Postgame congratulations have been rare recently for Bobby Jenks and the Sox.
The Crosstown Classic resumes today! Cubs vs. Sox! You can just feel the excitement ... can't you? Well, it's not quite what we expected when it was announced this makeup of a June rainout at Wrigley Field would be played Sept. 3. The expectation then was that pennant hopes would be on the line for both teams. Instead ... well, we've been over all that. But one question still needs to be answered:
Which team has been the bigger disappointment: the Cubs or the Sox?
Beat writers Gordon Wittenmyer and Joe Cowley debate the issue in today's Sun-Times. Wittenmyer makes a case for the Cubs as the biggest flop, pointing to the disastrous Milton Bradley acquisition and the fact that they have floundered despite excellent starting pitching. Cowley contends that the Sox are the bigger disappointment, given the weakness of the AL Central and the bold midseason moves that GM Ken Williams made in hopes of pushing his team over the top. Williams told Cowley two weeks ago that he would consider this team to be his biggest disappointment if it failed to make a strong postseason run.
With all due respect to Williams' anguish, I have to vote for the Cubs as the bigger bust. Lou Piniella's team was supposed to take the next step after two straight three-and-outs in the playoffs. Bradley was imported to supply left-handed hitting (never mind that the switch-hitter always has fared better from the right side), and a third straight NL Central title was considered a foregone conclusion given the apparent weakness of the opposition (the Brewers had lost ace pitchers CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets, and the Cardinals had done little to improve during the offseason). Nothing less than a World Series berth was going to be acceptable on the North Side. As for the Sox, they have been transitioning to a youth movement on the fly (incorporating Gordon Beckham and Chris Getz into the lineup), and few preseason prognosticators picking them to defend their division crown.
So while you watch the Cubs and Sox battle for city bragging rights (and little else) today, ponder this question: Which team laid the bigger egg this season?
Yeah, I subscribe to the Cubs as the bigger disappointment based on preseason expectations, but that doesn't mean the Sox season is forgotten. In spite of what should have been perceived as a transitional year for the Pale Hose, the defense was simply atrocious, hitting often deplorable (home runs were down this year...we really should have seen how much home runs saved this team in '06 and '08 by this year's malaise), and pitching disappointing. Transitional year or not, only a small bit of that could be forgiven on what was a "youth movement on the fly." I simply couldn't stand watching them most of the season! It was embarrassing.
Stu, I have to agree with you, the Cubs were the bigger disappointment. All the pre season experts picked the Cubs. The new MLB channel's analysts were unanimous. They all still were picking them to win as late as the All Star break. After a 97 win season, who would have thought otherwise? Part of the problem was the surprising comeback of the Cardinals. They made some good moves in season and Carpenter came back strong. And who would have predicted Franklin would turn out to be such a great closer? But a lot of the blame has to go to the uninspired, underperforming play of the usual suspects, Bradley, Soriano, Soto, Zambrano, Gregg and Fukudome, among others. Pinella seemed out of it all year, a beaten, frustrated, tired man. The outfield defensive play was sluggish, and lackadaisical. Balls hit to left were always an adventure and Bradley in right battled the sun, the fans and his demons all year. Offensively the team was inconsistent. No one took charge to fire up the team. More was expected from the Cubs this year than the White Sox. That's why they were a greater disappointment.
As a Sox fan I have to say I'm disappointed in the way this season has played out. Not because they won't win the division, but because they had a chance to, and blew it.
The thing that ticks me off is that I didn't expect much from them this year, and they teased me. In spite of all odds, (and their own ineptitude on the basepaths) they were right there three weeks ago.
But looking at it objectively, if I were a Cubs fan, I'd have to say that they were the bigger disappointment. The Cubs were a juggernaught. They were projected to win the division. They were supposed to run away with the damned thing.
They sure ran away allright.
Not over yet for neither! Here I sit alone on the Sox bandwagon with a tapped up abacus!! And I still think it possible for the Cubs.
But to answer the question - its clearly the Cubs. 140 million.
Sox have been playing on borrowed time for 2 years now. Middle of the order has been killing us since the arrival of Jim Thome. That was the day we became a slugging baseball team - exclusively. And with his departure we are taking a huge step towards the future.
Since I've never been a White Sox fan I can't say they disappointed me. And I am currently looking through the book of Revelation to see if there is some coded reference to the end of the world and the Cubs winning a WS. If it's not in there I guess I'll need to read Nostradomus, I'm sure it has to be in one or the other somewhere. Meanwhile my kids have beem instructed that in the event Cubs fail to win a WS before I take my final breath they are to play Steve Goodman's "A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request" as my earthly remains are placed in the fire then scatter my ashes through the Smoky Mountains where my soul might find a still and drown it's misery in some "good ole mountain dew".
I said at the beginning of the season that this was going to be a transitional year for the Sox. This was supposed to be one of those out with the old and in with the new seasons and it was.
I was disappointed at the way they played down the stretch when the division was right there for the taking.
They just rolled over and that is not good to see during any time of any season.
It was time to part with Thome and Contreras and Dye might be next.
With Peavy and Rios on the team and knowing that Kenny will not sit on his hands during the off-season I have high hopes for them in 2010.
Disappointed but not greatly.
The Cubs on the other hand never disappoint me.
I mocked the fans and writers who claimed that the regular season was just a formality as if this team was the 1927 Yankees or the 1976 Reds.
"You are just jealous" was the reply.
“This team was built for October” I heard as if they had that part locked up from spring training. The longer the Cubs looked like a 2nd or 3rd place team with each passing week the more I smiled.
Never take anything for granted Cub fans.
There is nothing in your history that should make you look past one single game let alone an entire season.
If you go by preseason projections, of course the Cubs were the bigger disappointment; but how many preseason picks actually go through without bumps in the road?
The Cubs, in my eyes, were overpublicized. Their pitching staff is mediocre at best, their outfield is flanked by two of the biggest characters since Tom and Jerry, and their bats look like they may have overachieved last year.
Nope, my pick here is the White Sox! When you play in a division as feeble as ours, you should be in the running. Couple that with the amount of games 'booted' away, and it's as disappointing as a season can get. I believe we had a better chance than the Northsiders in August, and there's no shame not catching the Cards. But the Tigers aren't any beast. They've won games on sheer hustle, bat contact, semi-solid relief pitching, and some timely happenings.
We had our chances, but could NEVER make it happen.
My Sox are the bigger LETDOWN, but hey, shift happens!
At least Da Bears have their first legtimate super bowl quarterback in my 65 years as a Bears fan.
If you go strictly by preseason expectations, the Cubs are winners hands down. However, the Cubs were beat. The Sox beat themselves and for that I would say they are the bigger disappointment.
Biggest Disappointment..another Cubs/Sox Thread for the Dead
and here comes the UFL...cuts on Saturday
we have great characters for managers..I'll give the Chicagos' that
nobody expected anything from the Sox. We expected everything from the Cubs. Yet another way the Cubs outshine the Sox. Is this the
year Ozzie finally gets fired? Or will they get a new gm who can negotiate trades with the big-leaguers??? No more hoping that when
you get the worst end of the deal, things will work out in your favor.
Luck is more rare than money. Pay to play.
The Cubs??? I have no idea why they thought Aaron Miles would work out. Why Harden would work out. Why they didn't trade 'Z' when they could get something for him. Why they thought Dempster would have
another career year as a starter. Why they didn't use their money better. Hendry knows better. The Cubs are an organization that needs
structure. Otherwise they will always be a .500 club.
Villano said it well. Thanks, Mark.
stuckintrailerpark...
If you believe that the Sox need a new G.M. the you know nothing at all about baseball.
Your welcome, Bubba's Mom.
actually Phil, the proper logic is : "If you believe the Sox have a good GM, then you know nothing at all about baseball."
Do you see where you messed up? Good day.
The Cubs, hands down, because I don't really care whether the Sox win or lose unless they are playing the Cubs. Expectations were very high for the Cubs this year, and, although injuries were a factor, their performance in total was pretty pathetic. they simply could not get things together. If they had pitching, either their hitting or fielding cancelled it out; if they had some runs ahead, either their pitching or fielding let them down. In all, this was one of the most disappointing seasons of many in which my hopes for the cubs took a beating. Even so, I'm still a Cub fan, bloody for sure, but unbowed.
If you ask me, I think the proper logic is; if you're STUCK anywhere, it's cause you've not a clue, else you wouldn't be STUCK! Right Wisconsin?
actually, I am no longer stuck in Wisconsin.....I am stuck in Minnesota for the time being. I have a clue why I am stuck. I am stuck
anywhere but where i belong...Chicago...except I find you people
increasingly miserable, the further i get away. Was I that miserable??
I don't remember. One thing for sure..I will never turn my back on the Bears or Cubs. Good day to you too Mr Navarro.
Now that the pressure is gone - watch the Cubs and Sox start winning games.
This is making me sick. They're all but dead and buried, Thome is traded to the left coast, and now they start playing some real baseball like a real baseball team.
Somebody shoot me.
Got a question for everyone:
What would the Chicago Cubs do without the Pittsburgh Pirates?
Gig - Pittsburgh is the gift that keeps on giving! I aint mad at the CUBS! Only one thing to do with a sucker - lick it!!!
Keith, I ain't hatin.' I'm just sayin.'
If anything, I'm suggesting that Pittsburgh gets a lot of heat from MLB to shape up or ship out. That's an embarrassing franchise and it's too bad as the Pirates have had a lot of positive history prior to this ongoing and all-sports record-breaking 17-year drought with the likes of Honus Wagner, the Waner brothers, Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, etc. The Cubs have found a pipeline both in terms of it being a farm team as well as easy annual victory totals. There appears to be no reason to plug up that life-source unless, of course, that team ceases to exist which I think should be strongly considered.
If the Pirates were to leave, Pittsburgh would still have the Steelers and the Penguins--not bad!
I wish they could come to the AL Central!
I know that about nine people are see following the White Sox, so I thought that maybe I could enlighten a few. A.J. has been throwing guys out like I've never seen him do before!