Re: World Series or bust?

[jersey cubs fan]

I believe this topic has come up in the past. But I was talking with a friend who is a Pirates fan. We were talking about whether or not you'd be okay with losing a World Series. He said, as a Pirates fan, he would be more than happy to be guaranteed a World Series loss, understandably. I wasn't sure, but I think I would take a loss in the World Series, as just getting there would be new territory as a fan.

 

The question is, if you could be guaranteed a loss in the World Series, but not a particularly depressing loss (no sweep, win 2 games, no devastating blown games, etc.), would you take that or roll the dice on winning the whole thing - or maybe not even making the playoffs? This is specifically about this year's team. And assume that there would be no loss of enjoyment or excitement from the regular season or playoffs. You would still experience the ups and downs and the tense games. And you'd only find about about the fate afterward.

 

Assume also that this would mean the Cubs were a very good 95 win type team and they didn't have to mortgage their future to get there (well, at least not anymore than they already have).

[CubColtPacer]

If I didn't know they were going to lose in the WS beforehand and was still able to enjoy all the games, I'd definitely lock that in.

[javy knows my name]

This was pretty easy. I want them to do as well as they possibly can, every year

[UK1679666180]

The heartbreak of '03 was better than the '02 year when they were terrible or when they fell apart at the end in '04.

[Andy]

Last year I'd have taken the WS loss.

 

This year's team makes me confident enough to say I wouldn't.

[UMFan83]

Wow these results surprise me.

 

I don't want to lose in the World Series. No one jeers us with "1-9-4-5". The White Sox don't make fun of us because they won their league in 2005 and we didn't. I don't dream about Aramis Ramirez getting the game winning hit in the NLCS. I want to win it all, and nothing less will satisfy me.

[jersey cubs fan]

This was pretty easy. I want them to do as well as they possibly can, every year

 

This post doesn't make it clear what your answer is.

 

I want them to do as well as they possibly can every year. But in some years that could be 75 wins, 85 wins or 90 wins.

 

Actually winning the world series is definitely the most important goal. But getting to the World Series would be a huge step.

 

Clearly everybody is dying to see AC000000 (and maybe that's how it would look no matter if they won or lost in the world series).

 

I've seen the Bears win a Super Bowl. So getting to one wasn't as big as seeing the Cubs get into one. Still, it was pretty darn cool to at least have the team make it after all these years. I would not take that bet with the Bears. They need to win it all now. But after so many horrible seasons, and all those disastrous playoff appearances, actually winning 2 series, and 8 total playoff games (including 2 theoretical WS wins) would be so much more than I've ever experienced as a Cubs fan. I would view it was the next step, and then take my chances the next year.

 

Ideally this is a 95+ win team that racks up a division, NLDS, NLCS and WS win. But I'm not sure they are good enough for that, and division, NLDS, NLCS (plus a couple WS wins) would be pretty darn cool.

[bukie]

A guarantee of getting to the World Series, even if they lose, would be good enough for me until the year after it happens.

[rawaction]

I think I'd take a guaranteed World series appearance. As much as people make fun of the Braves or Bills.....I'd take 4 straight chances to win the SB or 13 straight division titles anyday.

 

Seeing the Cubs in the WS would give me faith that they could win it in the near future.

[javy knows my name]

This was pretty easy. I want them to do as well as they possibly can, every year

 

This post doesn't make it clear what your answer is.

 

I want them to do as well as they possibly can every year. But in some years that could be 75 wins, 85 wins or 90 wins.

 

Actually winning the world series is definitely the most important goal. But getting to the World Series would be a huge step.

 

Clearly everybody is dying to see AC000000 (and maybe that's how it would look no matter if they won or lost in the world series).

 

I've seen the Bears win a Super Bowl. So getting to one wasn't as big as seeing the Cubs get into one. Still, it was pretty darn cool to at least have the team make it after all these years. I would not take that bet with the Bears. They need to win it all now. But after so many horrible seasons, and all those disastrous playoff appearances, actually winning 2 series, and 8 total playoff games (including 2 theoretical WS wins) would be so much more than I've ever experienced as a Cubs fan. I would view it was the next step, and then take my chances the next year.

 

Ideally this is a 95+ win team that racks up a division, NLDS, NLCS and WS win. But I'm not sure they are good enough for that, and division, NLDS, NLCS (plus a couple WS wins) would be pretty darn cool.

 

My answer was to the "would you rather they miss the playoffs or break your heart" form of your question. I want them to go as far as possible every year and while I wouldn't be satisfied with a pennant, I wouldn't be as disappointed as if they missed the playoffs altogether. So, I'm with you.

[NCCubFan]

Losing World Series>>>>>>>>>>Not making playoffs.

[snoodmonger]

I'll take a chance at winning the whole thing (with an equal chance of missing the post-season altogether) over getting there and a guaranteed loss.

 

I'll derive no joy from simply seeing us in the series. I want to win it.

[snoodmonger]

Losing World Series>>>>>>>>>>Not making playoffs.

 

But that's not the question. That's an easy choice. The question is:

 

Guaranteed WS appearance with a loss

 

or

 

Who knows? Whatever happens, happens. Maybe they win it all. Maybe they finish last.

[JoshiQ]

I'm a gambling man. Go all the way or bust.

 

2003 is still a touchy subject for me. Not 2004-2007. Just 2003. And that's because we were close. I can't imagine making it to the WS and losing. That would probably kill me.

[Guest]

I was actually discussing this exact thing with one of the other guys during the bachelor party this weekend and this year, I would definitely take the guaranteed World Series appearance (and not because I have money on the Cubs winning the NL pennant with 9:2 odds). Just having never seen the Cubs in a World Series and seeing them come within 5 outs of being in one five years ago would make it worth it just to get there especially if there wasn't heartbreak in the World Series, which was one of the stipulations. This would only be for the first year, though. If the Cubs make the World Series this year and lose, then next year I probably wouldn't be satisfied with a WS appearance. That can change, however, depending on if the Cubs actually had a good chance to win or if they were a team like the 07 Rockies who played out of their minds for a month and a half.

 

So basically, this year I would take a WS appearance and be happy with it.

[CuseCubFan69]

Me and my buddy Ronny are thinking World Series.

[CubmanPi]

Me and my buddy Ronny are thinking World Series.

[VanceJergins]

If I didn't know they were going to lose in the WS beforehand and was still able to enjoy all the games, I'd definitely lock that in.

 

Yeah, if I knew they were going to lose beforehand, that would take all the fun out of it.

[Guest]

I'll take a chance at winning the whole thing (with an equal chance of missing the post-season altogether) over getting there and a guaranteed loss.

 

I'll derive no joy from simply seeing us in the series. I want to win it.

 

I'm the same way and probably wouldn't have been like that 4 years ago.

 

In the last 3 years, I've seen the Bears lose a Super Bowl and UCLA not win a national championship while going to 3 consecutive Final Four appearances. The feeling after they lose sucks way too much.

[CuseCubFan69]

I'll take a chance at winning the whole thing (with an equal chance of missing the post-season altogether) over getting there and a guaranteed loss.

 

I'll derive no joy from simply seeing us in the series. I want to win it.

 

I'm the same way and probably wouldn't have been like that 4 years ago.

 

In the last 3 years, I've seen the Bears lose a Super Bowl and UCLA not win a national championship while going to 3 consecutive Final Four appearances. The feeling after they lose sucks way too much.

 

There is no doubt the farther you get, the harder it is when you lose. When you lose a Championship game you were up in the last seconds or inning it hurts even worse.

[cubweiser03]

I took the deal.

Ill roll the nice next year and the year after.

I had a lot of fun with the Bears going to the Super Bowl. The NFC champ game was glorious.

Plus i need an excuse to party my ass off til the sun comes up. The Cubs going the Series pretty much punches that ticket.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

i need an excuse to party my ass off til the sun comes up

I call it "thursday"

[biittner77]

I am so tired of all the 100 years crap. I'm even more tired of idiot sports commentators saying how "Cub fans don't really want to win a WS because they'd rather be fatalist pity seekers." Now of that goes away with a WS appearance that doesn't end with a win.

 

I would also say that no other sports teams really compare to the Cubs. When Illinois lost the NC to the 1st round of the next year's NBA draft I could take some comfort in how great the season was. When the Bears lost the superbowl they were the underdog. It was disappointing but not totally unexpected.

 

Given the randomness of playoff baseball, I'll never feel good about the Cubs merely making the playoffs. That isn't enough anymore and it hasn't been since 1989.

[jersey cubs fan]

 

Given the randomness of playoff baseball, I'll never feel good about the Cubs merely making the playoffs. That isn't enough anymore and it hasn't been since 1989.

 

Just making the playoffs isn't the same as winning the NLDS, NLCS and 2 World Series games.

[cubweiser03]

After watching todays blown game im glad i took the deal.

Ill gladly take the Series right now. im pissed and told myself to not get too pissed off this year.

That lasted 25 games.