Do you hate the 2004 team?

[Careless]

UMF thinks that the 2004 Cubs are one of the most hated teams in the history of Chicago sports.

[Derwood]

They had more wins than the 2003 team

[SouthSideRyan]

They aren't even my most hated Cubs team

[Sammy Sofa]

For those not wallowing the Bears thread, here's what UMFan said:

 

This Bears team is going to go down with the 2004 Cubs as the most hated Chicago sports team in recent memory.

 

This kinda blew my mind. Obviously you have meatballs who hate Prior and Sosa, and the logical hatred of Dusty and things like his misuse of Hawkins, but to declare that the '04 team is some kind of notorious "hated" team seems really weird.

[Andy]

The 2004 team was awesome and fun, albeit at times infuriating. If I hated every Cubs team that collapsed at the end, I wouldn't like many teams.

[UMFan83]

Kent Mercker

LaTroy Hawkins blowing like 15 games

Bitching at umps

Under performing

Terrible collapse

Basically firing both announcers for being too critical (although chip and Steve sucked)

Sosa leaving the last game

Dusty Baker was involved

Feast or famine offense that was famine at the wrong time

Blowing a critical game because of Victor Diaz

Farnsworth was terrible and then went on the DL after kicking a fan

The Rob Mackowiak double header

That game against the Cardinals where we had a huge lead and then Pujols hit 3 HRs to beat us

Missing out on the playoffs because of guys like LaTroy Hawkins, Victo Diaz and Austin Kearns

 

That's off the top of my head. They were not likable at all and combine that with the expectations being unreached, the epic 2-7 collapse to end the season and Dusty Baler and it was a hated team.

Edited December 16, 2014 by UMFan83

[Sammy Sofa]

You can have a laundry list of "hatable" things from every season; the only things exceptional from that one are the collapse and Sosa's exit, and the former isn't really that hate-worthy since it's not this team doesn't have a ridiculous history of failure. Clearly this is a bonkers thing you've been walking around with.

 

Christ, if we went by your standards then nobody would like the Cubs because every season is more hateable than the last outside of, like, twenty of them.

[UMFan83]

You can have a laundry list of "hatable" things from every season; the only things exceptional from that one are the collapse and Sosa's exit, and the former isn't really that hate-worthy since it's not this team doesn't have a ridiculous history of failure. Clearly this is a bonkers thing you've been walking around with.

 

Christ, if we went by your standards then nobody would like the Cubs because every season is more hateable than the last outside of, like, twenty of them.

 

I think I mentioned the expectations vs how it ended. That's a big part of it. No one is mad if Hector Rondon blows a save in a 90 loss season but when a team with WS aspirations blows a save with a Kearns HR after your ace struck out 16 guys in 9 innings and gave up only 1 run and then the players respond by calling to complain that the announcers are being too critical of them it lays the seeds of a hate able team

[UMFan83]

I haven't voted yet and someone voted yes so at least I'm not alone. I think Father Time has made you guys forget how infuriating that team was.

[Sammy Sofa]

You can have a laundry list of "hatable" things from every season; the only things exceptional from that one are the collapse and Sosa's exit, and the former isn't really that hate-worthy since it's not this team doesn't have a ridiculous history of failure. Clearly this is a bonkers thing you've been walking around with.

 

Christ, if we went by your standards then nobody would like the Cubs because every season is more hateable than the last outside of, like, twenty of them.

 

I think I mentioned the expectations vs how it ended. That's a big part of it. No one is mad if Hector Rondon blows a save in a 90 loss season but when a team with WS aspirations blows a save with a Kearns HR after your ace struck out 16 guys in 9 innings and gave up only 1 run and then the players respond by calling to complain that the announcers are being too critical of them it lays the seeds of a hate able team

 

No. You're flat out wrong on this. Why wouldn't people also hate the 2007 and 2008 teams? And if WS aspirations being dashed is the gold standard then 2003 would blow everyone else away.

 

Except those teams were actually awesome and we're not bizarre weirdos holding grudges like spiteful middle school mean girls.

[UMFan83]

http://hirejimessian.com/2009/05/21/do-you-like-this-team-check-one-yes-no/

 

Pretty respected blogger hates 2004 Cubs

 

http://writing.jmpressley.net/sports/cubs2004.html

 

I know your whole thing is belittling others when you don't agree with them because you believe the world is black and white but this is clearly a debatable issue. Sorry it just is and no amount of groupthink or pitchfork gathering is going to change that

[Sammy Sofa]

http://hirejimessian.com/2009/05/21/do-you-like-this-team-check-one-yes-no/

 

Pretty respected blogger hates 2004 Cubs

 

Alright, NOW you've made my night.

[UMFan83]

http://hirejimessian.com/2009/05/21/do-you-like-this-team-check-one-yes-no/

 

Pretty respected blogger hates 2004 Cubs

 

Alright, NOW you've made my night.

 

By proving that other people clearly agree with me? Ok that's strange but whatever.

[Sammy Sofa]

It's a funny article from a funny site. Presenting it seriously made me crack a smile, that's all.

[UMFan83]

It's a funny article from a funny site. Presenting it seriously made me crack a smile, that's all.

 

lol it's humorous no doubt but he's not making up hate for the 2004 Cubs. I'll read it again tomorrow when I'm not drunk though. It's not hard to find similar examples though.

 

Just admit it's not a black and white issue and we can move on.

 

Edit: and not in a "sure it's not a black and white issue if you are a middle school whatever you said before" way

[Sammy Sofa]

Obviously most Cubs fans don't even hate the 2004 team, much less them being the "second most hated Chicago team in recent history." If thinking that makes me an even bigger dick than usual, meh.

[SouthSideRyan]

I haven't voted yet and someone voted yes so at least I'm not alone. I think Father Time has made you guys forget how infuriating that team was.

 

I think our being terrible for [expletive] ever has made you forget how fun it is to actually have a competitive team. Give me 100 '04 teams over having to suffer through one more 2012

[Guest]

I hated the fact that they collapsed, and I hated Dusty, but I didn't hate that team.

 

 

FWIW, Matt Spiegel has often referenced the 04 Cubs when talking about how unlikable this Bears team is, although he recently conceded that this Bears team has now surpassed it. It's not the first time I've heard it but I've always found it strange.

[NOLA]

Most hated? No.

Left a terrible taste in my mouth? Oh yeah.

That team in retrospect was the beginning of the end though for the lovable losers moniker. Things just seemed uglier after that.

[gscool89]

Hard to see how a team that went 89-73 is more hateable than a team that might go 5-11.

[UMFan83]

I haven't voted yet and someone voted yes so at least I'm not alone. I think Father Time has made you guys forget how infuriating that team was.

 

I think our being terrible for [expletive] ever has mad you forget how fun it is to actually have a competitive team. Give me 100 '04 teams over having to suffer through one more 2012

 

Don't get me wrong there were some great moments. The back to back HRs to tie and win it against Cincinnati, the 4 game sweep in Houston, the Corey Patterson 2 HR game against Pittsburgh in September and more but my lasting memory is a team I hated. I'll admit that part of it is personal because I loved to Chicago from NH in early September that year excited to see the playoff push and all I saw was no offense and Hawkins blowing saves. Maybe that has a bit to do with it.

 

Fair point though

[Guest]

It's black and white. Just off the top of my head

 

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1997&t=CHN

 

I could go on like this for several hours, but my forehead shooting herion needles are all bent.

[UMFan83]

It's black and white. Just off the top of my head

 

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1997&t=CHN

 

I could go on like this for several hours, but my forehead shooting herion needles are all bent.

 

Honesty how much hate can you build up for a team with few expectations that was out of contention by mid-April? How many 1997 Cubs games did you watch after Memorial Day. Of the ones that you did watch, how much emotion did you feel when things went bad in the games?

[Guest]

It's black and white. Just off the top of my head

 

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1997&t=CHN

 

I could go on like this for several hours, but my forehead shooting herion needles are all bent.

 

Honesty how much hate can you build up for a team with few expectations that was out of contention by mid-April? How many 1997 Cubs games did you watch after Memorial Day. Of the ones that you did watch, how much emotion did you feel when things went bad in the games?

You just st described a bareable team. The only thing to hate about the 04 team was Dusty.

[WrigleyField 22]

Best part of the 2004 team for me was I spent the last week of the season outside of the country. No internet access, no outside news of any kind. I missed the heartbreak of the meltdown!