My retrospective

[SouthSideRyan]

I'm not here to bitch about how 5 games series are largely up to chance(they are)

 

I'm mostly here to complain about the local sports media that are undoubtedly going to call this team(the Cubs) a bunch of gutless choking dogs when in actuality they are a team that hit a rough patch at the wrong time.

 

Make no mistake about it. This was the best team in the National League. Similar to how neither the Cubs nor the Marlins were the best team in the National League in '03.

 

There's no sense in complaining about a short series meaning nothing and the unfairness about it You take your pride in your having the best record and you go back at it next year.

 

The Atlanta Braves in the 90s-early 00s may have been the greatest dynasty in baseball history(Yes I'd compare them favorably to the Yanks)

 

They won 1 World Series in 14 tries.

 

Sometimes you eat the bar, and sometimes the bar eats you.

 

The best way to ensure you win a world series isn't to loadup with "pitching and defense" It isn't to get some grinders and winners on your team. It isn't to get some guys who've "been there before and know what it's like"

 

The best way to win a world series is to get to the playoffs every damn year, take your 10-20% chance of winning it, and hoping things break your way.

 

Like I said earlier, I'm not going to complain about this season, as this was pretty much the most memorable Cubs season ever, and it would take a world series winner to beat it. It's a matter of appreciating what it takes to build a team as good as what I saw over 161 games. And yeah, over 3 games, they played like horse [expletive], but in the grand scheme of things it's entertainment, and by God did they entertain me and keep me hooked for all 161 games of this season. Feeling confident in them being back in the hunt over the next few years cushions this blow somewhat, but being statistically inclined and knowing how things play out really does help matters.

 

So I walk away from this season incredibly pissed. Not remotely happy, and feeling incredibly empty. But knowing what I know, I know that [expletive] happens, and it's nothing I or the players(partially) can control. I know that they give their all and care as much as I do and that no sports cliche can sum up why they lost other than sometimes you lose, sometimes you win and sometimes it rains.

 

Things I do know is that this is a franchise that can build a farm system(as long as ownership doesn't screw with them)

 

This is a franchise that is willing to spend money(as long as new ownership doesn't screw with that)

 

This is a franchise that wants to make money, but it's a franchise that wants to make the Cubs into a name brand second only to the Yankees(if new ownership doesn't screw with that)

 

The only thing that should derail a Cubs world series trip right now is an owner that sells everything off to appease Dark Lord Selig. Because of this it's both an exciting and terrifying time to be a Cubs fan. I personally sit and pull for the bewigged Satan to know better than to bury one of the top 3 profitable franchises in baseball with some cheap owner, but history tells you to never root for Seligula.

 

So instead, we sit and wait, until someday is today

Edited October 5, 2008 by SouthSideRyan

[UMFan83]

To me there is a difference between not winning the World Series and getting swept in the first round. I am not saying your wrong about taking your chances in the playoffs each year, but you compared the Braves to us, they were only swept in the first round once in their 14 years.

[Little Slide Rooter]

The fact is, these guys just didnt come out to play playoff baseball, plain and simple.

 

And for the record, even if it wa sa 7 game series, wed still be down 3 games, and this team hasnt played like one that woulkd take 4 straight.