Just Like That

I suppose the proper thing to do is to tip your cap to the Diamondbacks because they certainly played well. It wasn't just that the Cubs played feeble baseball--although they did. The Diamondbacks still had to capitalize--and capitalize they did.

It hit me on Friday: the thing that was really bothering me about Lou pulling Zambrano to save him for Game 4 was that in a way this was a form of admitting that the Cubs expected the series to go 4 games before the series even started, instead of taking on the air of confidence that they would sweep the Diamondbacks. Going into the series, shouldn't you send the message that you expect to win every game? Instead of conceding or posturing anything less?

But I don't have it in me to dwell on that any more tonight. Especially since there were plenty of other reasons the series was lost. Not least of which is that there really wasn't a single Cubs player you could point to as having had a good series. So, if everyone plays mediocre or worse, well then it's no surprise that the Cubs winter has arrived and the Diamondbacks are a step closer to the Series. I suppose I'll wish the Diamondbacks the best, since yesterday happened, and it wasn't their fault they spoiled the story's ending by playing good baseball.

Dejection. Despondency. Depression.

I wrote a text message a while after the game: "Wait til next year." The response: "100 next years." That about says it.

It was a year in which the team surprised us in some respects, finding a way to win the division, but in a matter of 4 days and 3 games the joy of this season soured--just like that--and it's the sour taste that lingers.

What do you do to forget about it? How do you focus on the positive? How long does it take for Cub Fan Optimism to return?

I guess we'll just have to try to figure out the answer, but right about now it escapes me.