One or the Other
The game starts in 10 minutes, and I’ve given myself that window to write as much as I can, to go on record with a brief point.
There are only 2 ways the story can go, and telling either of them will involve platitudes and hyperbole. Either
- The Cubs rally to win behind their stopper, the ace so far this season, Greg Maddux, or
- This becomes the worst slump of the entire Dusty Baker era.
That’s it. One or the other. Everything else there is to say one can infer from whichever outcome occurs.
The entire tenor of the season – at least its first half – hangs in the balance on tonight’s game. Another loss and the hole is dug, and depression sets in. A win, and the streak is over, and momentum shifts like a window opening in early spring. This is as pivotal as an early season game can be, and you “it’s-a-long-season”-ers can’t convince me otherwise.
Tonight’s game really is that serious. No hyperbole. No exaggeration. It’s an identity shaping game, one that's literally defining. Either they’re the team that dropped 7 in a row to drop 3 under .500 and 6 back in the loss column, or they're the team that stayed alive and won something like a must-win to get back on track.
It’s unfortunate that such a situation came to pass, but there’s nothing to do about it now other than win the game, in their case, and watch hopefully, in ours.
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My final Game Note: "7 Ls in a row; 9 Ls out of 10; and 2 more DPs. A recollection floats to mind: “It's time to tell it like it is, sports fans -- and this is the most wretched road trip I've seen in 20 years, and possibly the worst Durham team in half a century.”"
Well, it's over then eh JCB?? Fatalism is rampant here and I feel your pain/desperation, but amazing turnarounds are possible, altho unlikely in this case...Todd W. in an interview says "he keeps track'' and not too many of Cub losses could be attributed to DLee's absence, but they might've got enough runs in SD to win at least one of those tight Xtra games with him (and minus Hairston).
Looks like Cubs will make history in SF facing Bonds....like Trachsel/McGwire and Downing/Aaron a Cub pitcher will be linked forever with 714 and possibly 715 as well.
Some lovcals including broadcasters Ronnie S. and Ditka today picking up on Pierre's inability to get on base and failure to draw walks...it seems inexcusable a slap hitter like him would not be more selective at plate. He's their catalyst, but never on base or not nearly enough...Len K. on another interview says he thinks DB/Clines/Sarge are preaching patience but boy, it sure ain't takin....hard to fathom/watch. Murton is only OF who shows any discipline/selectivity at all, a sad state of affairs.
Go Theriot!!
Well, it ain't over til it's over, but I just can't see the Cubs in any competitive position in the standings until the end of June at the earliest, now -- and that would take a remarkable turnaround. They'd have to go 14-6 now to get back to plus 4, which would still be somewhat behind a competitive pace. Last night the numbers jumped from unlikely to severe long shot, and tonight compounded it. Fatalism is one thing, and numbers are another; right now, fate and math are both against the Cubs.
12-8 to get back to .500 by the end of May, and that seems possible at least...
It's over. With apologies to John Belushi. Sure feels like it anyway. The will not recover from this skid (5% of season lost with 8 game streak). What a horrible summer ahead while White Sox roll onward looking like a well-constructed powerhouse. Hendry must be under fire to make a huge, risky trade, but I don't know what we'd give up (J. Jones I wish).
Am beginning to think those who say the Cubs will never win it are onto something--they seem far, far away from a winning team right now, and I (naievely?) thought they'd have good teams every year after '03. Everything that could go wrong since, pretty much has but '06 could well be the nadir for Trib/hendry/Baker.
One good thing: Tickets be much easier to come by for the Bud Light Bleachers!