Of Rags and Silk

And so the second half of another excruciatingly long season begins tomorrow, meanwhile the song arrives on my stereo, “All Tomorrow’s Parties,” by the Velvet Underground.

And what costume shall the poor girl wear

To all tomorrow's parties

A hand-me-down dress from who knows where

To all tomorrow's parties



And where will she go and what shall she do

When midnight comes around

She'll turn once more to Sunday's clown

And cry behind the door

I think that song gets the mood just about right: warped dread and melancholy with a twist of regret.



This season feels longer than just over 3 months, that’s for sure. Same way last year felt longer than a single season, and the same for the season before. It’s another season punctuated by over-attention and over-saturation, but under-performance. It’s another season filled with freak injuries and legitimate excuses, but also miserable stretches of games. In other words, it’s the same old story.



Fire Dusty? Keep Dusty? I don’t know. Gene Wojciechowski makes the case that one shouldn’t blame Baker in a heavily-cited column for ESPN. I tend to agree with Wojciechowski in general, while I’m yet frustrated with Baker’s lineup shifting, double-switching, and pitcher use, all of which go against both the percentages and my instincts. The thing is, whether or not we blame Baker and whether or not we think he should be fired are -- or can be -- totally divorced. Even if it’s not Baker’s fault, maybe Hendry ought to fire him anyway.



I’m not sure. Perhaps firing Baker would send a signal above all that complacency will not be tolerated. Complacency... wait-until-we’re-healthy... we’re-due-for-a-hot-streak... those have been the attitudes we not only hear in sound bites but also sense during the games, not just this year but the last 2 as well, and they’re not attitudes that mark a winning baseball team.



Since May, when the Cubs fall behind several runs they stop hitting. I wish someone kept a stat for team batting average with the team in the lead, nearly tied, or behind by 2 or more runs, because from keeping score most games it seems to me like once the team is behind by more than 2 runs, they hit about .150. Any trace of vibrancy vanishes. If Hendry fires Baker, a spark in games where the Cubs are behind is the one effect I hope for most.



Past that, I’m done thinking. I’m taking a watch and listen -- and hope -- approach. I hope that at least 2 of the 4 rookie pitchers -- 5 if Ryu gets another shot -- put up consistent and solid starts in the second half. I hope that Prior gets not only healthy but has a few of those special games. I hope Maddux wins 15. I hope everyone in the starting lineup catches fire for at least a few series in a row. For that matter, I hope that the sensible people start most games -- i.e. Cedeno and Murton, as long as they’re hitting, and Walker.



I’m not holding out much (any) hope for a 2006 comeback. The numbers are too long and the problem has too many sides. But I am hoping that there are several well-played, thrilling games and moments. I want to watch a 2-HR game by Lee. I want to see if Zambrano can chase another no-hitter. I want to watch Prior retire the first 12 batters in a game. Things like that -- they’ll be enough, if only because they have to be.



Plus there’s always the item bubbling under the surface, with the Trib Co selling off assets alphabetically, or so it seems, starting with TV stations in Atlanta and Albany. News is out today that Q2 profits were down, and its stock price dipped again. It seems to be a matter of when with respect to a complete face change over in the Gothic Tower overlooking the Chicago River from Michigan Ave. The company’s move to buy back 25% of the company’s publicly owned stock with monies raised from selling assets NOT including the Cubs in order to boost its stock price looks, at least initially, to be backfiring. Just when you already thought the problem was complicated...



So, unless Fitzsimmons or MacPhail or Hendry or Baker calls to ask for my advice, I’m not developing any. There’s too much going on to keep our heads around it all. What will be will be. There is a time for fatalism and this feels like it.



Underpinning all the conversations Cubs fans are having is the unasked question: Did it have to be this way in 2006? Some things point to yes; others point to no. The ways in which it did not have to be so miserable -- well, we can only hope that someone is learning from mistakes. Everyone. Including fans like me.

For Thursday's child is Sunday's clown

For whom none will go mourning

A blackened shroud, a hand-me-down gown

Of rags and silks, a costume

Fit for one who sits and cries

For all tomorrow's parties