All-Star break distraction... Highlights from 2008's memorable season

by Charlemagne on Jul 12, 2009 10:33 PM CDT

1st half of the season is in the books, and while it has been disappointing, being within shooting distance of first despite the injuries and slumps is encouraging. I believe the best baseball is yet to come with the Cubs and I think at the end of the day we will be in the playoffs and once that happens (as we know all too well) anything could happen.

While we have a few days off, I figured it would be fun to revisit some highlights of the magical season we had last year. As I watched some of the highlight clips it was hard not to be nostalgic. Click on the dates to be taken to the wrap up and highlights of the game. Enjoy!

March 31 – Opening day. Kosuke Fukudome went 3-for-3 including a game tying 3 run blast in the bottom of the ninth in his (US) big league debut. Cubs eventually lost 4-3 in extras.

April 30 – Cubs score a season high 19 runs lead by Geovany Soto’s two 3 run homers. Mark DeRosa reached base 5 times as Dempster went 4-0 and the Cubs beat the Brewers 19-6

May 11 – Cubs come from behind to beat the Diamondbacks 6-4. Highlights include Reed Johnson’s first home run as a Cub and Daryle Ward’s huge 2-run pitch hit double in the eighth. This win was one among a 20-2 home game win streak ranging from May 9 to June 12.

May 15 – Ryan Dempster goes 8 1/3 innings and strikes out 12 and beats former Cub ace Greg Maddux. Cubs win 4-0.

May 28 – Carlos Zambrano pitches a gem as the Cubs come from behind to beat the Dodgers 2-1 with a walk off single by Alfonso Soriano.

May 30 – Cubs shock the Rockies by coming back from a seven run deficit to win 10-9. What was great about this win was the Cubs bench really came through. After going down 8-1, Lou Pinella took most of the starters out. Henry Blanco and Mark DeRosa each had a two run HR in the seventh as the Cubs rallied for an amazing win.

June 12 - Jim Edmonds goes yards on throw-back day and Reed Johnson is HBP to knock in the walkoff run in the 10th and Cubs beat Atlanta 3-2. Hey Hey

June 20 – Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez go back to back in the seventh to tie the game and Ramirez had another walk-off homerun in the ninth as the Cubs rally to beat their cross-town rivals, the White Sox 4-3.

June 21 - Cubs had an amazing 9-run fourth where they went back to back twice (Jim Edmonds and Mike Fontenot and Aramis Ramirez and Jim Edmonds). Cubs went on to win 11-7. I was lucky enough to be at this game with my Dad, by brother-in-law, Chris, and my father-in-law who are all White Sox fans. Luckily, we all still get along.

July 27 – After being tied for the NL Central lead with the Brewers, this game ended their slide by overcoming an early 5 run deficit and beating the Marlins 9-6. Soriano and Lee each homered and Fontenote had a bases clearing 3-run double.

July 28 – The Cubs traveled to Milwaukee to face C.C. Sabathia and the Brewers for a four game set, holding on to a one game lead in the division. The atmosphere was playoff like with the NL Central lead on the line. The Cubs go back and forth with the Brew-Crew before beating the Brewers and their ace. The Cubs went on to sweep the series and sent a statement to the division on who the best team was.

August 3 - Reed Johnson hits a pitch-hit homer in the 8th to give the Cubs the lead, which is immediately followed by a Soriano long ball. Cubs win 8-5 over the Pirates

August 8 – Former Cardinal now Cub Jim Edmonds homers twice and Blanco has a walk off single as the Cubs beat the Cardinals 3-2 in the 11th.

August 15 – Daryle Ward hits a go-ahead 3 run homerun in the ninth as the Cubs rally to beat the Marlins 6-5 and extend their away winning streak to 9 games.

August 28 – Cubs rally with two homeruns in the eighth, including a Aramis Ramirez go ahead grand slam as the Cubs beat the Philles 6-4.

September 14 – Big Z No-hits the Houston Astros at Miller Park. Cubs win 5-0

September 18 - With 2 outs in the ninth, the Cubs rally from four behind, highlighted by Geovany Soto’s 3 run blast. The Cubs go into extras where Derrek Lee hits a walk-off single in the 12th after Kerry Wood pitched his way out of trouble. The Cubs beat the Brewers 7-6

September 20 – Cubs clinch the National League Central championship at home with a 5-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Kerry Wood got the save before the Cubs celebrated their season at Wrigley Field. I was lucky enough to be at the game to witness history.

Maybe the 2nd half of this season will be as amazing as last year. Who knows, this could be the year.

GO CUBS!!

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 recommended your post because you’ve put a lot of effort into it. This just makes me sad to think how good we were last year, wasted it, and have messed up this season.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Jul 12, 2009 11:39 PM CDT reply actions

The no-hitter was my favorite game of 2008.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jul 13, 2009 8:23 AM CDT reply actions

I liked Lilly's 1-hitter the next day better,

but only because I was there.

"Fasten your seatbelts"-Pat Hughes

by katie casey on Jul 14, 2009 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions

What a great season

It was a World Series or bust mentality. It ended up going bust in the playoffs, but it was still a great season.

And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.

by Ace Venom on Jul 14, 2009 9:08 AM CDT reply actions

Like DTP

I don’t want to spit on the effort you made.

But those three games against the Dodgers in October basically whitewashed the rest for me.

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Jul 14, 2009 11:55 AM CDT reply actions

Man that was a great regular season.

by cubsfaninatl on Jul 14, 2009 1:29 PM CDT reply actions

These stories are a jarring reminder of how well-positioned this team really was to achieve the unpossible.

I really enjoyed this post, it brought back a lot of pleasant memories. Nicely done.

But it galls me that a team this good at finding ways to win couldn’t bother to try when their moment came.

People have said for decades that the Cubs will never win the World Series. People have said for decades that America would never elect a black President. The fact that they could have been the 1 in the 1-2 punch of history, but instead they went out like that…that is an epic, epic fail.

"Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For what each man wishes, that he also believes to be true." ~Demosthenes

by Goodie1969 on Jul 14, 2009 7:38 PM CDT reply actions

Clearly, the Cubs are RACIST!

There is no such thing as an ugly female breast

by Worf on Jul 15, 2009 9:10 AM CDT up reply actions

How is this relevant to now?

Yay, we won in 2008. Boo, we lost in the playoffs.

Hey, we did well in 1989 and 1984. How about some retrospectives of those seasons, too?

Ladies and gentlemen! It's 1985 all over again, but this time the offense goes to hell!

by Ross on Jul 16, 2009 1:04 AM CDT reply actions

This isn't relevant now....

….But I enjoy remembering the excitement I felt last season, best season in my lifetime. If someone wanted to write about the 1984 or 1989 seasons, that would be cool. I was too young to remember those seasons, but would be interesting to read about.

If you are not interested, my advice would be not to read, much less comment on, the post

-Charlemagne
"Cubs Win!" "Yes, Sir!" - Pat and Ron, June 12, 2008, Walk off HBP, bottom of the 11th
#8719 on the Cubs Season Ticket waiting list.

by Charlemagne on Jul 16, 2009 9:15 AM CDT up reply actions

If I'd have thought of that earlier, I might have done it.

That might be a good project for this off-season — highlights of memorable Cub seasons from the past.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jul 16, 2009 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Definitely did not take in how amazing that season was till now

Great recap.

"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living."

by jkobus on Jul 16, 2009 9:23 PM CDT up reply actions