A Reminder: Anything is Possible

by cubbiejulie on May 7, 2006 9:38 PM CDT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Marlins

From Wikipedia:

In 2003:

"The Marlins struggled in the opening stages of the season, going 16-22. In that span, Florida also lost its top three pitchers, A.J. Burnett, Josh Beckett, and Mark Redman. On May 11, Florida replaced manager Torborg with 72-year-old Jack McKeon. On May 22, Florida was at its lowest point, with a major league worst record of 19-29, having lost 6 straight games."

I don't really remember how that year ended up, but I see to recall the Marlins finishing pretty well. No, we don't have Dontrelle Willis and Josh Beckett, we have Sean Marshall, Greg Maddux, and soon, Kerry Wood. No, we don't have Miguel Cabrera, we have Aramis Ramirez, Matt Murton, and Todd Walker. No, we don't have Ugeth Urbina, we have Ryan Dempster, who hasn't blown a save in a really freakin' long time.

We aren't even to May 11, guys. I know it's a longshot, but stranger things have happened. I, for one, am refusing to call it quits this early. I just hope the guys in the dugout feel the same way. After all, if the teams who started out hot ALWAYS wound up in the playoffs, this sport would be no fun.

Keep the faith. As my grandmother always said, "this too shall pass."

(Gaius, if you are a buzzkill on this thread, so help me I will hunt you down like the dog you are, sit on your chest, and sing "The Cubs Are On Their Way" into your ear while wearing a "In Dusty We Trusty" t-shirt until you beg for mercy. I'm doing my best to find a reason to live over here)

Oh, and once again, I would like to renew my push for the Cubs to hire Jack McKeon.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

Thank you

..CubbieJulie.

You rock.

by jazzman56 on May 7, 2006 9:40 PM CDT reply actions

Thanks man

That's how I roll.

"Aw, how could he lose the ball in the sun, he's from Mexico!"--Harry Caray

by cubbiejulie on May 7, 2006 9:43 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm with ya...

I won't give up, and I really, really hope the Cubs won't either.

Cubbie Blue always sPaRkLes in my eyes.

by sparkles721 on May 7, 2006 9:54 PM CDT reply actions

(sigh of relief)

This made me feel so much better that I momentarily forgot about the wound of the 2003 Marlins. Thank you.

by Perkins on May 7, 2006 9:57 PM CDT reply actions

I'm sorry

that I had to bring up the 2003 Marlins to make my point, but sometimes toughlove works, you know?

"Aw, how could he lose the ball in the sun, he's from Mexico!"--Harry Caray

by cubbiejulie on May 8, 2006 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions

It's all good

Here's to hoping we can finally put it out of our minds this year.

by Perkins on May 8, 2006 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions

I too

love to be reminded of the 03 marlins. if the 06 cubs are the 03 marlins who are the 03 cubs?

by mike bornemann @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on May 7, 2006 10:10 PM CDT reply actions

We don' t know yet

we have to wait to see whose heart we break in the playoffs.

"Aw, how could he lose the ball in the sun, he's from Mexico!"--Harry Caray

by cubbiejulie on May 7, 2006 10:14 PM CDT up reply actions

I also want to say thank you

After the last thread and his last post over at 1060 he-who-shall-not-be-named had me pretty down and almost convinced but I didn't want it to happen and sure enough I got the hope back today and this post makes me feel better. I think next season I'll make overly optimistic predictions and gloat in front of him when some of them come true like he seems to feel he needs to do with his pessimistic ones when we're all pretty upset and frustrated already.

by tal1286 on May 7, 2006 10:14 PM CDT reply actions

also

I think it's funny that Wikipedia has assigned a nickname to the worst inning I have ever watched in any baseball game ever. They call it "The Inning". I just call it an excuse to gouge out my eyes and then well...I don't want to get arrested.

by tal1286 on May 7, 2006 10:17 PM CDT reply actions

Wikipedia isn't quite right...

... on May 22, 2003, when the Marlins were 19-29, they were 13.5 games out of first place. The Brewers in the NL (18-29) were worse, as were the Devil Rays, Tigers and Indians in the AL.

But the point is well made, and this is yet another example proving Gaius wrong. Plenty of teams come back from five (OK, so now it's six) games down in May. If I had time, I'd look them all up and post them. I suspect it's a fairly long list.

by Al Yellon on May 8, 2006 4:07 AM CDT reply actions

lol

"i don't know, but i'll assume it justifies my view."

sorry, julie -- i'll be quiet now.

by gaius marius on May 8, 2006 8:51 AM CDT up reply actions

I warned you

"Hey hey, Holy Mackeral, No doubt about it. . . . The Cubs are on their waaaaaaaayyyyyyy!!!"

"Aw, how could he lose the ball in the sun, he's from Mexico!"--Harry Caray

by cubbiejulie on May 8, 2006 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions

This doesn't mean we have to go 16-22?

I am sure not. I LOVE Jack McKeon but he
really is past it. I don't hate Dusty but IF he
goes (which I doubt) ANYONE BUT BOBBY VALENTINE

by jessica on May 8, 2006 8:02 AM CDT reply actions

why no bobby valentine?

Unless I've missed something this makes little to no sense to me. He took the Mets team back in '01 to the world series. That Mets team SUCKED. He's a good manager. He can actually win something and did in Japan just one year ago.

by tal1286 on May 8, 2006 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions

That was the 2000 Mets...

... not the 2001 Mets.

They "sucked"? Let's see. Mike Piazza hit 38 HR, drove in 113 and hit .324/.398/.614. They had three other players who hit 20+ HR, pretty good starting pitching, and Armando Benitez saved 41 games.

I'd like the Cubs to suck their way to 94 wins like that Mets team did.

by Al Yellon on May 8, 2006 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions

Incidentally...

... one of the starters on that Mets team was... Glendon Rusch. He went 11-11 with a 4.01 ERA, a little better than league average.

by Al Yellon on May 8, 2006 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions

I prefer not have people in Groucho glasses

Seriously one of the biggest jackasses in BB
I remember an SI profile that basically except
for his IMMEDIATE family, absolutely nobody
likes the guy and before you start the "who cares"
if he wins stuff there is a REASON he can't find
a job managing in the US

by jessica on May 8, 2006 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions

Sweet Lou

Isn't Lou Piniella still looking for a dugout?

"Respect the game above all else." - Ryne Sandberg, July 31, 2005, Cooperstown, NY

by Tom @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on May 8, 2006 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions

I think it is telling...

... that he hasn't found one.

I think he's done. And I wouldn't want him anyway.

by Al Yellon on May 8, 2006 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions

You DO rock.

Especially with the disturbing threat towards Gaius. I will argue, however, that NO ONE deserves to be within 50 yards of a Dusty We Trusty shirt. (shudder).

she

by Sarah Hope on May 8, 2006 8:11 AM CDT reply actions

Pie started in right yesterday

Thought this was an interesting move with AAA Cubs. Not sure if this was an omen for things to come or not. Why post here you may be thinking? A positive thread cubbiejulie, thanks. If this is our only prolonged losing streak of the season, glad we got it over.

by mrcubsfan on May 8, 2006 8:16 AM CDT reply actions

Pie....

... played RF in spring training too.

by Al Yellon on May 8, 2006 8:47 AM CDT up reply actions

ooh

fair enough.

by gaius marius on May 8, 2006 8:48 AM CDT reply actions

Sounded..

..a bit kinky to me.. :)

by wicubfan on May 8, 2006 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions

Re

Notice the move the Marlins made to turn things around? They fired the manager who wasn't getting the performance out of the players.

Hope for the season returns the moment Baker walks out of the Cubs clubhouse for the last time.

Visit The Digital Gazette

by Jed Taylor on May 8, 2006 10:15 AM CDT reply actions

That wasn't the only reason, of course...

... they got all their injured pitchers back. Hmmm... sound familiar?

by Al Yellon on May 8, 2006 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions

Something else..

...the 2006 Cubs have in common with the 2003 Marlins is lead-off man.

In 2003, after hitting .266 in April, Pierre hit over .300 in 4 of the next 5 months. This included a .400 OBP and 14 SB in July, a month where Florida really made their move, going 17-7. That month they went from 5.5 GB in the Wild Card race to jusr 1.5 back.

Pierre swiped 65 bases that year. This year he is on a pace to swipe about 60.

Can Pierre lead the Cubs to a strong July in 2006, just as he did the Marlns in 2003? It's certainly possible.

by jazzman56 on May 8, 2006 12:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Hot.

n/t

--Tim http://fridayafternoonintheuniverse.blogspot.com

by elscorcho0682 on May 8, 2006 11:59 AM CDT reply actions

LOL

"That's hot."

"Aw, how could he lose the ball in the sun, he's from Mexico!"--Harry Caray

by cubbiejulie on May 8, 2006 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Ewww

It smells like tramp in here.

she

by Sarah Hope on May 8, 2006 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Dusty

ESPN radio this morning (Mike&Mike and Tim Kurkjian) were hypothesizing that Dusty's on his way out here.
I can't disagree more. (Much as I would like to see him go.)
Hendry has always sworn by Dusty. And now, with half of the starting staff and the only true power/average bat on the DL, he can't possibly fire Dusty.

"Respect the game above all else." - Ryne Sandberg, July 31, 2005, Cooperstown, NY

by Tom @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on May 8, 2006 1:31 PM CDT reply actions

Why not?

Why can't he fire Dusty? Takes some guts, yes. Impossible, no.

"Aw, how could he lose the ball in the sun, he's from Mexico!"--Harry Caray

by cubbiejulie on May 8, 2006 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions

With everyone good on the DL?

I just think that's an untenable decision: Hendry would be roasted for firing the manager when all of the talent is hurt. I think it would hurt his reputation as a GM, and possibly weaken his negotiating power with managers and players.
Which is NOT to say I want Dusty to stay; the time to fire him is long overdue.

Didn't see any redheads on the train this morning . . .

"Respect the game above all else." - Ryne Sandberg, July 31, 2005, Cooperstown, NY

by Tom @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on May 8, 2006 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm working from home today

;)

As for Hendry, a) it would be hard to look worse than he does know with his ill-advised signing of JJ and failure to shore up the starting rotation, and b) why does it reflect badly on the GM for cutting lose an ineffective manager? I will refer you to my Marlins post above.

"Aw, how could he lose the ball in the sun, he's from Mexico!"--Harry Caray

by cubbiejulie on May 8, 2006 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions