Ron Santo Scaling Back Broadcasting Duties

[ConstableRabbit]

Anyone else excited for Dave Otto?

 

"GETTIN' THE HEAD OUT!"

[UMFan83]

It's a little different for the Cubs though. They could be up 3-0 in the World Series with a 27-0 lead in the bottom of the ninth and randomly a time portal opened up and out stepped May 6, 1998 Kerry Wood, and he was deemed eligable to play for the Cubs and was inserted into the game with no one on, and 2 outs and 2 strikes on Neifi Perez, and I'm still not more than 75% certain the Cubs can win the World Series.

 

In that case, you are very dumb.

 

Thanks TT

[Soul]

I still don't get it. It's subjective, but if I ever convinced myself that they would never win a WS in my lifetime I'd stop investing so much time into them. To each their own, I guess.

 

I don't really see that it's possible to choose not to be a fan if you already are one.

 

I guess that's kind of what I'm saying; it's pretty clear that the regular posters here are fans and I don't really "believe" it when they say they think or know for sure that the Cubs will never win a WS "ever again."

 

Well, I said I didn't have any faith that they would win. That seems very different from saying I know for sure they they will never win.

 

Yes. Although, when N&G says he doesn't get it, I must admit -- I don't really "get" my own fandom either. I certainly have wondered what it would be like to be, say, a Yankees fan.

 

But I can't imagine being a fan of another team. I love the Cubs -- but I'm also resigned to them.

 

It probably just doesn't make much sense.

[Guest]

It's a little different for the Cubs though. They could be up 3-0 in the World Series with a 27-0 lead in the bottom of the ninth and randomly a time portal opened up and out stepped May 6, 1998 Kerry Wood, and he was deemed eligable to play for the Cubs and was inserted into the game with no one on, and 2 outs and 2 strikes on Neifi Perez, and I'm still not more than 75% certain the Cubs can win the World Series.

 

In that case, you are very dumb.

 

Thanks TT

 

Anything for you, champ.

[jersey cubs fan]

Yes. Although, when N&G says he doesn't get it, I must admit -- I don't really "get" my own fandom either. I certainly have wondered what it would be like to be, say, a Yankees fan.

 

But I can't imagine being a fan of another team. I love the Cubs -- but I'm also resigned to them.

 

It probably just doesn't make much sense.

 

The whole idea of being a sports fan doesn't make much sense.

[davearm2]

I have no faith the Cubs will ever win it.

 

I never understand sentiments like this at all.

 

If someone is convinced they'll never win another WS, then why be a fan of them? What's the point? Then it just becomes being a "fan" of misery, and I don't get that at all.

Oftentimes a person will become a fan of the team that plays in their hometown. Or a fan of the team their parents root for. Or a fan of the team their favorite player is on. Or a fan of their university's team(s).

 

None of those factors have anything to do with one's assessment of championship odds.

 

I suspect a lot of folks went out to Wrigley Field and cheered for the Cubs long before they really even cared if the team won or lost.

[Schwarber Fan]

I have no faith the Cubs will ever win it.

 

I never understand sentiments like this at all.

 

If someone is convinced they'll never win another WS, then why be a fan of them? What's the point? Then it just becomes being a "fan" of misery, and I don't get that at all.

 

I suspect a lot of folks went out to Wrigley Field and cheered for the Cubs long before they really even cared if the team won or lost.

 

 

In this case then, they aren't fans.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Yes. Although, when N&G says he doesn't get it, I must admit -- I don't really "get" my own fandom either. I certainly have wondered what it would be like to be, say, a Yankees fan.

 

But I can't imagine being a fan of another team. I love the Cubs -- but I'm also resigned to them.

 

It probably just doesn't make much sense.

 

The whole idea of being a sports fan doesn't make much sense.

I think that's the only part that does make sense. Being emotionally invested in the successes and failures of the teams we choose to call our favorites is what doesn't make sense to me.

[davearm2]

I have no faith the Cubs will ever win it.

 

I never understand sentiments like this at all.

 

If someone is convinced they'll never win another WS, then why be a fan of them? What's the point? Then it just becomes being a "fan" of misery, and I don't get that at all.

 

I suspect a lot of folks went out to Wrigley Field and cheered for the Cubs long before they really even cared if the team won or lost.

 

 

In this case then, they aren't fans.

Either that, or they're like 5 years old, which is what I was angling for. Point being lots of kids grew up with the Cubs/Wrigley, before they had much clue what the World Series was, much less when the Cubs last won it or when (if) they might win it again.

[Tyrant]

I have no faith the Cubs will ever win it.

 

I never understand sentiments like this at all.

 

If someone is convinced they'll never win another WS, then why be a fan of them? What's the point? Then it just becomes being a "fan" of misery, and I don't get that at all.

 

I suspect a lot of folks went out to Wrigley Field and cheered for the Cubs long before they really even cared if the team won or lost.

 

 

In this case then, they aren't fans.

 

Sure they are. If you say you're a fan, you basically are. There isn't an entrance exam or a requirement to provide quantifiable proof. The idea of you being a "real fan" might console you personally, but no one else really cares. If the Cubs win the World Series, there will be lots of people celebrating alongside you that you may not deem "real" fans, but again, no one else will care how legit your fandom is or how much you've previously suffered or invested to this point.

[BCVM22]

Anyone else excited for Dave Otto?

 

"GETTIN' THE HEAD OUT!"

 

"You gotta be some kinda strong!"

 

And now, the real question: with Ronnie officially scaling back his broadcast responsibilities, do they start the process of phasing in a new, designated color guy - Otto and Sirott are terrible; Moreland is better, but not by a ton - with the intent of installing him full-time when Ronnie retires completely, or do they wait for that retirement to name an actual replacement?

[Backtobanks]

After reading the Tribune story, it kind of shocked me that Santo is 70 years old. I've been a fan of his since the beginning, but somehow all of my early favorites (Banks, Williams, etc.) seemed to age more than Santo. For all of his physical problems, he certainly looks younger than 70.

[imb]

It's a little different for the Cubs though. They could be up 3-0 in the World Series with a 27-0 lead in the bottom of the ninth and randomly a time portal opened up and out stepped May 6, 1998 Kerry Wood, and he was deemed eligable to play for the Cubs and was inserted into the game with no one on, and 2 outs and 2 strikes on Neifi Perez, and I'm still not more than 75% certain the Cubs can win the World Series.

 

In that case, you are very dumb.

 

Thanks TT

 

Anything for you, champ.

 

this sounds like an inside joke to me and i dont like it

[THISisTHEyear09]

Anyone else excited for Dave Otto?

 

"GETTIN' THE HEAD OUT!"

 

Cant wait to see some "Base KNOCKS"

[Sammy Sofa]

Put it this way....

 

I'm a big fan of Emmanuelle Chriqui, but I have no faith that I will ever hook up with her. Every day I find myself rooting for this to happen but I have pretty much lost any hope that it will. If I ever met her, I might gain a little faith (Cubs contend for the playoffs), if we talked and she started flirting with me, my faith would get higher (Cubs win the NLDS), if she asked me to come back to her place with her, I'd feel pretty confident about my chances (Cubs reach WS). But as of right now the odds of meeting her and me actually appearing attractive enough to hook up with her are quite low, so I don't have any faith it will happen.

 

It's a little different for the Cubs though. They could be up 3-0 in the World Series with a 27-0 lead in the bottom of the ninth and randomly a time portal opened up and out stepped May 6, 1998 Kerry Wood, and he was deemed eligable to play for the Cubs and was inserted into the game with no one on, and 2 outs and 2 strikes on Neifi Perez, and I'm still not more than 75% certain the Cubs can win the World Series.

 

OK, this started off making sense, and then ended up like 30 different kinds of crazy.

[erik316wttn]

Put it this way....

 

I'm a big fan of Emmanuelle Chriqui, but I have no faith that I will ever hook up with her. Every day I find myself rooting for this to happen but I have pretty much lost any hope that it will. If I ever met her, I might gain a little faith (Cubs contend for the playoffs), if we talked and she started flirting with me, my faith would get higher (Cubs win the NLDS), if she asked me to come back to her place with her, I'd feel pretty confident about my chances (Cubs reach WS). But as of right now the odds of meeting her and me actually appearing attractive enough to hook up with her are quite low, so I don't have any faith it will happen.

 

It's a little different for the Cubs though. They could be up 3-0 in the World Series with a 27-0 lead in the bottom of the ninth and randomly a time portal opened up and out stepped May 6, 1998 Kerry Wood, and he was deemed eligable to play for the Cubs and was inserted into the game with no one on, and 2 outs and 2 strikes on Neifi Perez, and I'm still not more than 75% certain the Cubs can win the World Series.

 

This is going to shock a lot of people, but my opinion isn't too far off from this.

 

As I've said (and I think someone sig'd back in 2008) the Cubs could make the playoffs with the other 3 NL teams being St. Mary's Elderly Nun Hospice, the School for Blind Amputees, and a group of asthmatic Little Leaguers, and I still wouldn't bet on the Cubs in October.

 

The Cubs to me are like that screwup family member: You love them more than anything, and you would do absolutely everything for them, but you've long since stopped expecting anything good from them, as whenever they get close to turning their life around they find some way to mess it up. But you'll never stop loving them no matter what.

[JimSorgi]

Serious question for all the people that claim the Cubs won't win the World Series in their lifetime:

 

If the Cubs do win it in your lifetime, will you be convinced that you cheated death and are therefore immortal?

[erik316wttn]

Serious question for all the people that claim the Cubs won't win the World Series in their lifetime:

 

If the Cubs do win it in your lifetime, will you be convinced that you cheated death and are therefore immortal?

 

Yes. I will then smoke, drink, drive 150 mph, and jump off of skyscrapers because the end of the world is upon is.

 

I'm not a religious scholar, but I'm pretty sure the Cubs winning the World Series is a sign of the Apocalypse.

[UMFan83]

Put it this way....

 

I'm a big fan of Emmanuelle Chriqui, but I have no faith that I will ever hook up with her. Every day I find myself rooting for this to happen but I have pretty much lost any hope that it will. If I ever met her, I might gain a little faith (Cubs contend for the playoffs), if we talked and she started flirting with me, my faith would get higher (Cubs win the NLDS), if she asked me to come back to her place with her, I'd feel pretty confident about my chances (Cubs reach WS). But as of right now the odds of meeting her and me actually appearing attractive enough to hook up with her are quite low, so I don't have any faith it will happen.

 

It's a little different for the Cubs though. They could be up 3-0 in the World Series with a 27-0 lead in the bottom of the ninth and randomly a time portal opened up and out stepped May 6, 1998 Kerry Wood, and he was deemed eligable to play for the Cubs and was inserted into the game with no one on, and 2 outs and 2 strikes on Neifi Perez, and I'm still not more than 75% certain the Cubs can win the World Series.

 

OK, this started off making sense, and then ended up like 30 different kinds of crazy.

 

I hope people know that the bottom paragraph is in jest. If that situation were to occur, I would obviously feel pretty confident. My point was that it would take more than other teams I follow to believe that they are going to actually win the title. And the other thing is, I say this now but if the Cubs actually won the pennant, I'd be cocky and probably expect the cubs to win it. But sitting here so far away from the prize, and remembering all the disappointments of the last decade, it's a little harder to rationalize.

 

Id say there's probably a 60% chance that the Cubs win in my lifetime, taking into account the Cubs front office, a possible early tragic death, a world war that puts baseball on hiatus, a huge economic crisis that causes the MLB to go bankrupt and the Cubs ceasing to exist, and other unknowns. Assuming I live to at least 80 and the Cubs are around for every one of those years, I'd say closer to 75-80. They have to luck into it one year.

[Sammy Sofa]

But it's not like the Cubs are more likely to blow situations like that BECAUSE of the basic fact that they're the Cubs. That's just ridiculous.

[Magnetic Curses]

you guys got it all wrong, it's not that they can't win the series, it's that they can't get there. get it right.

[bcl412]

But it's not like the Cubs are more likely to blow situations like that BECAUSE of the basic fact that they're the Cubs. That's just ridiculous.

 

The only thing that makes a bit of sense about "the Cubs will blow it because they are the Cubs" thing is that they probably do feel increased pressure to win one so people who feel they won't see one in their life do. They are aware of the culture surrounding the Cubs, on the flip side, when you get close to the World Series, you are close to reaching a dream you've most likely held sense child hood so you will be feeling crap loads of pressure regardless.

 

I understand the "we'll never see it in our life time" sentiment. I don't buy it necessarily but I understand it. It's hard enough just to make the playoffs in baseball so there are limited opportunities just to get there, the Cubs have a better chance then most because they have more money then a lot of teams (I'm pretty grateful to have seen quite a few playoff appearances and some close calls, Pirates or Royals fans would kill to have just one playoff birth at this point), but anyways, when it's so hard just to get into position to win it and you come so close (2003) it's hard to be optimistic that you will get that chance again.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm definitely much more optimistic that they will win it in my lifetime post-2003 than I was before. There's another thing I don't get, that more chances at making it have somehow made it less likely.

 

And I don't think being a Cub in the post-season necessarily adds "more pressure" to a player, or at least not significantly. They're already going to be under a ton of pressure to begin with. Hell, look at the Yankees.

[Andy]

It shouldn't add more pressure, but there's no doubt that it does. The crowd, the players, they all seemed to have the wind torpedoed out of them the minute that Loney slam left the yard in Game 1 in 2008.

[Soul]

Whenever they get close, all they hear about is the curse, and how will you blow it this time, and yada yada.

 

It's got to have an effect, though I can't put a number on it.