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Vow to Self:  Believe

Playoffs normally stress me out, but I vow to myself to thoroughly enjoy the playoffs this year.  I vow to myself to cheer AS IF THE DREAM IS THE REALITY.  I vow to myself to shed the “cautiously optimistic” crap.

I used to always believe.   I don’t know exactly when “I believe” was scarred over with “cautiously optimistic”.  I always believed when I was younger.   I chanted JO-DEE as if he hit homers every at-bat (he only hit 19 in ’84).  I knew Sutcliffe was going to win every game that he pitched.  I really believed that Mitch Williams was going to somehow get out of the mess that he created.  I even knew that punchless Dave Owen would beat the Cardinals in the Sandberg Game.

But yes, that also meant that I knew Jerome Walton would have a dozen more years like his first.  I knew that the Cubs got a huge break when they were left with Mark Prior rather than Joe Mauer.   I thought Jeff Pico, Drew Hall, and Lance Dickson were for real.  I believed in Billy Hatcher, Kevin Orie, Gary Scott and the can't-miss Earl Cunningham.

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m still a HUGE fan, but I almost know too much about the team.   I’m more critical.  My heart is totally invested in this….but my sanity is kept together by being either cautious or doubtful.    I...or I should say "we"...have all been burned before.

NOW that we’re in the post-season, I want to enjoy it all.  I want to believe. 

I VOW TO:

...not panic after a Game 1 loss.

…not worry about getting the cart before the horse.  That’s what fans do.

…not think about hexes, curses or jinxes....and howry's.

 …not say “double play” when Lee comes to bat with the bases loaded.

…not  say “here we go again” when Wood goes 2-0 on a batter.

…not worry about Theriot’s range, but instead honor his consistency

…not panic when Zambrano starts talking to himself on the mound.

…not repeatedly say “don’t hop” until the fly ball is safe in Soriano’s glove.

…not mutter “Jacque Fukudome” when he weakly grounds out.

…not say “bounce a curve ball and he’ll chase it” when Soriano is batting.

 

Nope…this year I am going to cheer loudly and positively every bit of the way.  IF this is not the year, does “cautiously optimistic” really save me any heart ache?  IF this really IS the year, I want to enjoy every pitch of it.  I will cheer AS IF THE DREAM IS THE REALITY.   I want to LIVE the dream rather than DOUBT the dream.

I may be drinking the blue koolaid…but it is starting to taste like champagne!

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.

3 recs  |  Comment 14 comments

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We all have to approach the postseason this way.

The “caution” you talk about is part scar tissue from all the crushing disappoinments, part true caution because ANY playoff series can go in any direction.

Get ready for every single pitch to mean something. I, for one, can’t wait.

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

by Al on Sep 30, 2008 8:48 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I can't wait either.

We’re a much more solid team than last year….but Game 1 is always HUGE!

by Ghost of Fred Merkle on Sep 30, 2008 9:11 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I will never say "Cautiously Optimistic" again......

it is not true optimism.

I am only 26 and have not been around for all the excitement and heartache that this team has brought some of you. I am, by far, more excited about baseball and the Cubbies than I have ever been in my life.

I will be glued to the TV/Internet/Radio from Florida every step of the way.

Quick question……arent the divisonal series’ 7 game series now? The guys on espn.com were all picking as if it were still a best of 5.

GO CUBBIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Take a journey with Ernie"

by Dcubbienole on Sep 30, 2008 9:47 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

On the Division Series

It is a 2-2-1 format, yes best of 5.

by StevenABQ on Sep 30, 2008 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's a great point, Al...

…and something that really struck home with me last year – in the playoffs, every single pitch matters. If the regular season is a cup of coffee, the postseason is a triple espresso with a shot of Red Bull on the side. It’s going to be stressful and scary, but we should all be thankful the Cubs are giving us the opportunity to enjoy baseball at this level.

The Chicago Cubs: 2008 Central Division Champions

by dat cubfan daver on Sep 30, 2008 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Every pitch

I was explaining that to my 7-year-old son last night. The crowd will be loud and on their feet every time there are two strikes on the batter.

by Ghost of Fred Merkle on Sep 30, 2008 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Best post all year

I don’t comment a lot, but I read pretty much everything. Thanks for the best post all year (and there have been some very good ones) and especially for the best line…

I will cheer AS IF THE DREAM IS THE REALITY. I want to LIVE the dream rather than DOUBT the dream.

Thanks for reminding us to live “as if the dream is the reality.”

by rynomite23 on Sep 30, 2008 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Thanks, man.

I don’t post often either, so thanks for the props.

Now I just have to practice what I preech (which isn’t always easy).

by Ghost of Fred Merkle on Sep 30, 2008 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I hear you...

But I’m going to do my best to think of this post any time I want to get pessimistic. And I’m sure my wife will be thankful for this kind of attitude too. Thanks.

by rynomite23 on Sep 30, 2008 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Our Time

IT IS OUR TIME…that’s it…nothing more….IT IS OUR TIME.

Who needs a stinkin' tag line? What are they for anyway?

by krummy12 on Sep 30, 2008 11:18 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I hate that i am superstitious

I play baseball, so naturally I’m extremely superstitious. I hate it, it makes me feel like when ever something bad happens, it’s my fault. So, I’m trying to go in with the same attitude this year. When ever happens, happens (but if the cubs don’t win the WS I might break everything in my house).

by ChiMass on Sep 30, 2008 11:35 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

This post is great!

I think it perfectly sums up how we all WANT to feel, but most of us will resort to our usual ways once the curtain drops. Maybe some of us will rise above and truly be positive about this. Either way, we’ll all be back next year no matter what. I’m in this for life, and maybe we’ll be rewarded this year. If not, it was fun and next year will bring something new. GO CUBS!

"Bring On The Major Leagues" Stephen Malkmus

by graceunderpressure on Sep 30, 2008 11:52 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

One pitch at a time

This post really hit home for me as well. I also am a longtime reader who hasn’t posted, but had to respond to this. I’ve been a cubs fan a long time & whenever they’ve had some success during the season I always found myself thinking ahead to the next steps, i.e. playoffs, pennant & championship. Then when they didn’t reach my lofty expectations it made the heartbreak that much worse. This year I’m to going to try to just enjoy every single pitch & not get ahead of myself. I have faith in this team and no matter how bleak things may get during the playoffs you can’t write them off until the final out, like they’ve showed us all season.

by oldstyle swiller on Sep 30, 2008 1:41 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I vow to ...

spend more time expecting the big inning to start right now, and less time assuming the crash position.

My scars go back almost to ’69, but this team, with the many big innings it has put up this year, has earned it.

"You get one extra flare a week -- just one -- a gork, a ground ball with eyes, a dying quail -- just one more dying quail a week and you're in Yankee Stadium!"
-- Crash Davis

by mlf on Sep 30, 2008 2:04 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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