Electron Blue

A team that hasn't won a World Series in 99 years, and pessimism is labeled "irrational". And a team "in contention" in the worst division in baseball. That's beautiful. that's an over emotional sentiment around here. The fact that we haven't won a WS has very very little to do with the '07 team's struggles -- that's superstition. And you win a WS by making the playoffs. You get to the playoffs by winning a spot. You win a spot by putting yourself "in contention" for the stretch run. That's why we are in a position deserving of some optimism. Yes, the Cubs have put themselves "in contention" by beating up on bad teams during the weakest part of their schedule, which is what they are supposed to do. And what's the explanation for the first two months of the season, when they dug this current hole that they still haven't got out of? And you completely missed my point about pessimism. Pessimism and a Cub fan goes together like peanut butter and jelly. Anyone who thinks that we are going to see a World Series title with this team is more than welcome to, but it isn't very logical. It's not an "emotional sentiment", it's facing facts. I'll agree with this paragraph to the point that this isn't a great team and a WS should not be expected (not that one is impossibly out of reach, though). But this paragraph doesn't even address my previous comment about the "emotional sentiment." This team is not good because it scores too few runs and is dealing with injuries and a lack of power. IMO, the pessimism in this thread (and scattered throughout other threads) is irrational. The fact that you equate pessimism with Cubs fandom is perhaps true, but not a reason for pessimism. If we fail to win a WS this year, it's not because we've failed for 99 years before. That's all I'm saying: there are many reasons to be frustrated about this year's team, but yes, if you bring the whole "woe-is-us, we never win anything" into it you have became irrationally pessimistic.

A team that hasn't won a World Series in 99 years, and pessimism is labeled "irrational". And a team "in contention" in the worst division in baseball. That's beautiful. that's an over emotional sentiment around here. The fact that we haven't won a WS has very very little to do with the '07 team's struggles -- that's superstition. And you win a WS by making the playoffs. You get to the playoffs by winning a spot. You win a spot by putting yourself "in contention" for the stretch run. That's why we are in a position deserving of some optimism.

I don't think you need to look too hard for reasons for pessimism right now. We've got problems, and I'm very concerned. if there are so many reasons to make the case for this teams's suckiness, it shouldn't be hard to leave out short-sighted, illogical, and emotion-over-stats reasons. I'm not arguing against the OP's premise, I'm just campaigning for more reasonable discussion.

i definitely thought it was gone . . . and then it wasn't :(

The infield fly rule may be stupid, but I don't believe the reason behind it is. It's a pro-offense policy. By reducing easy double plays, it stimulates offense. I think we all know baseball wants scoring/home runs, and rightfully so. i agree, but not as enthusiastically on the pro-offense angle. I'm just glad we don't have to deal with cheap DPs on these types of plays.

doesn't make too much sense, since rosters expand in 2 weeks, meaning Soto can come up and play regardless of Hill's status. But I like the postive thinking anyway :)

Update, a week later: I just got "Baseball Between the Numbers" in the mail, from amazon, very much due to everyone's praise of it here. I'll let you know what I think of it -- at a couple glances, it looks very interesting. And Hawk, that Stark book looks quite good too - it might be my next.

at least we got to a full count two hitters in a row :roll:

Ram!!!! like len said "baby steps" :D

don't know. not tonight though :)

For better or worse, a fanbase's optimism is about as powerful as it's pessimism. That is, it's useless. :) just enjoy the game.

agreed. i want to get into first as soon as possible. the sooner we put our fate into our own hands -- and our's alone -- the better.

I would assume he died of old age. It really drives me crazy that reporters need to find a cause of death when someone dies at 85 or 90 years of age. yeah, but crossing that line -- making assumptions about details -- could lead to lazy and innacurate journalism, if it becomes a habit. Because we know the American media is so honest? Seems like the last thing we should allow an already slanted media is more leeway in the information reporting. To be honest, I always laugh (well, not the right word) when I see the "unknown causes" in these cases, too, FWIW :) Seriously, though. I'm too young to really appreciate the guy (I remember the Rizzuto bobbledhead on Seinfeld ;)), but he was clearly one of a kind. RIP. I believe it was a key chain that said holy cow. But that was what I thought of also. ah, correct you are. i guess i remember it as a mini bobblehead, but it was indeed as a part of a keychain.

:)

Aramis was just day-to-day with the wrist. We won't know if he's a reason we can't win for a couple weeks. And citing Z's temper? It sounds like you're just looking for reasons for pessimism.

i wish i could throw a baseball really well :(

I met Murton and Pie before a game in Iowa earlier this year -- both very nice. Murton, in particular, was very accomadating to a little kid. Doesn't answer your question too well, maybe, just that some players certainly do make an effort to help fans out and make their day. Great experience -- i can post some pictures maybe later.

And I'm just saying that they play the Cardinals Monday as well. So how about a 7 game prediction? yeah, SSB, give us more. Who wins on Monday!?!?! :roll:

I would assume he died of old age. It really drives me crazy that reporters need to find a cause of death when someone dies at 85 or 90 years of age. yeah, but crossing that line -- making assumptions about details -- could lead to lazy and innacurate journalism, if it becomes a habit. Because we know the American media is so honest? Seems like the last thing we should allow an already slanted media is more leeway in the information reporting. To be honest, I always laugh (well, not the right word) when I see the "unknown causes" in these cases, too, FWIW :) Seriously, though. I'm too young to really appreciate the guy (I remember the Rizzuto bobbledhead on Seinfeld ;)), but he was clearly one of a kind. RIP.

viewtopic.php?t=43330 :wink:

I would assume he died of old age. It really drives me crazy that reporters need to find a cause of death when someone dies at 85 or 90 years of age. yeah, but crossing that line -- making assumptions about details -- could lead to lazy and innacurate journalism, if it becomes a habit.

We play them 7 times, so your predictions don't really mean anything. it's just a prediction, man. a simple error has nothing to do with whatever logic/feeling he's using to make a prediction. I'm just saying, he obviously has no idea how many times we play them. Not much of a prediction if you can't even get the number of games correct. You obviously know nothing about telling the future. The "whisps" of information, as I call them, rarely come in complete detail. There is typically a 15% swing in accuracy, right in line with SSB's reading -- not perfect, but not bad for supernatural abilities, eh? :roll:

Extreme luck that the Brewers sucked at the same time. extreme luck? not really. neither of these teams are "great." We're both fairly average, each with the potential to put together really good and really bad streaks. Right now they're both just playing below average.

We play them 7 times, so your predictions don't really mean anything. it's just a prediction, man. a simple error has nothing to do with whatever logic/feeling he's using to make a prediction.

lol, within 1 minute of this thread being posted, this one popped up. There's something in the air! :d