So what if the Cubs don't make the playoffs? Does that still seem an impossibility?
All season, the focus hasn't been so much on making the playoff as winning the World Series.
And I still firmly believe they'll win the Central. But what if?
I wonder if anything would change if they missed the postseason. Would fans finally have had enough and not show up in the same numbers next season?
How would this compare to being five outs from the Series in '03?
Or will the buzz continue because fans love this theater, which includes the tragic collapse?
One thing is for certain, it's going to be a long winter if neither baseball team makes the playoffs and Chicago has to focus on the Bears.
...There will be Anarchy!!!
-here Roman, my mother in law sent me this...i thought it fit well with your Rude Cubs fan stereotype.
THREE NUNS WERE ATTENDING A CUBS BASEBALL GAME.
THREE MEN WERE SITTING DIRECTLY BEHIND. BECAUSE THEIR HABITS WERE PARTIALLY BLOCKING THE VIEW, THE MEN DECIDED TO BADGER THE NUNS HOPING THAT THEY'D GET ANNOYED ENOUGH TO MOVE TO ANOTHER AREA.
IN A VERY LOUD VOICE, THE FIRST GUY SAID, 'I THINK I'M GOING TO MOVE TO UTAH . THERE ARE ONLY 100 NUNS LIVING THERE.'
THEN THE SECOND GUY SPOKE UP AND SAID, 'I WANT TO GO TO MONTANA .. THERE ARE ONLY 5O NUNS LIVING THERE.'
THE THIRD GUY SAID, 'I WANT TO GO TO IDAHO . THERE ARE ONLY 25 NUNS LIVING THERE.'
THE MOTHER SUPERIOR TURNED AROUND, LOOKED AT THE MEN, AND IN A VERY SWEET AND CALM VOICE SAID,
'WHY DON'T YOU GO TO HELL. THERE AREN'T ANY NUNS THERE!'
This is a sickening experience. With Milwaukee hanging in there and the Cubs still needing to go to New York, it all looks pretty eerie. However, its nothing new. As a Cubs fan you learn to live and die on "what ifs". You don't jump ship if they look bad in the preseason, you don't turn your back if they slide a few games back, and you certainly don't give up when the season hangs in the balance. For good or for bad, that's what separates the true Cubs fan from the hangers on.
But, I guess the main point is that bculz mother-in-law doesn't know any good jokes.
Z is obviously hurt and has not pitched like an ace for 9 or 10 weeks; he might be our #4 but is no way higher than #3. Harden is out, for how long we really do not know. Where would we be without our true ace, Dempster?
D.Lee is killing us offensively. Enough singles to keep a decent average, but it is not just the lack of HR power. He can’t hit doubles; he can’t drive the ball. He can’t hit a Sac Fly when it would win a ballgame. He should not be #3 in any case. Aramis should be there now. Perhaps Soto could go #4, Lee might be #5. Most of his singles are hard grounders and he is among the league leaders in DPs. Not many big hits from anyone during the past four games — glad to see the HRs back, though.
At least we can get out of Wrigley — are we just 8-7 the last 15 games? We need to get on the road where we are 13-1.
This could very well be a disaster to top 1969. We are happy to lead by 4 1/2 games now. We lead by 5 games at this point in 1969. The Mets got hot, sure. But the Cubs lost that title. They lost 8 straight and all the “if we just go .500 we will . . .” went right out the window. That window is open right now. This will be worse than 2003 by a mile as well.
One final note: The White Sox were looking worse off in 2005, losing games and losing ground. They righted the ship and won a title even though few people thought they were the best team. They got hot late. The Cubs could get hot late. Hell, Sean Marshall might win 2-3 games and be a major hero around here.
Somebody better be.
Cubs will fade (are fading) again.
Brewers win the division due to Sabathia acquisition, Phillies win the wild card. The Cubs feasted on poor teams in the last two months, now when they play real teams, they show their true colors. I have seen this too many times before....
Shame on you Roman. 3 Hail Marys and 4 Our Fathers! And wash your mouth out with Joy when you get home!
Stop it, all of you.
The Cubs will win their division.
This should shut you up:
You sound like us Sox fans.
We have reason to worry. The AL west and east have teams better than the Sox.
The Cubs are the best in the NL. They'll be fine. Take your maalox and calm down.
Roman, it looks like the S/T took the money it saved on Jay's salary and spent it on new spiffy photos of their sports editors.
Who's Joy?
Well, if Houston sweeps them and they can't win more than one game in Cincinnati, then you might have something, Roman.
Cubs are down two starting pitchers -- Zambrano (yes, I called it) and Harden (no surprise).
Dempster is going tonight. For the first time all season, he looked tired in his last start. Could be suffering from that dreaded "dead arm" issue that was purported to be bothering Z. After Cincy, the Cubs travel to St. Louis and Houston -- both teams fighting for a remote chance to be the wild card. LaRussa would like nothing better than to pour ice on the Cubs go-nads. Same for Houston.
If Cubs come out of their next 10 games going 3-7, hey, we might have a race worth watching. Of course, Milwaukee has to quit losing at home.
Must be the weight of those 100 years of dooming and glooming.
Btw, they should have someone watch Santo to make sure he doesn't jump out of the radio booth should the Cubs tank. He already is sounding the "Oh My Gods" and the "Geez-es" at rapid fire pace. Come to think of it, his toupee is looking squirrelier than usual, too.
I think a close finish might be too much for him.
If the Cubs don't make the playoffs, this would rank just behind the collapse in 69' as far as most disappointing Cubs season.
So in order...
1. 03 game 6 loss. Aka "The Bartman game"
2. 84 divisional series loss to the Padres
3. 69' regular season collapse
4. 08' season collapse - aka "The Zambrano-Dead Arm year"
I shudder to think what it would do to Ron "Oh Nooo!" Santo.
1969 / 1984 / 2003 .... 2008?
You see; the Cubs don't have to actually miss the playoffs in order ti disappoint. In that respect they're multi-faceted.
The question is, will this Cubs team break our hearts before October or during the playoffs? They are in playoff form right now, no hitting and pitching problems. Will they stumble into the playoffs after a great 5 months only to be picked off in three games in the first round? No shock that Harden may be hurt. It was bound to happen before the season ended. As far as Z goes, Pinella's press talk sounded like an Abbott and Costello routine. So this guy goes for a physical but doesn't take the MRI he was supposed to take. Why? I don't know, First Base! But this is the same pitcher who would cramp up while pitching because he would drink strong coffee before each game. Maybe Z got lost and went into the wrong examining room. Was someone with him? Not that it's too important. We Cubs fans are made of strong stuff. We're all going to have to be very strong in the weeks ahead.
The Cubs'lack of offense is startng to look ominous. Now with the pitchers coming up with arm fatigue, injuries, or whatever, the offense better come back to life quickly. Today's day off will hopefully help a bit, but maybe some of those clubhouse leaders should hold a meeting and fire things up a bit. Bitter disappointment would result if the Cubs did not make the play-offs, but the injury factor is not something anyone can control, so the fans would forgive and forget. The same question came up when they started night games. I had friends who said they would never attend another game, but they were still back the next year.
Since when is anything guaranteed? Who ever said cubs were a lock, some poser sox fan? Odds are cubs make playoffs, and don't win series. If they make the series have to be pleased, that's one 60 year drought ended. Who knows maybe they'll get hot and win it all. They'll have as good of a chance as any other team going in, and that is really all any fan should ask for. If you want absolute certainty no joy in that either.