Death of a Season: The 5 steps

[Big Fergie J]

The Cubs are so bad right now that I've even taken to watching the NBA Playoffs.

 

Didn't see that coming.

[soccer10k]

Right now I'm just excited about the World Cup starting. But after the World Cup final on July 9, I don't know what I'm going to do. Basketball and hockey will have finished and football would still be a few weeks away from starting so baseball will be the only thing to do.

[Scott G. F.]

In addition to experiencing all of the feelings over the past month, I've noticed my alcohol consumption has increased by an impressive (or maybe scary) amount.

 

 

I did for 2003, '04 and '05 . This year not so much.

[Scott G. F.]

The Cubs are so bad right now that I've even taken to watching the NBA Playoffs.

 

Didn't see that coming.

 

 

Fergie,

I too am looking for another less painful competative sport to watch.

The NBA isn't it for me and NHL is well horrable to watch on TV.

 

I'm thinking WNBA.

[Yestheydo]

 

I could never get that far ahead of myself. With a healthy team coming out of this year. Prior, Wood, Miller, D Lee, Pagan. I see good things. Hendry makes some move to plug holes he thinks he can address and the Cubs'll be back at it.

 

Back at what? Mediocrity?

[Scott G. F.]

 

I could never get that far ahead of myself. With a healthy team coming out of this year. Prior, Wood, Miller, D Lee, Pagan. I see good things. Hendry makes some move to plug holes he thinks he can address and the Cubs'll be back at it.

 

Back at what? Mediocrity?

 

 

With the larger pieces in place, this team fully healthy is a good team. World Series good? I don't know.

[Yestheydo]

 

I could never get that far ahead of myself. With a healthy team coming out of this year. Prior, Wood, Miller, D Lee, Pagan. I see good things. Hendry makes some move to plug holes he thinks he can address and the Cubs'll be back at it.

 

Back at what? Mediocrity?

 

 

With the larger pieces in place, this team fully healthy is a good team. World Series good? I don't know.

 

I'm sorry, but how long are we going to fall for that? I'll believe Mark Prior still exists when I see him. I'll believe he'll be a dominant starter when I see it. Same with Wood. And I love Derrek Lee too, but once he's "back", who knows how long before he's 100%? And will the retards boo him if he's not? I seriously have no idea. These fans are insane.

[A New Era]

Which step are you in Scott? Somehow I'm experiencing step 2 and 5 at the same time.

 

I've got 2, 3, and 5 over here!

Edited May 24, 2006 by A New Era

[Drew Doughty]

Lee would pretty much have to kill kittens at 1B to get booed.

[Fred Hornkohl]

At this point this team is SO bad, that one good offseason can't possibly fix this mess.

 

I'm almost to the point of writing off next year as well.

"Wait till the year after next!"

 

 

I could never get that far ahead of myself. With a healthy team coming out of this year. Prior, Wood, Miller, D Lee, Pagan. I see good things. Hendry makes some move to plug holes he thinks he can address and the Cubs'll be back at it.

 

You're counting on Prior and Wood next year?? :shock:

 

Not to mention the fact that next year's free agent class is far from spectacular...wait till the year after next seems completely reasonable...hell...somebody just posted that our TEAM obp is under .300...has that ever happened for a team to finish with an OBP under .300 for the year?

 

It has happened 24 times since 1961 in the National League........

 

1965  New York         0.277
1968  New York         0.281
1963  Houston          0.283
1972  San Diego        0.283
1963  New York         0.285
1969  San Diego        0.285
1964  Houston          0.285
1967  New York         0.288
1968  Los Angeles      0.289
1976  Washington       0.291
1971  San Diego        0.293
1968  Philadelphia     0.294
1964  New York         0.296
1973  San Diego        0.296
1963  CUBS             0.297
1967  Cincinnati       0.297
1988  Atlanta          0.298
1966  St. Louis        0.298
1989  Atlanta          0.298
1968  St. Louis        0.298
1968  CUBS             0.298
1971  Philadelphia     0.298
1968  Houston          0.298
1985  San Fancisco     0.299

 

It's only happened twice since '86, and not at all since 1990.

 

24 occurances out of 548 team seasons is 4.38%.

[Larry Horse]

/quote]

Get people healthy and make some moves this team will get back on top. No pressure rehab year for Wood, Prior and D. Lee oh yeah and Wade Miller.

 

Scott, I have two questions for you.

 

1. Do you honestly feel that this current administration can make the proper moves to get the Cubs to the World Series?

 

2. Is it wise to bank on Wood and Prior for next years rotation?

[NCCubFan]

I actually don't see this season as being such a bad thing.

It's a horrible thing. Two straight losing seasons for a team thought to be on the brink of a long run as a contender is unacceptable and indefensible. Somebody has to be held accountable for this mess.

[SoonerCubFan]

At this point this team is SO bad, that one good offseason can't possibly fix this mess.

 

I'm almost to the point of writing off next year as well.

"Wait till the year after next!"

 

 

I could never get that far ahead of myself. With a healthy team coming out of this year. Prior, Wood, Miller, D Lee, Pagan. I see good things. Hendry makes some move to plug holes he thinks he can address and the Cubs'll be back at it.

 

You're counting on Prior and Wood next year?? :shock:

 

Not to mention the fact that next year's free agent class is far from spectacular...wait till the year after next seems completely reasonable...hell...somebody just posted that our TEAM obp is under .300...has that ever happened for a team to finish with an OBP under .300 for the year?

 

It has happened 24 times since 1961 in the National League........

 

1965  New York         0.277
1968  New York         0.281
1963  Houston          0.283
1972  San Diego        0.283
1963  New York         0.285
1969  San Diego        0.285
1964  Houston          0.285
1967  New York         0.288
1968  Los Angeles      0.289
1976  Washington       0.291
1971  San Diego        0.293
1968  Philadelphia     0.294
1964  New York         0.296
1973  San Diego        0.296
1963  CUBS             0.297
1967  Cincinnati       0.297
1988  Atlanta          0.298
1966  St. Louis        0.298
1989  Atlanta          0.298
1968  St. Louis        0.298
1968  CUBS             0.298
1971  Philadelphia     0.298
1968  Houston          0.298
1985  San Fancisco     0.299

 

It's only happened twice since '86, and not at all since 1990.

 

24 occurances out of 548 team seasons is 4.38%.

 

Well, two of those teams went on to win the World Series the following year, one was in the World Series the same year they made this list, and one went on to win 14 straight divisional titles just two yaers after making this list.

[Scott G. F.]

/quote]

Get people healthy and make some moves this team will get back on top. No pressure rehab year for Wood, Prior and D. Lee oh yeah and Wade Miller.

 

Scott, I have two questions for you.

 

1. Do you honestly feel that this current administration can make the proper moves to get the Cubs to the World Series?

 

2. Is it wise to bank on Wood and Prior for next years rotation?

 

Larry,

1. Answer. yes. Not all moves Hendry has made are bad. We're just seeing the negative ones. I don't here any complants about Eyre, or Howrey. Both good moves. But I do hear about JP and Jones. So you have to weight out the good and bad. Hendry got rid of Todd H. for 2 key players for the 2003 run. He has the ability to deal again. Look at the Tigers GM Dave D. The fans were calling for his head a cou;le of years ago. Now hes' a genious?

 

2. I believe we'll know the answer to the question by the end of this season with regards to Wood and Prior. Give them the end of this no pressure season and lets see where they are. I believe another front line pitcher is needed. An innings eater like Z.

 

This team hasn't been "the team" since 2003. I couldn't judge what it is we have until everyone is healthy. People are getting bent out of shape with the bench players playing everyday and not producing. While Hendry has a lot of tools, I'm sure a crystal ball isn't one of them.

[wastra]

I gotta be honest...after the horrid offseason, I was already at step 5 before the season started. The freakish hot start almost gave me hope for a decent season, but anyone who thought this was a contending team pre-season was wearing pinstriped eye glasses (which I can certainly understand).

 

BTW- I am naturally pessimistic about the Cubs. My experience has shown that to be the proper approach. ;)