I thought our Cubs beat writer Gordon Wittenmyer had a very good lead to his story today. The Cubs didn't look like a good team last night, but they looked like a championship team.
And yeah, it was a comeback win against the Reds. But anybody who's followed sports for a while knows those are the types of wins championship teams pull out all the time.
I'm not saying the Cubs are going to the World Series, but once in the playoffs, anything is possible.
Like I said back on June 25, this looks like a Team of Destiny (but with a bad closer).
It' fun to watch these guys, and yes, you do get the feeling they can be winners...I had faith in the bottom of the ninth...I can't remember feeling that way about the Cubbies before..
and it's like I said back in June...this is a "team"......that in and of itself is worth watching...at least to me
They definitely have a shot....Cubs/Yankees would set ratings records
Being a Cardinals fan, it's difficult enough for me to say that the Cubs should win the division. Offering advice about how they can go far into the playoffs is downright distasteful, but since they are on the verge of celebrating a century of failure and I'm having a moment of weakness, here's some free advice to Lou and the boys for going deep into the playoffs (assuming they get there)...
1. You must win the first game in each series -- at all costs -- pull out all the stops, throw out the playbook, etc., etc. If Lou has to throw 9 pitchers per game (that's one per inning for you Cubs fans), then do it. In the playoffs, it's all about winning and very little about your players' fragile egos. This is the lesson LaRussa learned from previous playoff trips. That's why he challenged Rolen last year in the playoffs to either get his s---(stuff) together or ride the bench. Rolen didn't like the treatment, but he raised his level of play because he realized winning counts the most in the playoffs. It will be interesting to watch whether Lou gets the message (afterall, he and LaRussa are boyhood chums).
2. Small ball reigns supreme in the playoffs. One of the keys to playoff success is getting the other team on their heals (especially those teams that are favored to win -- which the Cubs most likely won't be against whomever they face in the playoffs). Get a guy on third in the first inning, bunt him home. Don't wait for the big homer to come because it hasn't all season. Do the small stuff well and put a lot of pressure on your opponents, early and often. Repeat as necessary. In fact, repeat every game.
Doubt me? Think back to "five outs away from a World Series." If Baker had the sense to use five different pitchers to get those last... five... outs, he would still be managing instead of filling our ears with garbage at ESPN.
That's it for now, Lou. You can figure out the rest by gabbing with Tony L. after the season.
Happy as a Chicago fan? okay, a little. But happy for Cub Fans, naw, that just ain't right as a White Sox fan.
You Losers!...What are you going to do, get in the playoffs and lose in the first round as usual?
Let's wait and see if the Cubbies can get to the Big Dance and then write about that!
White Sox fans root for World Series Champions, if you Cubbie guys/gals know what that mean. Do ya?
Never Doubted Romo!
I'll be at Wrigley on Friday afternoon. Lemme know if your there, I'll send a cold one up to the press box.
Can Wood close?
GO CUBS!
hbd
Roman responds: I was there last night. Don't think I'll go Friday. What a snoozer last night. Z has problems.
Im watching on-line arent I?
Roman, how many games (perentage wise) home/away/total do you see all year?
You are clearly there now!
Roman responds: There aren't too many games that I don't at least see a part of.
Well, if nothing else, at least the Cubs are able to start selling playoff tickets this weekend.
In that regard, Zambrano needs to pitch and win at Wrigley the way he's pitched on the road this season. He seems to put alot more pressure on himself to win when he's pitching at home. It's beginning to make the fans nervous as well....sort of like he's got Grossman-itis....are we going to see good Carlos or bad Carlos?
I've let the "Team of Destiny" thing slide enough. Now, you've been Fire Jay Mariottied.
Roman responds: I've never said Team of Destiny means they're going to win the World Series. Although I admit there are some implications that looked ludicrous last night.
Night before last I might have agreed, but after last night's debacle I can't. Zambrano was simply anything but an ace, and wee Willy was back to his old self after a decent and lucky win the night before.Could Marmol start? He seems to be the best the Cubs have to offer. The Brewers look the best right now with batters that actually get hits in key spots and pitchers who tough it out.Maybe tonight's game will rekindle some optimism, but right now I think things look pretty bleak.At least J. J. continues to get some key hits. It's too bad others did not follow through last night.
Chicago is quickly developing a reputation for good teams, but not great ones. There seems to be an overall consensus that as long as you make the playoffs, its all good in Chicago, and that must not be tolerated by us fans. Its going to ensure that we never see another title again.
Bulls won a string of titles, but soon after decided that they would no longer entertain the like likes of Dennis Rodman and his kind. The Sox followed suit by winning it's title in 05 and then dispatching Frank Thomas and other "malcontents". The Bears dispatched Tank, and the Cubs Barrett. Now don't get me wrong...I understand WHY they did it, but we have to look at the results and ask the hard question - where has this gotten us? If you just like being competitive then you are probably happy to make a little playoff noise and a cold-shower exit out of the postseason. But if you want to have parades like I do, then we are going to have to demand that these GM's stop trying win with all of these glee-club players.
I was at Wrigley last night and it was like a playoff atmosphere! (Yes I am a die-hard Sox fan, but I will cheer ANY Chicago team that has earned my respect). Cubs comeback was worthy of my visit! Cubs have a good team, but they will have an early exit unless two pitchers dare to be great. Cubs ace Zambrano was good last night, but he was not great. He showed heart pitching on 3 days rest, but the defense let him down and so did the bats. That is what happens when you have all of those nice guys smiling at eachother - see 07 Whitesox and Bulls for reference. Even if they do get into the playoffs, what then? I came, I saw, and I left feeling like I do with all of these teams. Unimpressed.
btw - I wore my Sox hat and got tickets for free.
White Sox Will Be On Top in 2008 -- You're kidding right?
The only way that will happen is through the signing of Alex Rodriguez, David Eckstein (not too good, but better than Uribe), Torii Hunter/Andruw Jones/Mike Cameron/Aaron Rowand, trading whatever minor league talent we have left for a mediocre starting pitcher, coincidental awesome/rebound years from MacDougal and Thornton with Wasserman keeping up what he's done this year, Jon Garland remembering how to get outs, Jermaine Dye, Jim Thome, and Paul Konerko deciding that they aren't aging anymore, and burning Jose Contreras at the stake.
Sounds pretty likely, right?
I think the Brewer's have 8 games left against the Braves & Pads. If they somehow edge the Cubs or beat them in a 1 game playoff I don't want to hear whinny Cub fans say these teams let down for the Brewer's because they don't like the Cubs.
That's the worst excuse imaginable. No team in the NLC deserves to make the playoffs but one must. The Brew Crew is just as deserving as the Cubs right now.
Comparing Tank and Barret to Rodman and Big Frank is simply maddening!
"White Sox Will Be On Top In 2008"...lmao.. bent over..on hands and knees...barking like a dog.. begging to be popular not working for ya?...you'll never be a top at this fetish ball, my friend...this is a Cubs town...and duh
Yeah, I have to doubt still....I went all homer last night, as the Cubs solely can make me do...FanboyJoe figured if they could just do it "two days in a row" I'd start throwing the word DESTINY around...Yes.... Roman, that is your fault
Then I saw the Yankees scored 12 and gave up 0....and went...."Oh yeah, that's how it works...."
Either way, The Cubbies bring out the homer in me....If Billy Cub gets popular, I'll probably get the tattoo
Our schedule compared to Milwaukee's definitely favors us for the rest of the year....IMO
NOLES>>SOX>>NOTGOOD!
What was the topic of this post? I am too lazy to scroll all the way back up so I will just say SOX SUCK!!!! now I will 'CLICK'
White Sox will be on top in 2008, Ditka said that only losers and cowards live in the past. It seems White Sox fans don't mind being in last place because their team won a WS two years ago. Sad.
Cubs are fortunate they play in central division. With poor fundamentals,a Zambrano casper act,don't have a legit closer & lack of clutch hits but still in first thanks to a weak division. On paper cubs could easily win NL pennant if they do over take Brewers.But it seems between the ears cubs play like they are in a fog in allot of games.Lilly did step up big versus Reds 9-19 while Zambrano crumbled again previous night.Kendall & Monroe two recent pick ups have been awful for most part. Soto has shown promise to take over catching duties.The club as a whole must step it up & show they are true contenders.Ramirez,Lee & Soriano have had good years but not great years which is part of problem.Cubs won't be able to sleep walk if they do make playoffs.
The Cubs may have pulled off some exciting wins, sure, but I'm still not convinced. When was the last time they swept a series? They can barely handle the hapless Astros; the Pirates give them fits; Zambrano can't buy a win against the Reds. And these are fluff teams in a fluff division. Teams like the Mets have simply embarrassed us.
Big Z is a lot of things, but ace is not one of them. The three-days rest thing -- I would have been impressed if he were doing it against Milwaukee, but again, he can't handle the *Reds*! Last winter I thought paying 40 million for Lilly was ludicrous; now it looks like genius and a bargain on top of it. He's been the only consistent pitcher on the staff.
If the Cubs eek it out and make the playoffs, who do you pitch aside from Lilly? Zambrano has pretty much stunk up the place for two months; Hill has pitched OK but gets no run support; Marquis is a roll of the dice.
And Roman, thank you for noting that Dempster is a bad closer -- I've been going back and forth with my friend on that for weeks. I had more faith in Rod Beck getting it done back in the day, which is scary. Dempster lacks both a dominant out pitch and any sense of intimidation. What team is afraid to face him when he gives up triples against .227 hitters in Houston?
I'm finally beginning to understand the roller-coaster ride analogy. Cubs were down and tied it, then didn't score when Ken G. got hurt, then scored on the M. M.( single?/ F.C.?/line-out? ). Switched over to the Brewer game to see the Astros tie and then go ahead, the Brewers tie on the Weeks' homer, and then lose on the injured Pence's R.B.I. single. Shish! Up and down and round and round. ( The rhyme is for hitman ).