NLDS Game 2: Dodgers (Billingsley) @ Cubs (Z!) TBS, 8:30 CST

[Sammy Sofa]

Wow, I got home from class missing the first two innings and saw the score and just assumed that Zambrano had imploded.

[Moises a loo]

 

I freaked about curses a little bit last night, but at the end of the day its about players tightening up due to the added pressure. The second inning was the ultimate proof of this hypothesis. The reality is only a certain breed of professional athlete can perform when confronted with the stress of having to perform within a very small timeframe in front of a huge fan base in a major media market constantly reminding the that they are "cursed." To date, only the '04 Red Sox had the right mix of carefree, loosey-goosey guys to get it done. Maybe the '80 Phils too. The '05 White Sox? No pressure on them. They're the second team in this city and always would be whether they won or lost. Their fans only care about beating the Cubs.

 

If the Cubs are ever to win anything, they need to model the psychological profile of their team after the '04 Red Sox.

 

I agree with this wholeheartedly. Wonder what Mark Bellhorn is up to these days? Seriously though, I agree. The pressure is ridiculous. I hate to say it, but maybe a manager more like Ozzie Guillen who talks crap to take pressure off his players would help.

[Prior4CyYoung]

I get yelled at every time I post this, but it needs to be said, now more than ever.

 

The worst organization in professional sports.

 

Not even close

 

You're delusional.

 

No offense to you personally.

 

But he's not wrong. There are WORSE run franchises in pro sports....like the Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions, New York Rangers, New York Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, etc, etc. So the Cubs are clearly not as bad (

tho there not overly great, either) as you claim it to be, Jeff.

:lol:

 

glad i wasn't the only one who was confused by this post.

[UMFan83]

So how do you guys think our offseason will go.

 

Here are areas we can stand to improve:

 

1B

SS

CF

RF

Bullpen (7th inning guy)

 

I'd love to get a complete dominant hitter. Doesn't matter the position.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Sigh, it's hard to convince anyone right now but there's no such thing as a curse. I wish we wouldn't revert to that.

 

I don't believe there is a curse. I am beginning to believe there is an organizational effect.

 

Burn the ballpark, eliminate the front office completely and turn it over to a new ownership group, change the uniform colors, everything. I don't care if it makes sense or not, there is clearly an organizational effect at work.

 

(OK, maybe not clearly. But I still don't think it's dismissable offhand).

[Little Slide Rooter]

I really hope Zambrano takes a life before the evening is over. I could care less whether its a Dodger or a Cub.

[17 Seconds]

I get yelled at every time I post this, but it needs to be said, now more than ever.

 

The worst organization in professional sports.

 

Not even close

 

You're delusional.

 

No offense to you personally.

 

The fact that the players choke every season has nothing to do with the organization. They put a great team on the field.

 

Sorry, but this is not a great team.

 

Best record in the NL, 97 wins, dominant pitching staff, best offense in the league.

 

Yeah you're right, they weren't a great team. Celarly the FO is to blame. the 97 wins were a fluke and now they're being exposed as a sham. good call.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

So how do you guys think our offseason will go.

 

Here are areas we can stand to improve:

 

1B

SS

CF

RF

Bullpen (7th inning guy)

 

I'd love to get a complete dominant hitter. Doesn't matter the position.

 

We'll make a big hairy deal about resigning Dempster, but no real upgrades.

[ChiCubsFan]

So how do you guys think our offseason will go.

 

Here are areas we can stand to improve:

 

1B

SS

CF

RF

Bullpen (7th inning guy)

 

I'd love to get a complete dominant hitter. Doesn't matter the position.

 

It would be nice to have one of those. Real nice.

[Magnetic Curses]

there's nothing wrong with the organization. let's stop pretending like the cubs have a bad organization and that's why they fail.

 

So, what kind of organization does this for 100 years?

 

the organization put together a team that won 97 games. this, well, this is not the organization's fault. they've made the playoffs 4 times in the last 10 years, at some point, you have to start wondering.

 

what has to happen to convince people?

[IowaCubsFan]

DeRosa doing his best Derrek Lee impersonation there.

[ZiggyTaxi]

I get yelled at every time I post this, but it needs to be said, now more than ever.

 

The worst organization in professional sports.

 

Not even close

 

You're delusional.

 

No offense to you personally.

 

The fact that the players choke every season has nothing to do with the organization. They put a great team on the field.

 

 

I'll keep asking till I get an answer:

 

What level of underperformance over what sample is needed to suspect an organizational effect?

 

Surely we can study this statistically instead of just spewing dogma.

 

You're a god damn moron. If you want to blame it on the pressure that is on the team with the 100 year thing, then fine. But stop acting like the organization is to blame. You sound like an idiot. They built a 97 win team with very few flaws. It's not their fault they're choking.

 

No, you're the moron!

 

They failed to win a world series in 100 years. IT BEARS REPEATING!

 

It was not the same players 100 years ago that it was today. So who do you blame? The organization. 97 wins means nothing when you don't win in the playoffs.

[weatherdood]

Crushed

[splintersag]

IMB!

[rocket]

that was hit pretty hard

[cbbryan]

Seriously, why pitch to him?

[ChiCubsFan]

So how do you guys think our offseason will go.

 

Here are areas we can stand to improve:

 

1B

SS

CF

RF

Bullpen (7th inning guy)

 

I'd love to get a complete dominant hitter. Doesn't matter the position.

 

It would be nice to have one of those. Real nice.

 

Such as that guy.

[rickrolled]

lol wow, FU cubs

[Omar]

Hahahahaha.

[CubInOK]

This is how I feel right now. http://www.bloodydecks.com/forums/images/smilies/hali_nuija.gif

 

Manny is good, let's sign him in the offseason.

[ZiggyTaxi]

there's nothing wrong with the organization. let's stop pretending like the cubs have a bad organization and that's why they fail.

 

So, what kind of organization does this for 100 years?

 

the organization put together a team that won 97 games. this, well, this is not the organization's fault. they've made the playoffs 4 times in the last 10 years, at some point, you have to start wondering.

 

what has to happen to convince people?

 

So what, a curse?

[Outshined_One]

Earhole Manny.

[17 Seconds]

So how do you guys think our offseason will go.

 

Here are areas we can stand to improve:

 

1B

SS

CF

RF

Bullpen (7th inning guy)

 

I'd love to get a complete dominant hitter. Doesn't matter the position.

 

the bad thing is, center field is really the only position Hendry will try to upgrade. you know they're going to giving the stupid asian another chance since they signed him to a ridiculous contract.

[rocket]

zambrano should switch it to pure psycho-mode and hit the next 3 batters in the head

[Shilzzz]

HEY GUYS,

 

let's reroute this thread and start doing fake optimism. like opposite day or something.

 

man, i love the cubs so much. they have always been so good to me, and i just know they are going to win this game and the world series. they make me happy and warm in my heart. i want to buy puppies.