Posts tagged ‘World Series’

UPDATE: Cubscast will be back with a new episode tomorrow (Tuesday Oct. 7th), and we’re preparing a Season-in-Review episode for Monday Oct. 13th. Stay tuned!

It’s hard to describe the pain of losing this time. The Cubs lose all the time, every year for a hundred years now, but this one really hurt. Because despite the fact that we say it every year, I really did think this year was our year. But it wasn’t.

And I as much as I hate to say it, thinking about it now, I don’t really think the Cubs will ever win the World Series. And I hate saying that. And I know it’s probably the pain of this year talking, and I hope every fan out there who is older than me and has seen more devastation than I have, as well as every fan who is younger and seen much less and thus doesn’t deserve to have his hopes called into question, will forgive me, but let’s face it…we’re never going to win the World Series.

The purpose of the Cubs is to never win the World Series. That’s what they are meant to be, a team that never wins. We signed up for the wrong team. Or the right team if you take pleasure in being the forever underdog, everyone’s favorite sentimental team, whatever you want to call it. Part of me does. Maybe that’s pathetic, but that’s the Cubs. It’s not these players as some might claim, the Cubs franchise is simply never going to win the World Series again. I know that’s stupid and it’s easy to call bulls*&t on, blame bad ownership, sub par teams, day games, whatever. Reality is, the best evidence we have to date shows the Cubs aren’t going to win the World Series ever again. The Marlins have won 2 and most of you reading this have been around longer than they have. Tampa is a game away from the ALCS. Tampa. The Cubs aren’t cursed; they will just never win the World Series. And we Cub fans will always be able to take a weird pleasure in songs claiming that “someday we’ll go all the way” because we know in reality, we never will.

Or at least likely never will.

I guess it’s that little bit of hope that keeps us coming back… And as much as I hate to admit it, as clear as it is to me right now that if we didn’t win this year, we’re never gonna win, I guess there is a tiny bit of hope still there. And maybe that tiny bit of hope is still enough.

…Ok, let me revise my statement— the Cubs will probably never win the World Series. That’s the reality we all face, and if you don’t buy it, you’re fooling yourself.

But damn it, if they do, it’s gonna feel great. I just pray we’re all around to see it.

Cubs Fans-

You’re thrilled. You’ve been running around all day getting Old Style, Cubs napkins, baseball plates, red and blue streamers… maybe even some sort of pin the tail on the Piniella party game. You are ready. But tonight’s TV broadcast on TBS is sure to be annoying at times. So please, allow me to lower your expectations before they rise too high. We are in for 3-5 games of the following:

- 100 Year Drought Talk. Hey, did you guys know the Cubs haven’t won in 100 years? Maybe TBS will play a montage of things invented since 1908! I bet there’s a really old, cute Cubs fan you could put the
camera on now.

- Manny Being Manny. Face it. You’re about to hear that phrase a million times. Get a hair cut, hippie.

- Possible RedLine Series! Possible RedLine Series!

- One time, there was this guy named Steve Bartman…. Get ready to hear about him after every foul ball to the left field seats.

-  What is this baseball game that TBS keeps showing between these Frank TV ads I’ve tuned in to watch?

-  Zambrano threw a no hitter but boy is he emotional!

-  Joe Torre Vs. Lou Piniella: who has the harder to spell last name? 

- Celebrity Cubs Fans Vs. Celeb Dodger Fans. Special sidebar: do the Cubs fans also root for the Sox?

That’s what we have to look forward to. Me? I’m gonna watch on mute and listen to the radio, which I’m sure you’re about to hear was not invented in 1908, the last time the Cubs won the World Series.

We’ve been getting a few e-mails lately from listeners that are starting to make plans to be in Chicago for October to watch the Cubs in the postseason. While the team hasn’t yet clinched, it’s never too early to make plans, right? Below we’ve posted the Cubs tentative postseason schedule. If you’re booking flight or hotel to Chicago this October, please consider our travel partners, CheapTickets and Orbitz.

* means that as of the standings on Aug. 23, those games would be played at Wrigley.

NLDS (Home field to the division leaders with the best two records)

*Wednesday, Oct. 1
*Thursday, Oct. 2
Saturday, Oct. 4
Sunday, Oct. 5
*Tuesday, Oct. 7

NLCS (Home field to the division leader with the best record)

*Thursday, Oct. 9
*Friday, Oct. 10
Sunday, Oct. 12
Monday, Oct. 13
Wednesday, Oct. 15
*Friday, Oct. 17
*Saturday, Oct. 18

World Series (Home field goes to the AL)

*Saturday, Oct. 25
*Sunday, Oct. 26
*Monday, Oct. 27

It’s shaping up to be an awesome month, and we can’t wait to cover the Cubs all postseason long on Cubscast. We’ll be stepping up the coverage and bringing you all kinds of new and special content. More details to come as it gets closer. See you in Chicago!

Back in March when Spring Training was only a few weeks old, ESPN’s John Kruk (it’s weird not calling him Fried Food’s John Kruk) predicted that not only would the Chicago Cubs win the Word Series in 2008, but that Derrek Lee would be the NL MVP this season. I admit that I scoffed at the remarks. What does a guy know that only sees a handful of games and a boatload of packaged highlight clips? Something I didn’t.

Derrek Lee is all-world right now, and in a few week’s time has solidified himself as hands down the Cubs best player on both sides of the ball. He’s homered in 5 straight games at Wrigley, and in the last 10 games he’s raised his average 30 points, drove in 12 runs, scored 11 times, and has more walks than strikeouts. In those games the Cubs are 8-2, due in no small part to Lee’s prowess.

His home run stroke is back, as is his uncanny ability to come through at the most important times. It’s a shame that there’s no way to measure good momentum, because Derrek is leading every league in that category. And I haven’t even mentioned his glove.

The difference between Lee’s glove this year and last is subtle but readily apparent. And Sheps pointed out to me that D-Lee won the Gold Glove in 2007. They should give him one for both hands if he keeps up this spectacular defense. He won last Sunday’s finale in Philadelphia with his glove, making an incredible play to force extra innings by grabbing a smash by Carlos Ruiz and beating Ruiz to the bag. In Pittsburgh a few days prior Lee prevented the winning run from scoring (also in the 9th) on a surprise bunt by Jose Bautista. Brian Bixler was napping at 3rd and should have tried to score, but he had to see Derrek aggressively charging that ball, opting to stay put.

Those are two examples of game-winning defense by Lee, and his play in the 9th inning has been superb, but his play in the first 8 innings deserves praise as well. That difference between this year and last — he’s not only making the Gold Glove caliber plays…he’s making all the insane plays that even Gold Glovers have problems with. So to Derrek, a tip of the cap to you, sir, your play has reminded me why I love this game. And to Kruk…I apologize, and we’ll talk later about your other prediction.