Cubs: I can't quit you. Would you take an Antidote?

by N Oakley on Oct 6, 2008 9:46 AM CDT

I guess the fact that I am posting this says more than I can type.

I decided Saturday Night/Sunday Morning to take a break and step away. This season was okay, tremendous regular season, horrible and painful post season.

The way this season ended was not acceptable, but was much better than any season ending before the all star break. I knew the Dodger matchup was brutal, I knew the Cubs whiffed against the D-Backs in 2007. I know Soriano and Ramirez feast on mediocre pitching and that great pitchers can shut them down.

Soriano's quote on the team being built for the marathon of the season and not a short series is right on. A team that can generate offense against the poor and mediocre pitching of the league and get lucky against the Sabathias and Hamels will have difficulty in the post season.

While I'm heartbroken, I will not "be back," as I am not leaving. I am a Cub fan and love baseball.

36+ hours later I am wondering how the team can be tweaked to add more clutch hitting and who the pitcher will be behind Z and Lilly next year? What can we get for Harden after we exercise the option?

I won't be on BCB daily for a while, but why would I? The Cubs are out and hot stove hasn't started, yet.

I leave with one question, if there was an antidote for this addiction, would you take it? I know I won’t.

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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Yeah,

This season WAS utter disappointment. It takes all the humility in the world to continue watching the playoffs (I just love baseball). Maybe they cfan pick up more key pitching or hitting, I know of a few good FAs coming, but I am not sure how deep the pocket book is, and we are gonna have to deal with the selling fo the team and Wrigley too. I dont know what to expect, sometimes constant futility is easier to cope with than Periodic futility at the worst times.

by goodwindman on Oct 6, 2008 10:24 AM CDT reply actions

No regrets.

I’m a Cubs fan for life – it’s in my DNA. And, if anything, the horrible conclusion to this season just reinforces that simple truth that baseball is a game of failure. Players fail. Teams fail. Our team failed. I knew that risk existed when I signed up, and I’m not going whine about my decision to follow this team as closely as I have now.

I ain’t goin’ anywhere. Why? Because, at the end of the day, I truly love the game of baseball and the Cubs will always be the team I support emotionally – they will always be my team. Sure, right now, that feels like a death sentence. But I have faith that time will eventually heal this wound, leaving another layer of scar tissue, and a new day will dawn.

So this is how it ends.

by daver on Oct 6, 2008 10:36 AM CDT reply actions

I can't talk about ideas on 2009 lineups yet, that will come.

All I ask is to not return to the dead era of no payroll and not being competitive. If the team is to be competitive and learn what combination of players are clutch and can win in the playoffs, players have to be tested.

I cannot return to 1999 or 2005. Those are the seasons worthy of real anger.

But the wind blew me back via Chicago, In the middle of the night

by N Oakley on Oct 6, 2008 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, I agree.

The most important thing the Cubs organization can do is continue to do everything possible to field a competitive team. And that includes adding more competent organizational employees as well as adding/subtracting/retaining quality players. I have no idea how or whether the new ownership will change things, but I pray its focus will be on moving the Cubs into the 21st century in terms of player analysis and development.

As hollow as this might sound, the Cubs have been to postseason three times this decade. If they can keep doing that, whether by winning the division or winning the wild card, someday the pieces will fall into place.

So this is how it ends.

by daver on Oct 6, 2008 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions

Well put DCD, when it comes to this team, I think we share a common bond. I ain't goin

anywhere either. Baseball is by far my favorite sport and the Cubs will always be my favorite team. While I don’t begrudge anyone who says ’I’ve had enough, I give.", I know that could never be me. As painful as it has been, I will always be a Cub fan. I know that in my heart. They say that the true definition of insanity is to do the same thing and expect different results. I guess I should go now and get fitted for my strait jacket.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Oct 6, 2008 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions

Yep, for me personally...

…baseball is the only sport I follow. So I have nowhere to run – at least in terms of sports.

So this is how it ends.

by daver on Oct 6, 2008 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions

The way I look at, there must be something to this or there

wouldn’t be so many of us. At least we care. The poor bastards I really feel sorry for are the ones who follow a team that no one ever shows up to see. I couldn’t imagine going to a ballpark and having 8,000 fans show up. That’s really depressing. I’ll take my Cubs, thank you. Warts and all. When we fail, we fail as a team. We’ll get up, dust ouselves off and come back again. That’s who we are and I feel the better for it.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Oct 6, 2008 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm with you as well

as willie said too, baseball is my favorite sport and the Cubs will always be my team. I will never be able to ditch this team, regardless of how emotionally painful the end of this season was.

I took Sunday off to be angry and disappointed and find myself rejuvenated today. I am looking forward to this hot stove season and to next year.

Go Cubs!!

When you're eight games behind, it's like eight miles; when you're eight games in front, it's like eight inches. ~ Ron Santo

by gwood on Oct 6, 2008 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, it should be interesting to see...

…what will become of all of the invididuals who made up the ‘08 Cubs. Who will be back…who won’t. And I’ll still enjoy the rest of the postseason. In fact, in some twisted way, it will be easier to enjoy from a completely detached, analytical distance. I really don’t care who wins it all. (Right now, I’m picking the Rays over the Dodgers in five.)

So this is how it ends.

by daver on Oct 6, 2008 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions

I will probably watch some of the rest of the post season

and it will be easier for me to watch as well. I would have to agree with your prediction as well. The Rays are going to be hard to beat with home field advantage.

When you're eight games behind, it's like eight miles; when you're eight games in front, it's like eight inches. ~ Ron Santo

by gwood on Oct 6, 2008 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm kind of pulling for the Phils. For some reason I kind of like those guys. They

go about their business quietly and don’t act like a bunch of assholes. Theye have a couple of knuckleheads on their team, but on balance, they are a pretty likeable bunch. I don’t think they quite have the pitching to win it all, but I will pull for them.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Oct 6, 2008 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions