Marlins sweep Cubbies
May 24th, 2006The lowly Florida Marlins, now 14-31 on the season, just completed a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs. To put that in perspective, 21.4 percent of the Marlins’ wins for the entire season came in the last three days, at the Cubs’ expense.
I don’t know how Cubs fans do it. I really don’t.
Adult beverages and voices make people do crazy things.
Jeremy is right.
Look, Chicago sports radio is helpful here. Everyone is calling for the head of Dusty Baker. But the rumor is that Hendry wants to keep Dusty. The stupidity of the Tribune organization is beyond belief, and everyone knows it but them. It’s strange to admit, but the Sox are gaining heavily off of the marginal Cubs fans (psst…and even the less marginal).
I honestly don’t see how Dusty Baker can keep his job after getting swept by the Marlins. That should be the last straw. But you’re right, Steve — the organization’s stupidity is alarming.
And especially with the Cubs starting to lose some of their fan base, you’d think the team would do something significant. It really boggles my mind.
Okay, now imagine being a lifetime fan, and then imagine experiencing this crap…like for the next 40 years, and then imagine always getting piled on by other fans (like you) even though we are already down and out, and imagine getting piled on in the off-season, pre-season, early season, mid-season, end of the season, after the regular season is over and the Cubs are golfing, and then looking forward to more piling on when the next season begins. Then imagine that our cross-town rival with like 17 fans becomes the best team in baseball. And then imagine sitting in the stands and dying from cranial implosion because Wrigley’s best concrete fell on you. That is about as close to a literal hell as I can imagine, and I’m living it.
Hosea, Steve. Just remember Hosea.
As a Cubs fan since 1970, let me tell you guys. I’ve seen worse. It’s time to clean house again. What poured salt into the wound in the Florida series was that they used Nolasco to beat us one of the games. Nolasco is who the Cubs gave them for Juan Pierre, who is neither Hispanic or French. Go figure.
Thanks Tim, for thinking of us. Now maybe you can understand my comments on your last Ozzie post.
Maybe instead of choosing a new team (which I have tried numerous times only to come crawling back to the Flubs) maybe it’s time to consider a new sport altogether.
Does anyone know anything about Curling?
When I look at Cubs fans, I could almost believe in Unconditional Election.
Cubs fans are the essence of the Faith. In Christ, there is always Hope. It’s easy to believe this when Pujols is batting third. When The Sox are hoisting the trophy. Even when Roger Clemens isn’t pitching for you anymore.
But not so easy when the Tribune Company controlls your team’s destiny.
It is a metaphor for the Narrow Way. It is difficult, rocky, full of persecution and trial. But in the end it will all be worth it.
So, if for no other reason than it reminds me to stay on the Road that really matters, I will take the Cubs to my grave.
Tom, Mike, Steve and any other Cubs fans –
What’s the problem with this team? I realize that Derrek Lee and Mark Prior are hurt, and that Kerry Wood just returned from the DL. So given those circumstances, I don’t expect the Cubs to be world-beaters.
Still, I would think they should be better than what they are. Did everybody just give up after the Lee injury, figuring that there’s no way they could win?
I agree Tim.
I feel sorry for the Scrubs…er, I mean Cubs. Lee gets hurt and they roll over and play dead.
Scott Rolen (granted, not the best player on the team like Lee) played in only 56 regular season games last year. The Cardinals still won 100 games.
Could it be that the Cubs just aren’t that good of a team? Let’s face it. A lot of the Cubs starting lineup would be bench guys in St. Louis. And to top it off, maybe the pitching staff is overrated.
Pinning your hopes on Prior and Wood is like having faith in the boat with a large hole in the hull. Logic says you will sink but you choose to ignore it. Prior and Wood have issues with mechanics; Prior has the chance to recover, but I think Wood is too stubborn to consider any changes. Plus his shoulder surgery which caused him to miss an entire season still figures prominently in any future he may have in baseball.
Before the season started I called for the Cubs to unload and retool. I was the only one in my Cub Blog group (viewfromthebleachers.com) to predict last place.
As a Christian I cannot believe in such things as curses, luck etc. but in times like these, ya gotta wonder.
We Cub fans are more grounded, equipped for life in the real world. No pie-in-the-sky faith here. It’s as real as it gets.
Tim-
All I can say is: the curse.
I side with Tom about knowing the Truth and being a believer. But there is no other explanation.
I wrote a post about the Cubs chances this year back in March. It’s on my site. That explains my understanding of the talent on this Cubs team. You can check it out at http://courtjester44.livejournal.com. It’s the one titled “Opening Day” and it’s April 3rd.
Basically, they have good players that really should be better. I honestly don’t think they’d be bench players on the Cards. That’s just rediculous. Barret is a Silver-Slugger and one of the better defensive catchers. But this year he is struggling behind the dish and at the dish.
Ramirez is widely regarded as one of the best NL thirdbasemen. But wihtout protection he tries to hard.
Cedeno and Murton are rookies. But they are good players. Cedeno is a solid hittter who was hot, then went south when Lee got hurt.
Pierre and Jones are much better than this. I am definately not the only one who says so.
With the Cubs, many people are quick to say good things about their players when the season is yet to happen. Then when thigns go bad, everyone across the board acts like there is no hope and their players are all horrible underacheivers who are overrated.
I just really don’t know any more.
Barrett a silver slugger? Yeah I guess so. Just ask AJ Pierzynski!
Mike I have to respond to your post.
After looking at the numbers position by position the Cubs have two players that could start for the Cardinals: Barrett and Jones.
That was including Lee at 1st and Walker at 2nd.
You said Barrett is struggling at the dish when in fact is just about having a career year.
Jacque Jones is also just about having a career year.
I agree that Pierre is struggling.
The Roster would look like this:
P Carpenter (STL)
C Barrett (ChC)
1 Pujols (STL)
2 Luna (STL)
3 Rolen (STL) - Don’t even think it
S Eckstein (STL)
L Rodriguez (STL)
C Edmonds (STL)
R Jones (ChC)
My favorite part of being a sports fan..hating on the Cubs..I am just glad I had time to check all my stats first… I agree with Chuck if you look at Jones with the Twins he has been in decline for a few years.. he hit .249 last year so at .276 now Cubs fans should be thrilled, Pierre was awful last year for the Marlins yet was regarded as the leadoff man of the future for the Cubs.. his OPS was nearly 80 points lower than David Eckstein…with the talent that Pierre has he should be no where near that level. That is the definition of underachieving. Barrett is right in line with his career numbers so no complaints there at least he is better than the alternative (Henry Blanco and his .059 BA). Your pitching is a mess. I mean Kerry Wood can’t even stay healthy pitching in relief? Then you go and spend 4-5 million on a lefty specialist like Scott Eyre, dont get me wrong he is a solid pitcher, but with your starting pitching always a wreck can you spend that kinda money on a guy that doesnt average and inning an appearence? And why is Neifi Perez still getting at bats? 100 of them in and he is still below the Mendoza line..Also why would you not go and pickup another 1rst baseman after Lee gets hurt? To me it would be worth the middle range prospect to get Conine or Tony Clark, so you wouldnt have to look at Todd Walker or John Mabry at First Base. As for Aramis, right now he is barely the 10th best 3rd baseman, statistics wise, in the National League this year. I believe he compares alot to Adrian Beltre in that he is capable of so much more but seems content living of his potential….Whew that felt good, please keep in mind this rant was not directed at anyone on here, unless you are a member of the Chicago Cubs front office….
Out of sheer boredom and also to spice things up a bit I would like to list the 3rd baseman in the NL who are currently having better seasons than Aramis Rameriez–.234 9 hr’s 23 rbis
In no paticular order
1. Cabrera-.335/8/35
2. Wright-.322/8/31
3. Ensberg-.277/16/33
4. Rolen-.315/4/23–in 30+ less at bats
5. Edwin Encarnacion-.263/6/29
6. Chipper Jones–.315/4/25
7. Ryan Zimmerman-.259/7/22
8. Chad Tracey-.307/8/29
9. Corey Koskie-.302/5/17 in 30+ less at bats
10. Tied with David Bell-.270/4/18-5 less hr’s equals the 5 rbis he is short, but avg. makes up for it I believe.
Hopefully the Braves can continue to beat them while they’re down this weekend… No offense, Cubbies.
Chuck- Not fair to include Lee at first when the Cards have Hercules. Other than Pujols, who belings in another universe, Lee is the best Firstbaseman in the game. And it’s not that far off.
Okay maybe it is.