Did anyone think this would be easy?

by SuperContext on Apr 30, 2008 11:06 AM CDT

Did anyone here think this season was going to be easy?

Did anyone here look at the Cubs record through 20 games, a healthy 14-6, and fool themselves into believing that the Chicago Cubs would tear through the rest of the season like that, a team possessed, win 110 games, and be lauded by the baseball-aware public as the greatest thing since sliced bread (or night baseball)?

I can tell you I sure as heck didn't.

I knew there would be some tough-luck losses, some times the ball didn't bounce the way the boys in cubbie blue would like, and some times where, yes, either the offense, or the pitching, or both, just plain stunk. I know there will likely be a few transcendent wins and a few gut-wrenching losses, and a lot of mundane stuff in-between.

I also know that, even in defeat, this club looks to be the best one I've seen on the north side in quite some time. Even in defeat they are getting on base, putting up offensive numbers we could have only dreamed of as recently as last year. The resurgence of Derek Lee, the arrival of Fukudome, the impressive play of Soto, and the surprise of Dempster have all contributed to making this club much more entertaining and exciting that I would have guessed.

So to reference Al's recap post, there will be ups, there will be downs, and there will almost certainly be those that wildly overreact to both. It won't always be as easy as it was for the first 20 -- it never is.

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

I thought all we had to do was push it...

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 30, 2008 11:10 AM CDT reply actions

Sorry, but I prefer to push this one.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by daver on Apr 30, 2008 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Where's the obligatory

Japanese script “panic” button?

There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!

by sanantonecub on Apr 30, 2008 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions

So far...

....it has been pretty easy – 16-10 record after missing one of your better players for two weeks, and not getting real good pitching from a couple of your starters, I’ll take that everytime.

This is going to be a long long season with several twists and turns, one of which will be some signficant movement at the deadline – IMHO.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Apr 30, 2008 11:18 AM CDT reply actions

Agreed

And call me crazy, but unless we are about 10 games ahead in our division in the las week of the season, I almost prefer to be knipping at the heels of the 1st place team most of the season. It keeps us hungry I think but that’s just me.

"We Are Not Fair Weather But Foul Weather Fans, Brothers In Arms In Streets and The Stands." -Eddie Vedder, Someday We'll Go All The Way

by ryanbrixenivy on Apr 30, 2008 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions

I didn't know you were a knipper, ryan. I'm a knipper, too.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by daver on Apr 30, 2008 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions

Definitely

I just think it is amazing the level of panic you start to see when the team drops a few games. I for one wouldn’t be all that surprised if both the Cubs and Brewers got in this year, one as division winner, and one as wild card.

I also agree that we are likely to see a signficant and interesting move or two made near the deadline.

by SuperContext on Apr 30, 2008 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions

I still prefer saying

“It won’t always be this easy,” when referring to a season opening as opposed to, “It won’t always be this bad.”

Okay, "Wendy: hot and juicy redhead." Give this a try.

by neverAcquiesce on Apr 30, 2008 11:33 AM CDT reply actions

I was hoping it would be easy

Never really expected it to be easy though. I’d love one year to see a dominant cubs team. One that wins over 100 games. Boy, would that be fun!

by Ilan on Apr 30, 2008 12:14 PM CDT reply actions

It's Never Easy

The Cubs won the ‘98 wild card by 1 game, won the ‘03 division by 1 game, and won the ‘07 division by 2 games. It’s never easy for the Cubs. They have a good, if not great, team this season, that could very well do what they did last season and beat out the Brewers by 2 games. I don’t foresee the Cubs winning the division by a big margin. I don’t care, if it’s easy. I just want to see them win, period.

by memphiscub on Apr 30, 2008 12:25 PM CDT reply actions

funny thing is

if the win the next two they have won the series and all is good.

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Apr 30, 2008 1:22 PM CDT reply actions

I think what maddens us

is that for that stretch a couple of weeks ago, we were unbeatable. Clutch hits, late rallys, excellent bullpen work. Now, we strand a million guys, we don’t get leads, we fight back and the pen can’t shut the door. That’s baseball, but it’s hard to watch at times. Actually, that’s sports. Losing is easy, winning consistently is not,, that’s why it’s so sweet when you DO win and play in the playoffs.

Can you imagine the angst we will feel and write about on this site when we get to the WS?

"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse

by BigJohnAZ on Apr 30, 2008 1:36 PM CDT reply actions

I'll take that angst, won't you?

n/t

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Apr 30, 2008 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions

It'll probably

be the same angst that was released on Mr. Bartman in 2003 when we were 7 outs away from the WS and then some.

"Very adroit in the outfield." - Lou, on Dome

by gwood on Apr 30, 2008 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Who?...

I think you mean Alex Gonzales…when he muffed the tayor-made DP ball.

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 30, 2008 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Or maybe he meant Mark Prior...

...y’know, when he lost all mental focus and started throwing batting practice.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by daver on Apr 30, 2008 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree

the angst was released at the wrong individual.

"Very adroit in the outfield." - Lou, on Dome

by gwood on Apr 30, 2008 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Prior ran out of gas

mosty cause Dusty pitched him into the 8th inning of Game 2 when leading by how many runs? Take him out after 6, he may have gone the distance in game 6. Who knows?

Soriano should hit 5th. Period.

by Canadian Cubs Fan on Apr 30, 2008 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Oh

And you mean 5 outs.

by BeboThoughts on Apr 30, 2008 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Actually I think we were five outs away when it happened

but who’s counting?

by bluekoolaide on Apr 30, 2008 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions

You two are right

"Very adroit in the outfield." - Lou, on Dome

by gwood on Apr 30, 2008 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Most definitely!

I am going to be a nervous wreck, hanging on every pitch when that series comes. LOL

"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse

by BigJohnAZ on Apr 30, 2008 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions

This season

Should be just as painful, heart-attack friendly of a season as last year and I’ll love every second of it :) (AS LONG AS WE WIN!)

by ak123 on Apr 30, 2008 1:55 PM CDT reply actions

Perspective...

thanks for putting it into words SuperC, I was thinking that after last night, that we’re still 6 games over .500 at the end of the first month. Better than 90% (or something like that) of the teams in MLB.

You gotta admit, the lack of focus in Washington was really freakin annoying, right?

Soriano should hit 5th. Period.

by Canadian Cubs Fan on Apr 30, 2008 2:30 PM CDT reply actions

No but

The ÇONSTANT stranding at runners ON THIRD with less than two out is driving me
CRAZY. That is a sign of real trouble. If you can’t HIT A FLY ball or a ground ball good enough to score a run than something is really wrong. I can live with stretches of bad
relief, erratic starts, leaving a lot of runners on too much but stranding guys on third with
less than two out several times a game ( or so it seems) is unforgiveable

This by the way is why I would keep Murton over Fonty in a heartbeat though I know
that is a minority opinion.

by Doggie Stalker on Apr 30, 2008 2:32 PM CDT reply actions

Right.

It’s not so much that they’re losing as it’s the WAY they’re losing. Our inability to drive in runs from third with less than two out is starting to become a very troubling trend. What kills me is that almost all the games we’ve lost during the recent bad stretch have been winnable if we could even occasionally execute.

by bluekoolaide on Apr 30, 2008 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions

I seem to recall similar problems last year

I think Lou will be able to tinker with the lineup to fix it if it continues.

Further, granted, I did not see all of last night’s game, but are these problems maybe being overstated just a little? The shut-out in Washington seemed to me to be a case of hard luck, at least to some degree – a lot of guys were hitting good line drives right at defenders, etc. I guess I’d have to see the poor production continue for a bit longer to consider it a trend. For as many squandered opportunities as there apparently were last night, the team still scored seven runs, which would normally be enough to win a game.

by SuperContext on Apr 30, 2008 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions

A 162 game season is never easy

Not for any team. Too many variables, too many things that need to go just right. There is no comfort in baseball until it is your team that is hoisting the World Series trophy. Look at the Mets last year. Look at our horrendous crash versus Florida in 2003, or our shocking early exit from the playoffs in 2007.

by MDBNIU on Apr 30, 2008 2:43 PM CDT reply actions

And in that regard

look what Colorado did last year. They didn’t win it all, but from the first win of that unbelievable run, every game was a playoff game to them. Each game was a MUST WIN. Then the week layoff. I think that hurt them more than Boston being the better team.

"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse

by BigJohnAZ on Apr 30, 2008 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions

I voted for 16+ wins in April...

...because you have to have hope as a Cubs fan (not because I knew anything). As much as I criticize the Cubs and their management, it is not meant to imply that it’s hopeless…This was a good team going in to the season and is still a good team after one month. Should be an enjoyable race for the NLCD.

by DudeVf11 on Apr 30, 2008 11:07 PM CDT reply actions

Oh, yeah...

...I forgot about that poll. I wish I’d written down what I voted—I think somewhere between 12 and 14 wins. Thank you, Chicago Cubs, for exceeding my expectations!

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by daver on May 1, 2008 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions