See as someone who wants to see the cubs lose, I would ask that you please refrain from making remarks like this until the series is actually over. I dont need anyone jynxing it.
Mr. Burns: You are of course familiar with our state usury laws? Homer:U-sur-y? Mr. Burns: Oh silly me, I must have just used a word that doesn't exist.
Originally posted by Net Hack SlasherDid the cameras have to have a closeup of every Cubs fan crying, especially the elderly who knows this was their final opportunity
By tomorrow, most of them, old guys like my Dad included, are going to realize that good teams often start out with a losing trip to the playoffs. Sure, the Scrubs choked this time. It happens. To the Cubs, a lot. But for the 1st time in a long time, they have some stability in more than three positions.
The outfield is pretty solid. Might need a little help. The infield has three of four good performers and we have a 3rd baseman, for God's sake. Ok, our shortstop could use some average, but we have a couple of young infielders at AAA who can work.
We need a catcher. Bako could be it if he could hit a little. Miller? no.
Pitching looks good. Remember, Prior's a sophmore and Zambrano's basically a rookie. Wood and Clement are still young and if Juan Cruz can get it together, he's gonna be great. Obviously, we need some hosses in the pen.
Oh, sure, we'll get zinged by people living in Wisconsin. I can live with that. Considering the source and all that. And of course, the Cubs are noted losers and that may continue. But if you look at previous teams, like recent teams of 84, 89 and 98, when we also advanced to the playoffs, you see something different. We didn't rent the house this year. While I'd like to keep Kenny Lofton, I think he's the only rentaplayer this year. Moises and Sammy have a few years left. Simon and Karros can keep 1st warm until Choi gets up to speed. Grudz is a good 2nd sacker and we have Bobby Hill in the Minors. Ramirez is a godsend at third.
I'm satisfied for this year. Disappointed, sure. Pissed off, yes. But "wait 'til next year starts today. But it's a much better this year than I ever expected.
(Damn. I'm starting to sound like my idealistic daughter)
And the guy who interfered with the ball (along with the 10 or so around him). There's nothing to forgive, you understand, but I forgive you. I call upon all Cubs fans to let it go.
(edited by AWArulz on 16.10.03 1340) We'll be back as soon as order is restored.....
Originally posted by Net Hack SlasherDid the cameras have to have a closeup of every Cubs fan crying, especially the elderly who knows this was their final opportunity
Short stop
By tomorrow, most of them, old guys like my Dad included, are going to realize that good teams often start out with a losing trip to the playoffs. Sure, the Scrubs choked this time. It happens. To the Cubs, a lot. But for the 1st time in a long time, they have some stability in more than three positions.
The outfield is pretty solid. Might need a little help. The infield has three of four good performers and we have a 3rd baseman, for God's sake. Ok, our shortstop could use some average, but we have a couple of young infielders at AAA who can work.
We need a catcher. Bako could be it if he could hit a little. Miller? no.
We really need a lead-off hitter. I'd love to keep Lofton, but I don't think there's room for both him and Patterson in the outfield.
I agree with everything else you say, though, AWArulz.
With the final end of the Cubs season, I can begin the waiting for the White Sox 2004 season, as Ozzie Guillen comes home and all the bitter Sox fans rally around him for his part in ending the Cubs season.
I liked the ride with the Cubs, but dammit next year, it's OUR turn. GO SOX! :)
It was half an hour after the game when Kerry Wood appeared at his locker. The other players were coming out of the showers. Some had already dressed and were ready to go.
But Wood stood there still in uniform, eyes red. He had just lost the most important game of his career, Game 7 of the National League Championship Series. Florida beat the Cubs 9-6, ending their season one game short of the World Series. And this is what Wood said:
''I let my teammates down. I let the organization down. I let the city down.''
This was the impossible. The Cubs had to win just one game at Wrigley Field while throwing their two aces, Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. Prior lost Game 6 on Tuesday. But Wood was still the safety net.
Five and two-thirds innings, seven hits, seven runs. It was only the second time all year he had allowed so many runs. In fact, he gave up that many runs in his last six starts combined.
He answered a handful of questions, and then said, ''You guys have got to understand. About 30 minutes ago, I choked.
''I choked, that's the bottom line. That's all I've got right now.''
And then he walked off.
''It hurts me to hear him say that,'' Cubs starter Matt Clement said. ''He's taking it hard.''
Clement knows. Wood left the game in the sixth, walked into the dugout and sat next to him.
Clement felt the need to talk with Wood about the game, the season.
''Just talking to him on the bench the same way he'd say something to me if I pitched the game,'' Clement said. ''All four of us [in the rotation], five of us, are uptight guys. Of all the guys I've ever played with, I would have wanted Mark Prior and Kerry Wood pitching.
''He has nothing to hang his head about. He won two games in the first round and pitched his butt off in the first game of this series. Without him, we wouldn't be where we're at.''
In the first inning, Wood's breaking pitches weren't breaking. Several times, they didn't even reach home plate. He gave up a game-opening triple to Juan Pierre and a one-out walk to Ivan Rodriguez. Then Miguel Cabrera hit a three-run homer.
The Cubs tied it in the second when Wood hit a two-run homer. Wood gave up three more runs in the fifth and got into trouble in the sixth before he was taken out. He had thrown 112 pitches, and it was his 10th consecutive game with more than 100.
Wood was the only pitcher in the National League to throw more than 4,000 pitches this season.
Did manager Dusty Baker leave him in too long?
''I wasn't disappointed in his performance and I don't think I left him in too long, either,'' Baker said. ''If I thought I left him in too long, I would have taken him out.''
So maybe Wood was tiring. Maybe he was just off. Or maybe he did choke.
''He shouldn't think that way,'' Miller said. "He's a lot of the reason we were where we were. Hopefully, he won't take this too heavily.''
Originally posted by AWArulzBut for the 1st time in a long time, they have some stability in more than three positions.
The outfield is pretty solid. Might need a little help. The infield has three of four good performers and we have a 3rd baseman, for God's sake. Ok, our shortstop could use some average, but we have a couple of young infielders at AAA who can work.
Pitching looks good. Remember, Prior's a sophmore and Zambrano's basically a rookie. Wood and Clement are still young and if Juan Cruz can get it together, he's gonna be great. Obviously, we need some hosses in the pen.
Grudz is a good 2nd sacker and we have Bobby Hill in the Minors. Ramirez is a godsend at third.
I'm satisfied for this year. Disappointed, sure. Pissed off, yes. But "wait 'til next year starts today. But it's a much better this year than I ever expected.
Ahhh AWArulz, that's really sweet. But what happens when the Yankees need a new number #4 starter and long relife guy on their Empire and they steal your two young aces Wood and Prior?... And while their at it, they can take this hot shot 3rd baseman of yours Ramirez and make him a utility guy who at times bat 8th in their lineup.
Not really dissing these great players, more of a comment on how the Yanks have a habit of taking important cornerstone guys from teams and making them into interchangable parts in their empire.
Originally posted by AWArulzBut for the 1st time in a long time, they have some stability in more than three positions.
The outfield is pretty solid. Might need a little help. The infield has three of four good performers and we have a 3rd baseman, for God's sake. Ok, our shortstop could use some average, but we have a couple of young infielders at AAA who can work.
Pitching looks good. Remember, Prior's a sophmore and Zambrano's basically a rookie. Wood and Clement are still young and if Juan Cruz can get it together, he's gonna be great. Obviously, we need some hosses in the pen.
Grudz is a good 2nd sacker and we have Bobby Hill in the Minors. Ramirez is a godsend at third.
I'm satisfied for this year. Disappointed, sure. Pissed off, yes. But "wait 'til next year starts today. But it's a much better this year than I ever expected.
Ahhh AWArulz, that's really sweet. But what happens when the Yankees need a new number #4 starter and long relife guy on their Empire and they steal your two young aces Wood and Prior?... And while their at it, they can take this hot shot 3rd baseman of yours Ramirez and make him a utility guy who at times bat 8th in their lineup.
Not really dissing these great players, more of a comment on how the Yanks have a habit of taking important cornerstone guys from teams and making them into interchangable parts in their empire.
Yeah, but that's implying that the Cubs are going to actually fork over anyone to the Yanks. Wood and Prior are the foundation of the Cubs. Karim Garcia, f'rinstance, wasn't going anywhere with the Indians. Reds management can suck me, as far as I'm concerned, for parting out their franchise Huizenga-style. A competent franchise won't do that unless it'll actually benefit them, and the Yanks can't possibly repay the Cubs for what they'd be giving up.
And it's Joe Girardi. Good call, IMHO. He knows how Torre likes to manage, and played with a handful of the guys on the field in the championship years. This should be a good fit.