Filed under: Cubs | Tags: Cubs, Jake Peavy, Jason Marquis, Jim Hendry, Mark DeRosa, Mark Teahan, Rafael Furcal, Randy Johnson, Ryan Dempster, Ryan Theriot
The Chicago Tribune recently posted a poll asking Cubs fans the following question:
The Cubs have locked up Ryan Dempster. What should they do next? Trade for Jake Peavy? Sign Randy Johnson? Sign Rafael Furcal? Acquire all of them? Acquire none of them?
This wasn’t a simple point and click kinda question for me. Some of the options to choose partly angered me. I’m fine with trading for Jake Peavy, he’s an ace. I’m a firm believer that pitching wins championships even though the Cubs bats were the reason they got swept this year. Even though our rotation is solid, in the very likely situation that Harden gets hurt, we have the best insurance possible. I just don’t think we have the talent to acquire him even though it appears we’re the only team in the running for him currently.
My brother and I support Theriot
I’d love to get Furcal for the simple fact that we need a lead-off man because Soriano should not play another second there. However, I do love our current shortshop in Ryan Theriot. Every team needs a scrappy player and he’s that guy. Plus his last name is pronounced “The Riot” so you can’t beat that. As you’ll notice from the picture to the right, my brother and I clearly support him and his sweet last name. With that said, if Furcal can be had for a reasonable price, sign him. Then we can move Riot to second and DeRosa to RF. At least then we can silence these awful rumors about the “legendary” Mark Teahan coming to Chicago. Please don’t make that move and announce it as an upgrade Jim Hendry.
Finally, Randy Johnson??? Don’t release Kerry Wood and not offer him a one-year deal for you to turn around to do it to an old man who is only good at looking like a bird and killing them. Signing all of these guys would go against the Cubs excuse of not having the money to sign Wood. Even claiming that signing Randy Johnson is a priority would be silly enough. Get Peavy, get a leadoff man, get a left-handed bat, get rid of Jason Marquis and his awful contract and win one for me already.
Filed under: Cubs | Tags: 100 years, Carlos Zambrano, Cubs, curse, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, error, grand slam, Mark DeRosa, next year, playoffs, Ryan Dempster, sweep
The post season started off promising. The fans were believers. The Cubs knew what not to do after flopping last year in the post season in a first round sweep to the Diamondbacks. Heck, even though most personnel within the organization don’t believe in curses, they had Rev. Father James L. Greanias spread holy water in the Cubs dugout anyways several hours before Game 1. No curse, no lack of playoff experience and no lack of faith from Cub faithful. Then the game actually started.
(AP Photo/Kelvin Ma, Pool - ESPN.com)
I almost lost my voice after our second baseman, Mark DeRosa, hit a 2-run blast early in the second inning. But then I really lost my voice yelling and cursing after I watched our starting pitcher, Ryan Dempster, walk 7 guys and give up a grand slam before exiting in the 5th inning. It didn’t take long before this game was out of reach and over with a final score of 7-2. As upset as I was, TBS was kind enough to inform me that 85 percent of the teams that win Game 1 of the NLDS have gone on to win the series. It’s not like we didn’t have 100 years of losing as another number to squash. So thanks.
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh - ESPN.com)
Enter Game 2. Our ace, Carlos Zambrano, looked passionate and it appeared his energy was rubbing off on the fans and the team. Everyone seemed to be louder and more encouraging for this game. However, this was before I learned that the entire Cubs infield was playing with gloves with holes in them. I don’t even care to tell you about the details of the errors committed because I refuse to type a post in all capital letters to display how angry I am. Plus when I was little I got terms of service violation upsetting my parents from AOL for using caps in a chat room. Apparently I was coming off as yelling at someone. Go figure. Anyways, all you need to know is our first baseman, our second baseman, our shortstop and our third baseman all committed costly errors on plays that even I could make. If you read my about me page, I do not have large hands, so now put that last statement in perspective. The Cubs ended up losing game 2 by a final score of 10-3 and I still have a migraine from getting so upset. The Cubs need to win the next 3 games to advance on in this best of five series. Let’s just say I’m dreading using the words “next year.”
Filed under: Cubs | Tags: 100 years, black cat, Carlos Zambrano, Cubs, curse, goat, Lou Piniella, next year, Rich Harden, Ryan Dempster, Steve Bartman, World Series, Wrigley Field
http://itsgonnahappen.com/images/cubsnextyearsmall.jpg
When a team hasn’t won a World Series for 100 hundred years, it’s only natural that excuses will be made as to why that is so. However, for this historic franchise, their excuses have some merit. The team has been cursed. From the goat to the black cat to the infamous Steve Bartman. This team has seen it all throughout this century. It’s amazing that Cubs fans have been able to stay optimistic and anually utter the Cubs mantra, “There’s always next year.” But next year is here and the feeling in the air is different from year’s past.
The Cubs playoff run officially begins tomorrow for a five-game series versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. I’m nervous. I’m psyched. I’m ready. This is probably the spot where someone should remind me that I’m just a fan, but I think it’s too late for that anyways. Ryan Dempster will take the mound for the Cubs to start off the series. Is her our best pitcher? No, Rich Harden is. Is he our highest paid ace of the staff? No, Carlos Zambrano is. He simply is our best pitcher when it comes to pitching at home in Wrigley Field. He’s 14-3 at home with a 2.36 ERA and those are statistics you can’t ignore when choosing who to start at the Friendly Confines. After closing for us for the last 3 years, Dempster got converted back to a starter this year in a move that makes our coach, Sweet Lou Piniella, look even more like a genius. Especially when the guy earned the nickname “Dumpster” for throwing some garbage games as a closer. But the past is in the past and the stars have aligned for my Cubbies. Things don’t have to make sense to know I believe in this team. Go Cubs!
