's not be silly and mystical.

The real reason that the Cubs will win it all this year is that I have Voodoo dolls of every player in baseball, and I stick pins in them whenever their suffering will help us win. I accidentally broke Barrett's glove off when I was cleaning, and I apologize profusely to that guy. I thought I fixed it, but I guess I did a shabby job.

Incidentally, Pie's voodoo doll looks exactly like him, and it's still one of the scariest ones.

As for the debate as to who is a real fan, Cubs fans or White Sox fans, let's just say that both are good. They are the yin and yang of Chicago baseball. Cubs fans can be unforgiving and dumb, while Sox fans occasionally stab umpires. Both live in glass houses, but they are some of the best fans in the world.

Someone tell Lou to shut up and stop harping about how his players need to hit more home runs. I still go to the batting cages, and I've never hit a home run when I was really pressing for it. Besides, the only stat that matters is runs scored, and a bunch of singles and walks will score more runs than a home run or two.

Go Cubs