Is it all right for me to be utterly depressed right now?

[badger1679666666]

I just have this feeling that we've ruined our window of opportunity, and we aren't going to have a chance for many, many more years.

 

Pessimism is flowing through me. I just don't think we are "next".

 

:( :(

 

 

Talk me off the ledge!

[RynoRules]

That would be difficult as I feel pretty bad this morning myself

[CubinNY]

That makes three of us.

 

When I saw the highlights on ESPN this morning I thought,

"you know what, the palyers don't really care who they play for. It is th fans who care. The White Sox fans must be overjoyed. I feel like crap. And worse I don't think the present administration of the Cubs will do anything to change that."

 

Don't fear the reaper.

[RockTheIvy]

That makes three of us.

 

When I saw the highlights on ESPN this morning I thought,

"you know what, the palyers don't really care who they play for. It is th fans who care. The White Sox fans must be overjoyed. I feel like crap. And worse I don't think the present administration of the Cubs will do anything to change that."

 

Don't fear the reaper.

:cry: :cry: :cry: more cowbell :cry: :cry: :cry:

[Cubzfan64]

As pessimistic as I tend to be, I don't feel like the window of opportunity is closed just yet - I do hear it closing, but there's still a slight breeze coming through.

 

That said, I feel like this offseason (and unfortunately next offseason even more so) - will go a very long way as far as telling me whether the Cub organization is really going to commit itself to putting a seriously contending team on the field.

 

After 2 seasons, it's very clear that this team lacks disciplined hitters and guys who can get on base from an offensive standpoint to compliment guys like Lee and Ramirez - and it's also clear that above average starting pitching is necessary to be serious contenders.

 

If the organization does little or nothing to address those needs, the only chance the Cubs have of contending is if luck falls on their side next year and I don't hold much hope for that happening.

 

The 2006 season has started this morning - it's time for Hendry and the Cubs to make some right decisions and do what needs to be done to give their fans something to cheer about!!! Get to work Jim!!!

[BeerHere]

I feel like crap and the only thing that makes me feel a little bit better is that the post season on finally over. It could have beem much more drawn out, at least it ended as quickly as possible.

 

I just sent the obligatory "congrats" email to all my sox fan friends. Oh, the ribbing I'll take for the rest of the winter. No human being should have to endure this level of misery.

 

Why has God spurned me?

[illiniguy]

2003 was our chance. Alex Gonzalez, Dusty Baker, and God ruined it for us. It would have been three great stories in a row and we would have done it first. Oh well congrats to the White Sox, I would give my left arm for the Cubs to do what they did.

[JeffH]

If there really is a "window of opportunity", then MLB should just contract the Cubs right now.

 

The point is not to say "Oh, boy, we got lucky stumbling onto Prior. And we produced Zambrano despite our awful minor league development staff. Wow, we really tricked the Marlins and the Pirates into giving us Lee and Ramirez for nothing. We'd better win soon or our chance will be gone forever." If that's what we're doing, then our franchise is dead and shall forever be so. The point is to develop a solid organization that's not dependent upon one particular player or set of players. Zambrano leaves as a free agent? Oh, well, that's too bad, but we'll plug in Maynard Wingtip from our minor league system and give it a go. Or trade for some other team's Tim Hudson and strap 'em on and go out there again.

 

If we merely have a "window of opportunity" that's tied to a particular group that we lucked into, it's all over.

[illiniguy]

If there really is a "window of opportunity", then MLB should just contract the Cubs right now.

 

The point is not to say "Oh, boy, we got lucky stumbling onto Prior. And we produced Zambrano despite our awful minor league development staff. Wow, we really tricked the Marlins and the Pirates into giving us Lee and Ramirez for nothing. We'd better win soon or our chance will be gone forever." If that's what we're doing, then our franchise is dead and shall forever be so. The point is to develop a solid organization that's not dependent upon one particular player or set of players. Zambrano leaves as a free agent? Oh, well, that's too bad, but we'll plug in Maynard Wingtip from our minor league system and give it a go. Or trade for some other team's Tim Hudson and strap 'em on and go out there again.

 

If we merely have a "window of opportunity" that's tied to a particular group that we lucked into, it's all over.

100 years in 08 I would say we lucked into 03. If this frnachise has proven one thing it is that it has no plan or winning staying power.

[TheDude]

I feel more frustration than anything. The Sox win may be a cause for celebration for locals, but for us non-local Cubs fans who don't give a rats howdy about the Sox, it's salt in the wound.

[snoodmonger]

I'm going to take a bath with my toaster.

[Derwood]

I'm going to take a bath with my toaster.

 

You realize that your little dancing banana is what EVERY Sox fan uses over at WhiteSoxInteractive, right?

[LoneStarCubFan]

If anyone in a decision-making capacity at Addison and Clark ever talks about "windows of opportunity" they should be fired on the spot.

 

This franchise is one of the few in baseball that has the resources to compete with the Yankees and Boston in terms of player acquisition and at the same time build a farm system that can supply enough talent to feed the ML club and provide trading chips like Atlanta.

 

The Tribune has the money but more often than not chooses not to spend it. And in the rare moments when it does take a crowbar to its wallet the money isn't spent wisely. It's parceled out to several marginal to average guys instead of going after one difference maker.

 

The window of opportunity could be locked in the open position permanantly if the commitment was what it should be.

[wXw]

I'm pretty depressed this morning too. I guess it could be worse. We could have made it to the World Series and gotten swept by the Sox. I guess that would be worse...

 

Never thought I'd say it, but I wish the Cardinals had won. This sucks.

[gus_dog]

I'm going to take a bath with my toaster.

 

You realize that your little dancing banana is what EVERY Sox fan uses over at WhiteSoxInteractive, right?

 

It's an ear of corn, not a banana. You can download it from a Nebraska Cornhusker fan web-site.

[JeffH]

Never thought I'd say it, but I wish the Cardinals had won.

 

I'm not sure of the rules around here, but shouldn't this poster be banned?

[wXw]

Never thought I'd say it, but I wish the Cardinals had won.

 

I'm not sure of the rules around here, but shouldn't this poster be banned?

 

I plead Temporary Insanity and throw myself on the mercy of the Moderators.

[Andy]

Hey I plead it too. I'd much rather the Cards have won, at least they had nine titles already.

[Bergy92]

The reason we are all feeling pretty lousy this morning is that now, more than ever, we feel alone. There certainly was company in misery, but now we are all alone at the bottom of that barrell.

 

BTW, I am sick of all the so called 'Cubs Fans' who applaud the White Sox winning. To me, you should be banned from Cubdome if you are trying to convert and say that you simply like 'Chicago' baseball. Then you are truly not a Cubs fan.

 

Here's to all of us sucking it up for one more year...

[goonys evil twin]

Gotta love people telling others whether or not they are true fans.

[LoneStarCubFan]

How soon til Hendry announces he's signed Rich Aurilia to back up Ronny Cedeno next year?

[IowaCubsFan]

The reason we are all feeling pretty lousy this morning is that now, more than ever, we feel alone. There certainly was company in misery, but now we are all alone at the bottom of that barrell.

 

BTW, I am sick of all the so called 'Cubs Fans' who applaud the White Sox winning. To me, you should be banned from Cubdome if you are trying to convert and say that you simply like 'Chicago' baseball. Then you are truly not a Cubs fan.

 

Here's to all of us sucking it up for one more year...

 

I've been a Cubs fan my entire life, and don't bear any ill towards the Sox. I'm not from Chicago though, so I don't get this "hate the team from the same city" dynamic.

 

Maybe I'm delusional, but I think with the Sox winning the WS that the pressure is going to be on everyone for the Cubs to win now. Otherwise, they're going to risk losing those fans they've just expected for the last 20 years.

 

The 2008 season is only two and a half years away. If the Cubs reach a century of futility, I believe that many people will just say, "F it," and find something else to do.

 

I only wish I had tickets to the Cubs Convention. I can only imagine how bad the Q and A session is going to be.

[snoodmonger]

I'm going to take a bath with my toaster.

 

You realize that your little dancing banana is what EVERY Sox fan uses over at WhiteSoxInteractive, right?

 

I've been using it for long time, but point taken. maybe I do need one that's a little more appropriate for the occasion.

 

Is there one that shows a corn stalk falling asleep in his still-running car, with a hose snaked from the exhaust pipe through the window and a half-finished handle of cheap vodka spilling onto the passenger seat?

[gus_dog]

The reason we are all feeling pretty lousy this morning is that now, more than ever, we feel alone. There certainly was company in misery, but now we are all alone at the bottom of that barrell.

 

BTW, I am sick of all the so called 'Cubs Fans' who applaud the White Sox winning. To me, you should be banned from Cubdome if you are trying to convert and say that you simply like 'Chicago' baseball. Then you are truly not a Cubs fan.

 

Here's to all of us sucking it up for one more year...

 

I've been a Cubs fan my entire life, and don't bear any ill towards the Sox. I'm not from Chicago though, so I don't get this "hate the team from the same city" dynamic.

 

Maybe I'm delusional, but I think with the Sox winning the WS that the pressure is going to be on everyone for the Cubs to win now. Otherwise, they're going to risk losing those fans they've just expected for the last 20 years.

 

The 2008 season is only two and a half years away. If the Cubs reach a century of futility, I believe that many people will just say, "F it," and find something else to do.

 

I only wish I had tickets to the Cubs Convention. I can only imagine how bad the Q and A session is going to be.

 

If you lived here for a little while, you'd get it. Boy, would you ever.

 

There will be no more or less pressure on the Cubs to win it. Really, the organization has been trying, obviously. They just have been unable to get over the hump.

 

Think about it. From 1946 through 1983, they NEVER once make the post-season. Then came (coincident with Trib ownership) 1984, 1989, 1998, 2003. Obviously, they are trying, and there is plenty of 'pressure' to win.

 

More 'pressure' is not going to do anything because, IMO, it is impossible to put more 'pressure' that what already exists.

 

They spend the money, and they have competed (at least intermittently) over the past 20 years. Compared to the Thirty-nine years prior to that, I would say that's a dramatic improvement.

 

They just haven't been able to put it together yet.

 

Will they ever? Who knows. Probably, eventually.

 

It's OK to feel bad because yet another year has gone by without a Cubs WS title. It is also OK to be disappointed because it is the Sox who have garnered the laurels.

 

Time to move on.

 

I can't wait until spring training starts!

[JeffH]

One must root against evil, wherever it may lie.

 

The most evil entity in the 2005 World Series, by far, was Lance Berkman.

 

Hence, I cheered for the White Sox. The fact they're from Chicago and I kind of liked them during the Pat Kelly/Carlos May/Bill Melton/Wilbur Wood years is secondary.