Something To Prove

7 games back in the loss column, 42 games to go.



So let’s just say that maybe it’s too late, that 32-10 is too much to hope for. I’m not suggesting that, because I have Cubs disease, but part of me acknowledges how tough it will be. Is there anything else worth watching for in the last six-and-a-half weeks?

Speaking only for myself, I would continue to watch even if they lose every game because it’s what I do. I want to see if I can notice things about the team. Sometimes we notice different things than we would if we only watched the Cubs when they were winning, or in contention. We can still learn about this club.

I realize that learning is not exciting, however, no matter what Jaleel White or Kirk Cameron might have told you on "The More You Know" spots in your formative years, so let me make a different case. Beyond that, there are a lot of guys with something to prove on this team, and that in and of itself will make the final stretch significant even if the team drops out of the race. There are a lot of good subplots. Baseball is a game with a narrative structure, and a lot of these are stories worth following.

Derrek Lee, for example, has a batting title to chase. His numbers are dropping off a bit, but he’s still in the lead. It doesn’t help that he only sees a few good pitches to hit all game and can’t get into a rhythm, but he’s taking the walks rather than swinging at bad pitches, which is a good sign. He must want to prove that the first half wasn’t a fluke, or at least not a complete fluke.

Corey Patterson needs to demonstrate that he’s begun the development process again. His approach seems quite a bit different. (Watching the game on Sunday, my friend TYW also noticed that Corey seems to have lost some weight.) He seems less aggressive at the plate, and more aggressive on the basepaths. He came up with a big RBI last night, and he broke the solo homerun streak (as my friend KJM was quick to point out) with a 2-run blast on Sunday. He’s still making mistakes, but less often, and at least his approach seems more congruent with his abilities.

Nomar Garciaparra has to demonstrate that he’s still a star shortstop. Someone will take a flyer on him regardless, but it won’t be a top contender unless he plays well the rest of the way. So far so good, but he has to keep it up. I’m excited about how well he’s hitting, because he’s just a fun hitter to watch when he’s right.

Jeromy Burnitz is trying to show that he can still be a run producer. Nobody denies how exceptional his defense has been, but his most important offensive number is the RBI total and it’s down. Like Nomar, the type of team that will sign him and the size of his next contract depends largely on the end of the season (although to a lesser extent).

Matt Murton is playing for next year’s starting job. He’s shown nothing but promise and production since arriving, but if he drops off, that will linger in everyone’s mind. If he keeps it up, his arrival will become permanent. We’re all pulling for him.

For the pitchers, Greg Maddux is trying to stave off sunset. 15 wins will be tough, though not impossible, and he’s already been jobbed a lot this season. The first time was in late April in the Wrigley snow against Pittsburgh when Hawkins gave up a homerun to Jason Bay into the wind to blow the lead -- how long ago does that seem? -- and since then, he’s gotten an awful lack of run support and blown leads by the bullpen. He’s had some rough outings as well, but he kept the ball on the ground last night in a homerun hitters park, and seems to be in a groove.

Carlos Zambrano is trying to show that he’s an elite pitcher, and Mark Prior is trying to show that he deserves all the accolades. Each of these guys still seems to take every start personally. They’re also so darn overpowering that when they’re on, either one of them could take a no-hitter deep. Guys like Rich Hill and Jerome Williams and Glendon Rusch and Todd Wellemeyer and Sergio Mitre (and any other possible starters) all have to prove whether they deserve a spot in a starting rotation.

Dempster is trying to legitimize himself as a closer. He’s 17 for 19 in saves, but he’s also been rocky in some appearances. I like that he’s simplified his approach, but I’m still curious more than anything as to whether he can end up with a save percentage better than 85%.

Then, Kerry Wood. In a lot of ways, the 2005 Cubs season has mirrored Kerry Wood’s season: dominating at times, but with three long and abysmal stretches. Now Wood has found a role in which he can excel for the rest of the season, but he might be too late, just as the Cubs finally have a balanced lineup when it might be too late. Still, Kerry Wood endured a lot of negativity this season, and he has a chance to remind everyone why a lot of us still like him so much, and why we still hold so much hope for him next season. All the people who call him a bum forget how freaking overpowering he can be at any given moment, and how rare this quality really is. Wood has a chance to go into 2006 on a high note, which seemed all but impossible a month ago.

There are a lot of reasons to keep watching. There will be plots developing every series. The best story of course would be 30 wins in the next 40 games, but regardless we’re fortunate to have a team comprised of people worth following, even in a disappointing season. They’re showing us a glimpse of what might have been this year, but it’s also true that on any given day, we could see a good baseball team playing the game the right way. With this many people with something to prove, single games are exciting in their own right. Even if you’re disappointed, keep at least half an eye on what’s going on.