Jason McLeod Coming to Chicago

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

it's so weird to have such long-term optimism with the cubs. even in past years when they were good, it kind of felt like it wouldn't last. the closest was after we got maddux/lee/hawkins/walker etc during the 04 offseason, but even then it kind of felt like we missed our shot in 03.

 

+1

 

Everything after '03 seemed like they were chasing the magic of '03...G'damn that was such a great baseball season to watch. 2008 was a fun peak, but the pitching on that roster didn't come close to the talent of the '03 staff and that made all the difference.

[Guest]

it's so weird to have such long-term optimism with the cubs. even in past years when they were good, it kind of felt like it wouldn't last. the closest was after we got maddux/lee/hawkins/walker etc during the 04 offseason, but even then it kind of felt like we missed our shot in 03.

 

+1

 

Everything after '03 seemed like they were chasing the magic of '03...G'damn that was such a great baseball season to watch. 2008 was a fun peak, but the pitching on that roster didn't come close to the talent of the '03 staff and that made all the difference.

I think 2003 was the greatest year for the Cubs since 1984. I was 15 in 84 and I don't think there has been anything like it since, even 2003 was a little less magical. However, 2003 was supposed to be only the beginning, and it should have been. I think Hendry was on course pretty well but he and the rest of the brass got carried away and let Dusty abuse the rotation. By the playoffs Big Z was done, we now know Prior was hurting, and the innings for Wood piled up. But the optimism going into 2004 was unmatched in my lifetime.

 

Theo and the boys have a lot of work to do before there will be another year like 2003.

[javy knows my name]

it's so weird to have such long-term optimism with the cubs. even in past years when they were good, it kind of felt like it wouldn't last. the closest was after we got maddux/lee/hawkins/walker etc during the 04 offseason, but even then it kind of felt like we missed our shot in 03.

 

+1

 

Everything after '03 seemed like they were chasing the magic of '03...G'damn that was such a great baseball season to watch. 2008 was a fun peak, but the pitching on that roster didn't come close to the talent of the '03 staff and that made all the difference.

I think 2003 was the greatest year for the Cubs since 1984. I was 15 in 84 and I don't think there has been anything like it since, even 2003 was a little less magical. However, 2003 was supposed to be only the beginning, and it should have been. I think Hendry was on course pretty well but he and the rest of the brass got carried away and let Dusty abuse the rotation. By the playoffs Big Z was done, we now know Prior was hurting, and the innings for piled up. But the optimism going into 2004 was unmatched in my lifetime.

 

Theo and the boys have a lot of work to do before there will be another year like 2003.

 

Whaaaat.

 

2008 was superior to 2003 in every way but one. Theo and company should be looking to re-create 2008, not an over-achieving team that got hot at the right time. What the 2008 team did really really well (offense) was way more fun to watch than what the 2003 team did really well, anyway. I do agree that pre-2004 is a team that Theo and co should very much try to emulate. That [expletive] was supposed to be a powerhouse.

[Guest]

I don't get the love for 03 over 08, but then again, I have a different view on the playoffs than most.

[javy knows my name]

I don't get the love for 03 over 08, but then again, I have a different view on the playoffs than most.

 

If you think it's a crapshoot whose results shouldn't dictate your opinion of an entire baseball season, then no, you don't.

 

Most here, that is.

[imb]

I don't get the love for 03 over 08, but then again, I have a different view on the playoffs than most.

 

Simple, in 2003, Mark Prior existed.

[Guest]

I don't get the love for 03 over 08, but then again, I have a different view on the playoffs than most.

Maybe you didn't follow the Cubs as closely in the early part of the decade. 2003 was the year that the was supposed to be the beginning of dominance for a decade. The 2008 team was the end of any relevance.

[Guest]

I don't get the love for 03 over 08, but then again, I have a different view on the playoffs than most.

 

If you think it's a crapshoot whose results shouldn't dictate your opinion of an entire baseball season, then no, you don't.

 

Most here, that is.

 

I think you'd be surprised how many of even the most rational posters here would feel otherwise.

 

That's not to say that I don't think there is a significant portion of this board that agrees with me. But this board is very far from the real world in that regard, anyway.

[Guest]

I don't get the love for 03 over 08, but then again, I have a different view on the playoffs than most.

 

Simple, in 2003, Mark Prior existed.

 

That's probably the best argument in favor of 03.

[Mark Priors Calves]

For me, playoff baseball is unmatchable. Those two weeks in early-mid October '03 were surreal and so much fun. The '08 season was awesome for the Cubs' dominance but the playoffs were over so quickly. Coming off the sweep in the '07, a deep playoff run would be the only acceptable end to '08.

[KingCubsFan]

I don't get the love for 03 over 08, but then again, I have a different view on the playoffs than most.

 

If you think it's a crapshoot whose results shouldn't dictate your opinion of an entire baseball season, then no, you don't.

 

Most here, that is.

 

I think you'd be surprised how many of even the most rational posters here would feel otherwise.

 

That's not to say that I don't think there is a significant portion of this board that agrees with me. But this board is very far from the real world in that regard, anyway.

I admit the playoff appearance really tarnishes 2008 for me. I firmly believe they choked, but obviously there's no way to prove that.

[Sammy Sofa]

What, are they just theoretical losses instead of actual ones?

[seanimal]

if only there was a way to figure out if a team underperformed in the playoffs

[seanimal]

and as far as enjoyment/satisfaction in a season + playoffs, please, 2003>>>>>>>>>>>>2008

[KingCubsFan]

What, are they just theoretical losses instead of actual ones?

No, but I'm sure many people on this board chalk the 2008 playoffs up to three bad games, and the Cubs just got unlucky at the wrong time.

[Sammy Sofa]

Then I have no idea what you think the Cubs "choking" mean besides playing three bad games and losing them and being swept out of the first round of the playoffs. How could anyone argue that they DIDN'T choke?

[davell]

I enjoyed 2003 more, because I "knew" that it didn't have to happen right then. We were set up great longterm. Hell, I thought for sure 2004 would be THE YEAR, especially after adding Lee, Maddux, and Nomar. 2008 seemed rushed to me and a time we needed to capitalize quickly on, since we were aging.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Then I have no idea what you think the Cubs "choking" mean besides playing three bad games and losing them and being swept out of the first round of the playoffs. How could anyone argue that they DIDN'T choke?

 

I assume he means that they let the pressure of the playoffs bother them and thus played significantly worse than they otherwise would have.

[KingCubsFan]

Then I have no idea what you think the Cubs "choking" mean besides playing three bad games and losing them and being swept out of the first round of the playoffs. How could anyone argue that they DIDN'T choke?

 

I assume he means that they let the pressure of the playoffs bother them and thus played significantly worse than they otherwise would have.

Yep.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

I don't get the love for 03 over 08, but then again, I have a different view on the playoffs than most.

 

 

Just the pitching staff of '03...and by pitching staff I mean Prior. The whole Prior thing still stings a little. If that guy stays healthy the Cubs are one of the best teams of the last decade, and he'd only now be hitting his 30s IIRC. That whole thing just sucks to think about...

[Sammy Sofa]

Then I have no idea what you think the Cubs "choking" mean besides playing three bad games and losing them and being swept out of the first round of the playoffs. How could anyone argue that they DIDN'T choke?

 

I assume he means that they let the pressure of the playoffs bother them and thus played significantly worse than they otherwise would have.

Yep.

 

Seems like a pretty redundant conclusion to take, but whatever.

[17 Seconds]

I don't get the love for 03 over 08, but then again, I have a different view on the playoffs than most.

Maybe you didn't follow the Cubs as closely in the early part of the decade. 2003 was the year that the was supposed to be the beginning of dominance for a decade. The 2008 team was the end of any relevance.

 

but in terms of which team was better, it's not even close. the 2008 team was completely stacked.

[Cubswin11]

I don't get the love for 03 over 08, but then again, I have a different view on the playoffs than most.

Maybe you didn't follow the Cubs as closely in the early part of the decade. 2003 was the year that the was supposed to be the beginning of dominance for a decade. The 2008 team was the end of any relevance.

 

but in terms of which team was better, it's not even close. the 2008 team was completely stacked.

I think the 08 team was better, but I don't think it's fair to say 03's team wasn't even close. That rotation was damn good. What isn't even close, however, is how much better the 2004 team was than either of those teams "on paper."

[17 Seconds]

the 2004 team was not better on paper than the 2008 team. that is a myth.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I would remember the 2008 playoff team a lot more fondly if they had won a single playoff game. There's nothing I hate more in sports than when your team bows out the exact same way after a whole year of hoping to make up for the previous season.