Optimistic Thread

[back2backjax]

I can't agree enough with atcfootball's viewpoint that some Cubs fans seem to relish the opportunity to bitch about this year's team. But it's getting a little old to log on each day and read nothing but slams against Dusty's strategy, Jacque's plate discipline or the fact that Neifi took the field. Seemingly no one comes on here to point out that the Cubs are 12-7 despite:

 

- Missing 3/5 of the starting rotation;

- Zambrano has yet to notch win #1;

- Two guys (Williams, Rusch) we've trotted out as starters would struggle to get guys out at AAA, perhaps even AA;

- Aramis is batting .180 with 9 RBIs

- Pierre is batting just .266

- Having won 3 of their first 5 games without their best player;

- Winning 4 games when trailing entering the 7th inning;

 

Does none of this give you hope that if the Cubs are within striking distance of the Wild Card/Division (5-7 games back) when everyone is healthy around the All-Star break, they could be a legitimate contender? And this doesn't take into consideration moves Hendry could make to give them even more of a shot.

 

A lot of people are eager to jump on Jones and Pierre, but both have higher BAs than Ramirez and Jones has just 1 less RBI despite playing in 2 fewer games. Few mention that Jones has played error-free defense in RF. So why is it open season on him, but Aramis gets a free pass to use the whole month of April to warm up? Could it be because not many liked the signing of Jones and will never give the guy a chance? Sure I don't like his free-swinging approach at the plate, but in one month, he's had two extremely clutch hits (3-run jobs against St. L and Fla) so I'm OK with supporting him now and allowing him time to get acclimated to NL pitching and warm up.

 

Pierre getting bashed is even harder to figure out. The guy gets a clutch double to start a 6-run rally on Monday and because he struggles against one of the toughest lefties in baseball on Tuesday, some are on here calling him a girl. What's it like to watch a game with you people?

 

My hope is that this thread will attract some positive thinkers who are happy with the Cubs' first 19 games and looking forward to the next 143, but if history is any indication, I'm sure it will quickly be overrun by those who aren't happy unless they're miserable.

[ZiggyTaxi]

T3h COBS SUCK!

[Springfield_CUBBY]

This team - while not perfect - is fun to watch and has an odd tendency to win games!! So I'm jumping on back2backjax's positive bandWGN!!! Who's with us?? Edited April 26, 2006 by Springfield_CUBBY

[wade]

I don't think they'll lose another game this year.

[soapy]

I can't agree enough with atcfootball's viewpoint that some Cubs fans seem to relish the opportunity to bitch about this year's team. But it's getting a little old to log on each day and read nothing but slams against Dusty's strategy, Jacque's plate discipline or the fact that Neifi took the field. Seemingly no one comes on here to point out that the Cubs are 12-7 despite:

 

- Missing 3/5 of the starting rotation;

- Zambrano has yet to notch win #1;

- Two guys (Williams, Rusch) we've trotted out as starters would struggle to get guys out at AAA, perhaps even AA;

- Aramis is batting .180 with 9 RBIs

- Pierre is batting just .266

- Having won 3 of their first 5 games without their best player;

- Winning 4 games when trailing entering the 7th inning;

 

Does none of this give you hope that if the Cubs are within striking distance of the Wild Card/Division (5-7 games back) when everyone is healthy around the All-Star break, they could be a legitimate contender? And this doesn't take into consideration moves Hendry could make to give them even more of a shot.

 

A lot of people are eager to jump on Jones and Pierre, but both have higher BAs than Ramirez and Jones has just 1 less RBI despite playing in 2 fewer games. Few mention that Jones has played error-free defense in RF. So why is it open season on him, but Aramis gets a free pass to use the whole month of April to warm up? Could it be because not many liked the signing of Jones and will never give the guy a chance? Sure I don't like his free-swinging approach at the plate, but in one month, he's had two extremely clutch hits (3-run jobs against St. L and Fla) so I'm OK with supporting him now and allowing him time to get acclimated to NL pitching and warm up.

 

Pierre getting bashed is even harder to figure out. The guy gets a clutch double to start a 6-run rally on Monday and because he struggles against one of the toughest lefties in baseball on Tuesday, some are on here calling him a girl. What's it like to watch a game with you people?

 

My hope is that this thread will attract some positive thinkers who are happy with the Cubs' first 19 games and looking forward to the next 143, but if history is any indication, I'm sure it will quickly be overrun by those who aren't happy unless they're miserable.

 

I don't understand. How many times do people have to say that Ramirez is being given the benefit of the doubt because of his past? Jones is not productive, and really never has been. I'm not the kind of guy that's going to boo a player, but I'm not going to go ga-ga over a guy who, IMO, is not productive enough to be an everyday RF and has a poor approach at the plate. OF COURSE I'M STILL ROOTING FOR HIM!!! I hope he breaks out and does something he's never shown to be capable of doing in his career, produce offensively.

 

Having said that, I do believe this team can contend for the playoffs. I've been encouraged by Cedeno, Murton and Marshall. I do believe Ramirez will heat up sometime soon and get back to what he's done the last few years. I also believe Zambrano is still going to have an outstanding year (and has shown signs of really coming around). I hope that Wood and Prior (maybe Miller as well) will get back soon and have a positive impact on the SP. I'm also somewhat encouraged that Dusty hasn't surplanted Murton (with Mabry) or Cedeno (with Perez) yet, and I hope that continues if and when Murton and Cedeno hit bad slumps.

[Springfield_CUBBY]

I don't think they'll lose another game this year.

 

Right, because that was the point of this thread - to imply that the Cubs will never lose another game, ever! :roll:

[RynoRules]

I don't think they'll lose another game this year.

 

That is one of the dumbest things I have ever seen posted here. Disaree with his position? Just say it, but don't degrade other members. Hope he pays you back in spades for that one.

[Mizzou]

My God. Overreact much?

 

Wade was probably just trying to be funny and add a little over the top optimism and he gets slammed for it by two people? Christ.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I don't think they'll lose another game this year.

 

You're so wrong. We're going to lose three more games. But that's it!

[imb]

What's it like to watch a game with you people?

 

you people? what do you mean "you people"? banned for racism please.

[goonys evil twin]

I don't think they'll lose another game this year.

 

You're so wrong. We're going to lose three more games. But that's it!

 

What do you mean "another" and "more". They haven't lost a game yet, and they sure as heck aren't going to start anytime soon.

[J.R.]

I don't think they'll lose another game this year.

 

That is one of the dumbest things I have ever seen posted here. Disaree with his position? Just say it, but don't degrade other members. Hope he pays you back in spades for that one.

 

What the hell?

 

Is he gonna plow a truck through his bedroom or something?

[USSoccer]

If you're polling people for optimism, I'll give you a couple nuggets:

 

Ramirez is going to start hitting any day now, and Wood should be back within 2 weeks. The team is playing fairly well right now. Marshall has been decent, and Murton and Cedeno have played well.

 

But again, I'll repeat-Pointing out the flaws in your favorite team doesn't make you a pessimist, a jerk, a Communist, or a bad Cubs fan. It means you are thinking critically and making judgements based on logic and reason, and adjusting your expectations accordingly.

 

There's not a single Cubs fan here that wants the team to lose and players like Perez and Jones to suck just to have their opinions of them proven correct.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I don't think they'll lose another game this year.

 

That is one of the dumbest things I have ever seen posted here. Disaree with his position? Just say it, but don't degrade other members. Hope he pays you back in spades for that one.

 

Hello, kettle. Pot calling.

[RynoRules]

My God. Overreact much?

 

Wade was probably just trying to be funny and add a little over the top optimism and he gets slammed for it by two people? Christ.

 

Forgive me - I am sick of the recent phenomenon of glib and patronizing reactions to people with differing points of view.

[imb]

My God. Overreact much?

 

Wade was probably just trying to be funny and add a little over the top optimism and he gets slammed for it by two people? Christ.

 

Forgive me - I am sick of the recent phenomenon of glib and patronizing reactions to people with differing points of view.

 

you mean like calling someones post dumb because you dont agree with his point of view? that makes sense.

[RynoRules]

My God. Overreact much?

 

Wade was probably just trying to be funny and add a little over the top optimism and he gets slammed for it by two people? Christ.

 

Forgive me - I am sick of the recent phenomenon of glib and patronizing reactions to people with differing points of view.

 

you mean like calling someones post dumb because you dont agree with his point of view? that makes sense.

 

Nothing glib or patronizing about that. Its a specific POV.

 

In general, I am tired of the sniping, and I guess I have turned to it myself.

[goonys evil twin]

Pierre getting bashed is even harder to figure out. The guy gets a clutch double to start a 6-run rally on Monday and because he struggles against one of the toughest lefties in baseball on Tuesday, some are on here calling him a girl.

 

FYI, when somebody gets criticized on here it is usually for their body of work, not one game, one play or one mistake. Everybody is bound to get a clutch hit, or pitch a clutch inning at some point in the season. And everybody is bound to have a terrible at bat and pitch terribly in an outing. Most people, on this board at least, aren't going to judge them based on that one appearance, rather, they are going to look at their career, their recent seasons, and the longterm trends.

 

What's it like to watch a game with you people?

 

I don't know, I've never knowingly watched a game with anybody from this board. As far people watching with me, I can only guess they enjoy it, since they keep coming back for more, and often ask about getting tickets and making more road trips to Chicago for games. And I keep getting invited back to games from people who do have tickets. But maybe they just like that I'm not afraid to double up on the beer runs.

 

:pint:

 

Enjoy the game, hope we don't ruin it too much.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I've watched a game with Fred and it was a very enjoyable experience. I hope he can say the same about me.

[UMFan83]

Does every thread on NSBB have to turn into conflicts? Having differing opinions and debating the laurels of your opinion is one thing, but just trashing on someone's opinion because its different from yours is another, and its making the board increasingly unreadable. Mind you 90% of the board is a blast to take part in, but I've noticed more and more threads that just turn into bickering.

 

Yeah yeah I know, if you don't like it don't read it. I just hate to see the board deteriotate (which it hasn't yet but could continuing on this path). And this is despite great moderation.

 

Anyways, good idea for this thread. I guess I'm just a natural pessimist for whatever reason. I do like the way this team approaches the game. Make no lie, about 80% of the reason this team is winning is because of their pitching. The pitching is only going to get better folks when Prior, Wood and possibly Miller (who knows if he gets a spot with the way Marshall is pitching), jumping into the rotation.

 

But yeah, I dunno, 20 games is almost 1/8th of the season, and should be a moderate sample size, but its still too soon into the post-Derrek Lee era to really put an estimate on how well the Cubs will do without him. So far so good, but then again 2 of our wins have come against the Marlins.

 

Regardless, I love the fact that we have hitters like Matt Murton and Todd Walker that can work the count and put a high percentage of balls into play. I am especially excited about Matt Murton. Maybe he will never be a HOFer (and maybe he will), but damn this kid has something. A true student of the game, sharp as a knife (listen to his postgame interview after last night's game). I do not worry about a drop off from the kid simply because I know he has the talent, and he definitely has the brains to make any adjustments to his game necessary.

 

Sorry for the long rant, thats my best attempt at being optimistic.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

It's a total blast to watch a game with me. I put on a mascot suit I made for myself and drive around the neighborhood in my golf cart every 3 innings shooting hot dogs and rolled up t-shirts from my air cannon. Occasionally, I get up on the roof of my porch and dance to music like "Rock and Roll: Part II". Once, I even got some kids from the neighborhood to put their foreheads on the end of a bat handle and spin in circles. We all had a blast watching them run!

[jjgman21]

 

But again, I'll repeat-Pointing out the flaws in your favorite team doesn't make you a pessimist, a jerk, a Communist, or a bad Cubs fan. It means you are thinking critically and making judgements based on logic and reason, and adjusting your expectations accordingly.

 

 

I agree. but pointing out the flaws is not always done via critical thinking and making judgments based on logic and reason. sometimes there is quite a bit of off handed remarks made and analysis given that leaves out facts, makes logical leaps of faith, emphasizes the bad and de-emphasizes the good, etc.

 

 

 

 

what is with people today anyway? the Cubs are on a three game winning streak, with our three best players hurt, two of those players appear to be coming back soon, our young guys are performing well, and a pitcher we all have anticipated seeing at Wrigley for 5 years now will be making his major league debut today.

 

it's happy time people. there will be 60-70 loses this year to be pissed off after.

[goonys evil twin]

Does every thread on NSBB have to turn into conflicts?

 

 

The ones whose entire reason for existing is to rip on other posters for not being good enough fans are surely going to turn into conflict.

[goonys evil twin]

 

But again, I'll repeat-Pointing out the flaws in your favorite team doesn't make you a pessimist, a jerk, a Communist, or a bad Cubs fan. It means you are thinking critically and making judgements based on logic and reason, and adjusting your expectations accordingly.

 

 

I agree. but pointing out the flaws is not always done via critical thinking and making judgments based on logic and reason. sometimes there is quite a bit of off handed remarks made and analysis given that leaves out facts, makes logical leaps of faith, emphasizes the bad and de-emphasizes the good, etc.

 

 

 

 

what is with people today anyway? the Cubs are on a three game winning streak, with our three best players hurt, two of those players appear to be coming back soon, our young guys are performing well, and a pitcher we all have anticipated seeing at Wrigley for 5 years now will be making his major league debut today.

 

it's happy time people. there will be 60-70 loses this year to be pissed off after.

 

It's been said before, but it's worth repeating. Every Cubs fan is happy with the win, but it's a marginal happiness. Until they win a world series, a regular season victory, or string of victories, just isn't going to cut it. Big picture stuff is what matters to those who still fret after a win.

[J.R.]

Does every thread on NSBB have to turn into conflicts?

 

 

The ones whose entire reason for existing is to rip on other posters for not being good enough fans are surely going to turn into conflict.

 

"the bitching about bitching is worse than the bitching itself"

 

I don't know who said it, but it's the damn truth.