Taps

I actually have something to write about today, so no ...of the day post. That is how it is going to work, just so I write something every day, ...of the day posts, but when I have somethine to write, that's what you'll get.


The sound you hear coming from the South is not booing (although there is that), the calling for Dusty's head (although there's that), the constant groans from the crowd when something goes wrong (there's that too), or even Ron Santo seemingly dying with every Cubs inning (yup that's there also). Nope, what you hear is the sound of Taps playing for the Cubs 2005 season. As a Cubs fan it is very hard for me to admit that it is officially over. Granted, many of you probably were saying the season was over a few weeks ago, and you were right, but we are eternal optimists, thinking we can pull it out until the last out of the season, or at least until we remember we are Cubs fans and the team will eventually screw up.

For those who don't know, the Cubs dropped their 7th straight game today, losing to the Cincinatti Reds at home 8-3 this afternoon. The team is 11-15 since the All-Star break. Their record in August is 1-7, record at home is 27-28, on the road they are 27-31, are 54-59, five games under .500, 17.5 games behind St. Louis, 2 games out of 3rd place, and 7 games behind Wild Card leading Houston. The 7 games isn't even the biggest factor, it's that 6 teams are ahead of them and two of those teams (Philadelphia and New York) recently hosted the Cubs on a 1-5 road trip. What does all of this mean? It's time to look at 2006. Think about it, even the most hard core, believing Cubs fans have to start wavering when they consider the following: After the end of the series against the Reds, they will have 48 games left, 25 at home, 23 on the road. Out of the teams they play, only five of them are part of the teams ahead of them for the postseason (including the Cardinals and Braves) and it is hard to catch teams you don't play. They do have a winning record over 6 of the 10 teams they are playing during the remainder of the season, most of these teams are playing well right now. Let me just break down the rest of the season for you by who they play and how much they play them:

Atlanta (0-3) 3 games at home*
Florida (4-2) 3 games at home*
L.A. (3-0) 3 games at home
San Francisco (2-1) 3 games away
Colorado (3-1) 3 games away
Pittsburgh (8-3) 2 games at home, 3 away
Cincinatti (5-6) 3 games at home
Milwaukee (6-7) 3 games away*
St. Louis (3-2) 8 games at home, 3 games away*
Houston (3-3) 3 games at home, 7 games away*

The * denotes those teams which are ahead of the Cubs in the standings. Many people right now are probably saying, "Hey if they sweep Houston, they will be three games up." While beating Houston would be huge, it still isn't going to do much when they can't do anything anymore about New York, Philadelphia, or Washington, all of whom are ahead of the Cubs in the Wild Card race.

The team had a great chance to do some damage after the All-Star break, but basically fell flat on their face. We heard how the team was finally going to be back together after Prior and Wood both were back in the rotation, well Wood got hurt again and is now in the 'pen. Then when Wood was going to come back to the 'pen, Scott Williamson was returning, and Nomar would finally be back, the team was supposed to get a shot in the arm. Corey Patterson's demotion was supposed to add a spark to the offense, adding Matt Lawton was supposed to do the same. After hearing all of this during the season and all of the booing which takes place at Wrigley right now, it kind of makes me wish the 2003 season would have never happened. The expectations on everyone were raised so much after that magical run that anything shy of a World Series the following seasons has simply brought out the worst in Cub fans.

Granted, the team could have and should have played much better over the past few years with the talent they have, or are supposed to have, but injuries have hurt the club, trusting players who haven't proven themselves has hurt, errors and playing fundamentaly unsound defense has hurt, baserunning mistakes have hurt. The team has definitely not been perfect over the past few years and we need to accept that as fans. We used to get excited with an 80 win season, or just the chase for the post season. Now, since 2003 happened and the Cubs were a pick for many people to win the 2004 World Series, we don't enjoy the chase, we just expect to be there at the end of the season. While expectations are good, they can also hurt a team when they don't live up to them. Obviously the fans don't like it and they start getting on players when they don't perform, and that's not going to help anything.

Here's my plea to Cubs fans for the rest of the season and moving forward to 2006: Let's cheer loud for the good plays, louder still for the great plays, and loudest yet for plays which could have been made better, scream when guys show hustle and encourage them to do so if you see them slacking off, remember how fun it was just to dream for the team to make the post season instead of expecting it because the ride will be more enjoyable, believe the team can come back in the late innings, be loud so they know they have our support from the moment they step on the field, make them remember how greatful we are for their entertainment, and I promise they will do better. Let Dusty manage, let the pitchers pitch through their problems, and hitters hit through theirs, they are professionals, it will get better. Remember most of all, our eternal battle cry, "Wait til next year" and all will be well in Cub land again.

After all, think about this as a potential team:

Starting Pitchers: Mark Prior, Carlos Zambrano, Jerome Williams, Greg Maddux, Rich Hill, perhaps Angel Guzman
Relief Pitchers: Will Ohman, Scott Williamson, Michael Wuertz, Kerry Wood, and Ryan Dempster
Lineup:

CF: Felix Pie, Corey Patterson, or pipe dream Johnny Damon (won't happen, but it's fun to dream)
2B: Todd Walker
1B: Derreck Lee
3B: Aramis Ramirez
LF: Matt Murton
RF: Jeromy Burnitz, but I doubt it, I would say Corey Patterson here if he's still on the team
C: Michael Barrett (Henry Blanco)
SS: Ronny Cedeno

I don't think Jeromy Burnitz will be back, nor do I believe Nomar will be back. There is a chance Todd Walker won't be back, if the team trades him, I hope they don't, but I have a feeling they will. Cedeno will probably be the new starter at shortstop, Lee, Ramirez, and Barrett will definitely be back. There is no reason to think Matt Murton won't be the everyday left fielder next year and depending on what happens with Corey Patterson and if the Cubs make a run at Johnny Damon, Felix Pie may or may not be the starting center fielder next season. I'm leaning towards yes, but we'll see. Alright, that's enough thinking about 2006, and I'm sure Gaddis will tear this apart, but hey, wait til next year!

-Until next time...