Does anyone else think that this team is more focused?

[JWCUB]

It seems to me that with Z, Williams, and Mad Dog coming into camp in better shape, and Aramis improving his off season work ethic that the players on the 06 Cubs team are taking things a bit more seriously. It seems to me that they are WORKING to make this team a winner. They seem to have the focus and drive to do what it takes to win. Does anyone else see this, or am I just being to optimistic?

[MustangMike]

It seems to me that with Z, Williams, and Mad Dog coming into camp in better shape, and Aramis improving his off season work ethic that the players on the 06 Cubs team are taking things a bit more seriously. It seems to me that they are WORKING to make this team a winner. They seem to have the focus and drive to do what it takes to win. Does anyone else see this, or am I just being to optimistic?

 

I think the pressure is on even more than normal. All the other "cursed" teams have won in the last 2 years including the cross town rival, how can the pressure not be felt at this point? The thing I don't like right now is the attitude of this team projects. The still are playing that us vs. them game, and it's hard to be a fan of a team that is so unlikable already. The way the avoid talking to anyone i think fuels the fire to all the negative talk. I'm sure some players are willing to talk and are told to be quiet so I don't blame the players entirely, its just hard to talk. Sorry for the tangent, but its sort of related.... :)

[TB_11]

It seems to me that with Z, Williams, and Mad Dog coming into camp in better shape, and Aramis improving his off season work ethic that the players on the 06 Cubs team are taking things a bit more seriously. It seems to me that they are WORKING to make this team a winner. They seem to have the focus and drive to do what it takes to win. Does anyone else see this, or am I just being to optimistic?

 

I'm glad to see Zambrano, Williams, and Maddux coming into camp in better shape. Maddux has pitched well post ASB break the last few years, and Zambrano and Williams did the same last year. I wonder how much of that was the effect of them 'pitching themselves into shape.'

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

I don't think they liked getting embarrassed last season. Watching the Astros celebrate wasn't the best experience in the world, either.

 

Let's hope that drive lasts 162+ games.

[JWCUB]

I don't think they liked getting embarrassed last season. Watching the Astros celebrate wasn't the best experience in the world, either.

 

Let's hope that drive lasts 162+ games.

 

It seems, to me at least, that it will. From the little I have seen, it seems like they have more of a "workman" type attitude. Like they know what it takes to get it done, and work on it. I have seen 22 spring trainings, and this one just seems diffrent to me. I see a lot of focus, a lot of personal commitment, and team commitment. Something that I have not seen since 1984.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

I don't think they liked getting embarrassed last season. Watching the Astros celebrate wasn't the best experience in the world, either.

 

Let's hope that drive lasts 162+ games.

 

It seems, to me at least, that it will. From the little I have seen, it seems like they have more of a "workman" type attitude. Like they know what it takes to get it done, and work on it. I have seen 22 spring trainings, and this one just seems diffrent to me. I see a lot of focus, a lot of personal commitment, and team commitment. Something that I have not seen since 1984.

 

Pierre's work ethic should be a plus. I'm pretty happy to hear Murton bulked up, Z lost weight, Maddux hired a personal trainer in the offseason, and Williams lost weight. The individual competition for spots (and contracts) should get certain people motivated. Others motivate themselve, e.g. Pierre and Lee.

 

I guess the Cubs are into a new "dynamic stretching" routine to help keep injuries down. I hate to be too optimistic about this team given its history, but we're starting to look good, even if I didn't love our offseason.

 

I certainly feel better about this team than I did about the '05 team, and I was super pumped to have a healthy Nomar at the time (who was demolishing the ball in ST).

[burnt out cubbie fan]

Z lost a lot of weight going into last season too. Remember, he was on the cottage cheese diet.

[UK1679666180]

It's great for those individual players, I'm not sure of the impact on the overall team. This team will still have to depend on the health of Wood and Prior as far as getting into the post-season.

 

In-season conditioning is just as important as off-season conditioning, especially the pitchers.

[goonys evil twin]

I don't think they liked getting embarrassed last season. Watching the Astros celebrate wasn't the best experience in the world, either.

 

Let's hope that drive lasts 162+ games.

 

It seems, to me at least, that it will. From the little I have seen, it seems like they have more of a "workman" type attitude. Like they know what it takes to get it done, and work on it. I have seen 22 spring trainings, and this one just seems diffrent to me. I see a lot of focus, a lot of personal commitment, and team commitment. Something that I have not seen since 1984.

 

I would like to believe there's a little more focus and a better attitude going into this season. But it's going to take more than one day of practice to give that theory any legs. At this stage, I think every team is in the same boat, with some guys a little out of shape, some guys looking trimmer than normal, a few guys more banged up than expected, and a couple others progressing at an accelerated pace.

 

I love reading everything that comes out of these practices, but I don't take much stock in any of the rah-rah we hear.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Z lost a lot of weight going into last season too. Remember, he was on the cottage cheese diet.

 

That was 2004, not last year.

[UMFan83]

Like someone else mentioned, I think they are feeling the pressure a bit this year. It seems like it might be increasing their desire.

 

I think it was Lee that said that the first time they screw up at Wrigley, they will most likely get booed, and that they will be expecting that all year.

[dalgreen]

I think I'm going to have to wait another three weeks or so before I judge whether this team seems more focused than last year. I don't know what connection Maddux's conditioning program will have on the number of homers he gives up or his inability to keep runners from stealing second before Barrett/Blanco even get the pitch. It's good to hear about Z and Williams slimming down and Murton bulking up a bit, but what about the health of Wood and Prior? What are guys like Barrett, Walker, Hairston, Perez and Jones doing? Was last year a fluke for Lee? I think I'll take the wait and see approach to see if this team is more focused and if it translates to better play.

[A New Era]

Once this team never goes into an 8 game loosing streak this season, then I'll be pumped.

 

Rusch (and someone else) admited the pressure was getting to some players (last year), and that is maybe why they had those loosing streaks.

 

So right now, to me, pressure is not a good thing for this team. Hopefully the new faces create a spark and the different "mixture" this year, wields different results. I mean as "horrible" as last years team was (according to some). . If we didn't have those 2 long loosing streaks. We were the wild card, easy.

 

This year we can have NO long loosing streaks (more than 4 games), and they have to PLAY TO THEIR FULLEST every day! That includes against the Pirates and Rockies.

[KatJ]

This year we can have NO long loosing streaks (more than 4 games), and they have to PLAY TO THEIR FULLEST every day! That includes against the Pirates and Rockies.

 

The Pirates definitely are not to be underestimated this season - particularly their rotation (esp. Zach Duke - just wow). They are a step, maybe two, behind where Milwaukee was last season.

 

In a perfect world, I would have liked a Zito one-year rental, for another bona fide starter who would START the year ready to go, and a GOOD lefty to boot. (Bad memories of the Shawn Estes albatross the 2003 team had to carry, except for that last game he pitched against Cincinnati, still haunt me.) But even without that, this team owes us 90+ wins in the regular season.

[Jehrico]

I think I'm going to have to wait another three weeks or so before I judge whether this team seems more focused than last year. I don't know what connection Maddux's conditioning program will have on the number of homers he gives up or his inability to keep runners from stealing second before Barrett/Blanco even get the pitch. It's good to hear about Z and Williams slimming down and Murton bulking up a bit, but what about the health of Wood and Prior? What are guys like Barrett, Walker, Hairston, Perez and Jones doing? Was last year a fluke for Lee? I think I'll take the wait and see approach to see if this team is more focused and if it translates to better play.

 

I'm surprised I hadn't seen any threads on it. Maybe everyone's afraid of jinxing them. Several glowing reports on how Wood, Prior, and Miller are coming along. Miller may be able to fill that #5 slot in the rotation by May from early reports.

 

This link has a good roll up of all of the latest cub stories. There's an article listed today from the Trib, the Suntimes, and the Herald (another great piece by Bruce) all attesting to the good news on all three pitchers.

[NorthsideAvenger]

I think the pressure is on even more than normal. All the other "cursed" teams have won in the last 2 years including the cross town rival, how can the pressure not be felt at this point? The thing I don't like right now is the attitude of this team projects. The still are playing that us vs. them game, and it's hard to be a fan of a team that is so unlikable already. The way the avoid talking to anyone i think fuels the fire to all the negative talk. I'm sure some players are willing to talk and are told to be quiet so I don't blame the players entirely, its just hard to talk. Sorry for the tangent, but its sort of related.... :)

 

MLB:

Anaheim, Arizona, Boston, and Chicago WS won either the first WSeries title in franchise history, or for the first time in a LONG time.

 

NBA:

Spurs won their first championship in franchise in 1999.

 

NHL:

Lightning won their first NHL Championship in 2004

 

NFL:

Bucs, and Patriots won their first Super Bowl championships in the last five yrs.

 

NCAA Football:

Texas, LSU, and Ohio State won their first NCAA title in a LONG (decades long) time.

 

So...it isn't JUST the White Sox and the Red Sox (they are the direct conection to the Cubs) who broke their droughts. There have been a recent rash of first time winners and/or 1st ftime winners after a drought t win their sports "championship."

 

But unfortunately, the Cubs are not the ONLY MLB team with a drought. The Astros/Nats/Rangers/Mariners/INDIANS, are some of the teams that have droughts.

[Bgbird68]

I think the pressure is on even more than normal. All the other "cursed" teams have won in the last 2 years including the cross town rival, how can the pressure not be felt at this point? The thing I don't like right now is the attitude of this team projects. The still are playing that us vs. them game, and it's hard to be a fan of a team that is so unlikable already. The way the avoid talking to anyone i think fuels the fire to all the negative talk. I'm sure some players are willing to talk and are told to be quiet so I don't blame the players entirely, its just hard to talk. Sorry for the tangent, but its sort of related.... :)

 

MLB:

Anaheim, Arizona, Boston, and Chicago WS won either the first WSeries title in franchise history, or for the first time in a LONG time.

 

NBA:

Spurs won their first championship in franchise in 1999.

 

NHL:

Lightning won their first NHL Championship in 2004

 

NFL:

Bucs, and Patriots won their first Super Bowl championships in the last five yrs.

 

NCAA Football:

Texas, LSU, and Ohio State won their first NCAA title in a LONG (decades long) time.

 

So...it isn't JUST the White Sox and the Red Sox (they are the direct conection to the Cubs) who broke their droughts. There have been a recent rash of first time winners and/or 1st ftime winners after a drought t win their sports "championship."

 

But unfortunately, the Cubs are not the ONLY MLB team with a drought. The Astros/Nats/Rangers/Mariners/INDIANS, are some of the teams that have droughts.

 

The definition of a "Cub drought" and the rest of those team's droughts are two entirely different things.

[Bgbird68]

And to answer the orignal question of this topic: No.

[Jehrico]

And to answer the orignal question of this topic: No.

 

Care to expound?

[Bgbird68]

How would anyone know if this team was more focused? It's February. Just because a few players show up skinnier doesn't change anything.

[goonys evil twin]

How would anyone know if this team was more focused? It's February. Just because a few players show up skinnier doesn't change anything.

 

Absotively.

 

I'm all for high expecations and whatnot, but let's give it a while before we judge where these guys are at mentally. Every spring you hear stories of increased focus, attention to detail, players in the best shape of their life, and it's not easy, at least for me, to buy this stuff when you've heard it all before.

[UBlink]

How would anyone know if this team was more focused? It's February. Just because a few players show up skinnier doesn't change anything.

 

Absotively.

 

I'm all for high expecations and whatnot, but let's give it a while before we judge where these guys are at mentally. Every spring you hear stories of increased focus, attention to detail, players in the best shape of their life, and it's not easy, at least for me, to buy this stuff when you've heard it all before.

 

Was Groundhog Day that long ago? Today's a brand new day. Just because we've been burned umpteen jillion times before shouldn't impact our ability to see the clear evidence that this is the year.

[Dr. Cub]

How would anyone know if this team was more focused? It's February. Just because a few players show up skinnier doesn't change anything.

 

Absotively.

 

I'm all for high expecations and whatnot, but let's give it a while before we judge where these guys are at mentally. Every spring you hear stories of increased focus, attention to detail, players in the best shape of their life, and it's not easy, at least for me, to buy this stuff when you've heard it all before.

 

....and we have our winner. Bob, tell him what he's won.

 

Well Chip, Goony has won an entire year's worth of heartache, misery, and complete disappointment.

[Soul]

How would anyone know if this team was more focused? It's February. Just because a few players show up skinnier doesn't change anything.

 

Absotively.

 

I'm all for high expecations and whatnot, but let's give it a while before we judge where these guys are at mentally. Every spring you hear stories of increased focus, attention to detail, players in the best shape of their life, and it's not easy, at least for me, to buy this stuff when you've heard it all before.

 

....and we have our winner. Bob, tell him what he's won.

 

Well Chip, Goony has won an entire year's worth of heartache, misery, and complete disappointment.

 

Actually, he probably experiences quite a bit less than those who build their hopes up sky high only to be cut down to Earth for the.........100th or so time 8)

[CubfaninCA]

There's no way this can be proved so why bother. j/k ;)

 

Seriously, I think guys like Wood & Pierre will be very motivated considering this is their contract years. The young guys should be quite motivated too. Who knows about the other's though.