Although I always believed in the value of patience and drawing walks, watching the 2008 Cubs really hammered that into my head. It was amazing watching that team go up against tough pitchers and make them work, throwing 90 pitches in 5 innings, and even if they didn't score a lot, they were able to get the pitcher out after 6 innings and feast on their middle relief. How many innings did we have in games where the Cubs just weren't hitting the ball well, and were able to draw a couple of walks and then next thing you know you have a 3 run inning? The difference in hitting approach between 2008 and now is night and day. This is a horrible and rather awkward analogy, but people who use ecstacy say to never have sex on it because you'll never enjoy sober sex again. That's what the 2008 Cubs have done to me. I just can't enjoy watching the Cubs offense when it's hacking away and has to rely on 3 hits to score a single run, when I have seen what a truely productive offense can do.