MLB Playoffs

mboRa ndomHer0723 · 1st October 2008, 04:29

Now that the Chicago White Sox won tonight all of the playoff series are set.

American League
Chicago White Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Boston Red Sox vs. LA Angels

National League
Chicago Cubs vs. LA Dodgers
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies

I am definitely going for the Cubs to win it all and hoping that they do it against the Chicago White Sox. The atmosphere around Chicago would be phenomenal for this series and everyone would be out at the bars watching the games. That said I do not expect the White Sox to make it to the World Series as I think the Rays will make it from the American League.

Alex · 1st October 2008, 04:31

I'd love to see the Cubs win it; but I have to ride with my city, thus I have two picks as well. Amazing that 4 out the 8 teams are from teh same city cant remember that happening recently

mboRa ndomHer0723 · 1st October 2008, 04:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

I'd love to see the Cubs win it; but I have to ride with my city, thus I have two picks as well. Amazing that 4 out the 8 teams are from teh same city cant remember that happening recently

First time since 1906 that both the White Sox and Cubs are in the playoffs together. Seems like it should have happened more often.

Alex · 1st October 2008, 04:35

Didnt the Black Sox get a decent sized ban for like all of the 20s, the playoffs have expanded over the ages though I believe they used to just be a World Series v penant winners

mboRa ndomHer0723 · 1st October 2008, 04:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

Didnt the Black Sox get a decent sized ban for like all of the 20s, the playoffs have expanded over the ages though I believe they used to just be a World Series v penant winners

Not sure how long the ban was, but with the Wild Card I would have thought they would have at least made it once.

Nearco · 1st October 2008, 18:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

Didnt the Black Sox get a decent sized ban for like all of the 20s, the playoffs have expanded over the ages though I believe they used to just be a World Series v penant winners

Divisional play started in the late 60s. The White Sox got to the post-season in `83 when managed by LaRussa but before that nothing apart from a WS loss to the Dodgers in 1959.

ecantona7 · 1st October 2008, 18:49

Come on cubbies

Leg-End · 1st October 2008, 22:08

Id love to see the Cubs win it too, been a long time for them. As long as its anybody but the Red Sox im happy.

Alex · 2nd October 2008, 05:31

Dodgers take down the Cubs in game with the long ball

mboRa ndomHer0723 · 2nd October 2008, 14:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

Dodgers take down the Cubs in game with the long ball

It was very depressing to say the least. Now I will have to hear all the White Sox fans in my office talk shit to me until either(1) the sox lose today or(2)the Cubs win tonight. Hopefully Big Z will pitch a damn good game tonight or else things will not be looking too good for the Cubs

Nearco · 2nd October 2008, 21:29

Playing a team with Lowe and Ramirez on it was the last thing the Cubs needed. Chances are they`d murder the Phillies, but the Dodgers may have to much playoff savvy for them.

Alex · 3rd October 2008, 00:09

Big game for the Cubs tonite, they will be as good as done if they lose tonite

MrMarcello · 3rd October 2008, 03:37

Just have a feeling the Cubs will choke again. Hope I'm wrong.

I also believe the Twins got hosed. They won the season series against the ChiSox and should have hosted that playoff game, not some stupid coin flip. MLB basically told everyone that the regular season means shit. But hell we know that with the fucking All-Star winner getting that league homefield. What a fucking joke. As is starting a game in Chicago at fucking 930 eastern time.

Alex · 3rd October 2008, 03:40

I thought the Cubs were gonna win it all in 2003, then along came Bartman(which is total horseshit because Alou even said he wouldnt have caught it anyway) They have the curse of the Billygoat

MrMarcello · 3rd October 2008, 03:47

Bartman did what a dozen other fans in that area attempted to do but he was the one that managed to touch the ball. The real reason for the implosion was Ramirez booting a ground ball on the very next pitch.

Alex · 3rd October 2008, 04:04

Cubs botch a double play, 1-0 Dodgers no one out

Alex · 3rd October 2008, 04:10

hahaha 5-0 LA, bases clearing double

GodlovesUnited · 3rd October 2008, 04:11

I hate baseball almost as much as the thing I hate most: the Bears (sorry randomhero, but it's true). I usually don't give a shit who wins the world series, but I do hope the cubs win though. The poor bastards haven't won in like 80 years.

Cali Red · 3rd October 2008, 04:16

I couldn't really care less who wins as long as the Scrubs don't. The misery of their fans is a beautiful thing. Somewhat Citeh-esque.

GodlovesUnited · 3rd October 2008, 04:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cali Red

I couldn't really care less who wins as long as the Scrubs don't. The misery of their fans is a beautiful thing. Somewhat Citeh-esque.

I feel the pain of Cubs fans. My local football (NFL) team, the Saints, has never won or even been to a Super bowl. Two years ago we got to the Conference final for the first time in our forty-one years of existence. Like I said, I usually don't give a shit about baseball and want the game to be removed from the face of the earth; but if there has to be a world series, then I would want the cubs to win it. Also, Cali red? Dodgers fan by any chance?

Cali Red · 3rd October 2008, 04:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by GodlovesUnited

I feel the pain of Cubs fans. My local football (NFL) team, the Saints, has never won or even been to a Super bowl. Two years ago we got to the Conference final for the first time in our forty-one years of existence. Like I said, I usually don't give a shit about baseball and want the game to be removed from the face of the earth; but if there has to be a world series, then I would want the cubs to win it. Also, Cali red? Dodgers fan by any chance?

Miserable Giants......

GodlovesUnited · 3rd October 2008, 04:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cali Red

Miserable Giants......

OK. I'll never understand how you guys cheer and support Bary Bonds. I understand that he's a local hero and everything, but he cheated to gain that status. Doesn't that make his accomplishments for you feel a bit tainted?

Cali Red · 3rd October 2008, 04:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by GodlovesUnited

OK. I'll never understand how you guys cheer and support Bary Bonds. I understand that he's a local hero and everything, but he cheated to gain that status. Doesn't that make his accomplishments for you feel a bit tainted?

Obviously I can't speak for many but I'd say yes his accomplisments are tainted. If they weren't he'd be all over the tv and radio out here and maybe even nationaly. There's just nothing, not a peep. During his playing years here he was our guy, we loved him. He is/was an ass but but he was still our guy.

GodlovesUnited · 3rd October 2008, 04:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cali Red

Obviously I can't speak for many but I'd say yes his accomplisments are tainted. If they weren't he'd be all over the tv and radio out here and maybe even nationaly. There's just nothing, not a peep. During his playing years here he was our guy, we loved him. He is/was an ass but but he was still our guy.

Fair enough. I guess it's tough not to support a guy who did so much for you.

Alex · 3rd October 2008, 05:22

The sad thing is that before the steroids, Bonds was a first ballot HOF and had more MVPs than just about anybody, why he felt the need to taint his name for the longball is beyond, the fact that the numbers were so high a decade ago just shows how many people were juicing. That's why you have to respect a player like Griffey Jr. a man who just flat out has a pure fucking home run swing, had he not been hurt he would have gotten 800, reckon 800 will though

Nearco · 3rd October 2008, 11:14

This Cubs team remind me of the Braves in the 90s. Very much built to dominate in the regular season with five effective starters but not so in the playoffs where timely hitting and a couple of dominant starters are the key.

mboRa ndomHer0723 · 3rd October 2008, 16:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMarcello

I also believe the Twins got hosed. They won the season series against the ChiSox and should have hosted that playoff game, not some stupid coin flip. MLB basically told everyone that the regular season means shit. But hell we know that with the fucking All-Star winner getting that league homefield. What a fucking joke. As is starting a game in Chicago at fucking 930 eastern time.

Yeah I agree with you on this. Really does not make sense. A lot of my friends are Sox fans and they thought it was pretty shitty as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

I thought the Cubs were gonna win it all in 2003, then along came Bartman(which is total horseshit because Alou even said he wouldnt have caught it anyway) They have the curse of the Billygoat

Alou retracted those statements, but there was no way he was getting that ball.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GodlovesUnited

I hate baseball almost as much as the thing I hate most: the Bears (sorry randomhero, but it's true). I usually don't give a shit who wins the world series, but I do hope the cubs win though. The poor bastards haven't won in like 80 years.

Again with the Bears hating. Still upset that we beat you in the playoffs a few seasons ago? Also, the Cubs have not won the world series in 100 years. Very sad indeed.

mboRa ndomHer0723 · 3rd October 2008, 16:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nearco

This Cubs team remind me of the Braves in the 90s. Very much built to dominate in the regular season with five effective starters but not so in the playoffs where timely hitting and a couple of dominant starters are the key.

I have been hearing this on the radio all week in Chicago and I am not buying it. The Cubs have 3 really good starters in Dempster, Zambrano, and Harden that should be able to get them through the playoffs. Some might even include Lilly in there as well. The Cubs offense and pitching has been non existent so far and they really need one of their big guns(Lee, Ramirez, Soto, Soriano) to actually get some hits and drive in some runs. I always feel the hottest teams do the best in the playoffs and the Cubs just have not been that good over the last few games.

Alex · 3rd October 2008, 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandomHer0723

Yeah I agree with you on this. Really does not make sense. A lot of my friends are Sox fans and they thought it was pretty shitty as well.

Alou retracted those statements, but there was no way he was getting that ball.

Again with the Bears hating. Still upset that we beat you in the playoffs a few seasons ago? Also, the Cubs have not won the world series in 100 years. Very sad indeed.

I remember that game very good one, watched at the top Keystone Mt. while skiing

GodlovesUnited · 3rd October 2008, 23:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandomHer0723

Again with the Bears hating. Still upset that we beat you in the playoffs a few seasons ago?

....Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. We were destined to win that season. We would have stomped the Colts in the super bowl. Also, it's embarassing that our season was ended by a team led by as quaterback as shitty as grossman. You have matt forte, and I approve of him because he went to Tulane, but the rest of the bears can fuck off. It doesn't help that one of my teachers that year is from chicago and loves the bears; and he, of course, rubbed in everyone's faces that monday when we went back to school.

Alex · 5th October 2008, 05:04

Let's go Dodgers

Alex · 5th October 2008, 07:12

City of Angels through

MrMarcello · 6th October 2008, 00:39

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/colum...t&lid=tab1pos1

Cubs' latest failure is worse than ever

By Gene Wojciechowski
ESPN.com
Updated: October 5, 2008, 5:08 PM ET

It wasn't a collapse. "Collapse" is too nice a word. A collapse would mean the Chicago Cubs actually showed up for the National League Division Series.

It wasn't a choke. A choke is what happened in 2003, when the Cubs were exactly five outs away from their first World Series in seven decades. A choke is when you blame someone sitting in Section 4, Row 8, Seat 113 of Wrigley Field.

No, in some ways this latest Cubs playoff zombie film is worse than 2003's, and it's definitely worse than last year's October three-and-out. The 2003 choke produced anger and tears. The 2007 postseason losses produced disappointment, but with them came a weird, wait-'til-next-year optimism.

Next year just came and went. The Cubs have become playoff-irrelevant, which is the cruelest thing you can say about a team. They simply don't matter once the leaves change.

Nine postseason losses in a row. Nine. The Cubs haven't won a playoff game since Oct. 11, 2003.

The Los Angeles Dodgers just eliminated them in three games. Check that. Only one of those Dodgers-Cubs games -- Saturday night's 3-1 loss -- was actually competitive. The first two were embarrassments for the Cubs.

[We pause here to give the Dodgers their every prop. They bear-hugged the playoff moments.

A little more than a month ago they were five games below .500 and losers of eight in a row. Now they're drying out their swim goggles and unis from the champagne and beer clubhouse showers. Their right-handed starting pitching Saran Wrapped the Cubs' predominantly right-handed lineup.

So now the Dodgers advance to the NLCS. Nothing against the remaining playoff teams, but can you imagine what will happen if Manny Ramirez's Dodgers, led by a former New York Yankees manager, somehow face the Boston Red Sox, the team Manny couldn't wait to leave, in the World Series? Just think: At least two games, possibly four, of Manny back in Fenway?

We now return to our previously scheduled skin peel of the Cubs.]

The Cubs deserve every rip job they get. Winning 97 games during the regular season means zilch if you lose every time you reach the postseason. It means less than zilch (negative integer zilch?) if you waste the precious home-field advantage in a best-of-five NLDS. At least in last season's playoff sweep to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Cubs started the series on the road.

The Dodgers had a lot to do with what happened earlier in the week at Wrigley and Saturday evening at Dodger Stadium. To mention Billy Goat curses, black cats and priests sprinkling holy water in the Cubs' dugout is to insult what Joe Torre's team did in the NLDS.

But there is a 100-year weight (and wait) around this franchise's neck. It isn't what made Alfonso Soriano finish the Dodgers series 1-for-14. (Fittingly, his check-swing, Game 3-ending strikeout came on a toe-high pitch.) It isn't what made Aramis Ramirez finish 2-for-11 or Geovany Soto 2-for-10.

But the failed history of the Cubs, combined with the expectations for this postseason, overwhelmed them. If they couldn't deal with the past, how were they going to deal with the present?

Torre said afterward that the Cubs felt the pressure of opening the series at Wrigley. If so, these Cubs are exactly where they belong: out of the playoffs.

Cubs manager Lou Piniella can pretend the 100-year World Series drought isn't a factor, but the numbers say otherwise. The Cubs reach October and suddenly need barf bags. Seven walks issued by Ryan Dempster in the Game 1 loss to the Dodgers. Four Cubs errors in the Game 2 loss. Rich Harden lasts only 4 1/3 innings and the Cubs leave nine runners on base in the Game 3 defeat.

The Cubs were outscored 20-6. They might as well have been waving rhythmic gymnastics ribbons at the plate. By the way, Soriano and the holes in his swing are signed through 2014. Enjoy.

Some of Piniella's decisions deserve scrutiny, too. He started the struggling Kosuke Fukudome in right field for the first two games and got an 0-for-8 out of him. He slotted Ted Lilly, who had won his last four starts in September, in the No. 4 spot of the playoff rotation. Lilly never threw a pitch. Piniella also tinkered with the lineup.

None of it worked. And almost none of the Cubs produced, not even against Game 3 Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda, who was making his first playoff appearance after 11 years in the Japanese leagues and one year in the majors.

Strange. The Cubs are done, but former Cubs Greg Maddux and Nomar Garciaparra play on for the Dodgers. I wonder whether they sneaked a peek into the Cubs' dugout during the celebration.

Before this series began, there was a rally in downtown Chicago for the Cubs. A documentary film crew was assigned to follow the Cubs during the postseason. Back in 2004, another year the Cubs were favored to reach the World Series, an MLB film crew shadowed the team. The Cubs had a meltdown and missed the playoffs.

Nobody at that rally, including White Sox honk Mayor Richard Daley, thought the Cubs' last game at Wrigley would be played Oct. 2, nor that the season would be done by Oct. 4. But it is. Wrigleyville is a quiet, subdued place today.

"It's Gonna Happen." That was the unofficial slogan of the Cubs this year. And it did. Another failed October. Another sweep. Another long, cold winter of what-ifs.

Gene Wojciechowski is the senior national columnist for ESPN.com. You can contact him at gene.wojciechowski@espn3.com.

Alex · 6th October 2008, 00:40

The Cubs are pathetic

MrMarcello · 6th October 2008, 00:40

More from Gene...

Liner Notes

I've got them somewhere in my desk: Cubs World Series tickets for 2008 (bleacher seats, $125 per), for 2007, for 2004, and, sigh, for 2003. They're useless, of course -- just perforated strips of what could have been.

I woke up Sunday morning and looked at the NLDS stats. The Dodgers' James Loney had as many RBIs as the entire Cubs team during the series. No Cubs starting pitcher lasted longer than 6 1/3 innings (Ryan Dempster 4 2/3, Rich Harden 4 1/3, Carlos Zambrano 6 1/3). Five of the eight Cubs position players hit .200 or worse. No one was more brutal to watch, with the exception of those mind-numbing "Frank TV" promos, than Alfonso Soriano (.071), but Lou Piniella never talked about benching him. Instead, Kosuke Fukudome (.100), who at least can play defense, was the one who sat at the beginning of Game 3.

Anyway, the numbers are only part of the story. The real question is this: Why did the winningest team in the National League (97 victories) assume the fetal position as soon as the playoffs started? The Cubs did it last year too.

The Cubs are living proof that playoff baseball requires a special kind of player, a special kind of nervous system. I don't blame Mark DeRosa for stating the obvious -- that Game 2 of the Dodgers series was do or die. It was do or die. What I don't understand is how almost an entire team could belly flop again.

I think it was Cal Ripken Jr. who said it on the TBS postgame show: The winningest team isn't always the best team. He's right. The Cubs won lots of regular-season games, but they switched to fragile mode once October arrived. They lacked the mental toughness of the Dodgers, or even of the less-talented White Sox, who grinded their way into the postseason. The Cubs' body language screamed, "We're doomed."

You only get so many chances at greatness. This was the Cubs' chance, maybe their best chance. And like Soriano, they whiffed.

The year began with Dempster saying the Cubs were going to win it all. It ended with the Cubs not even able to win an NLDS game.

-- Gene Wojciechowski

mboRa ndomHer0723 · 6th October 2008, 22:34

I was in Wrigleyville for the game on Saturday. A lot of energy throughout the whole game in the bar I was at. It seemed like no one really cared that they lost in the end. Everyone just kept drinking.

Alex · 11th October 2008, 07:18

Dodgers down 2-0, got tixs to game 3 might scalp them though as I have stuff to do Monday morning and Dodger stadium is quite a ways from my house

Alex · 13th October 2008, 03:21

Manny is going crazy

Alex · 13th October 2008, 03:42

Tiger is at the game

Nearco · 14th October 2008, 02:24

Horrible couple of games. I was up until 6.30am watching that game on sat night/sun morning.

This evening`s game was a shambles, Lester was awful and the Sox really need to get Ortiz going. `Bout time Magadan earned his keep, he needs to get Papi to stop focusing on his wrist.

GO SOX!

1st October 2008, 04:29	#1 (permalink)
mboRa ndomHer0723 First Team Sub Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 6,906	MLB Playoffs <a href="http://d.mediadakine.com/ck.php?n=ad232b97&cb=22113" target="_blank"><img src="http://d.mediadakine.com/avw.php?zoneid=81&cb=22113&n=ad232b97" border="0" alt="" /></a> Now that the Chicago White Sox won tonight all of the playoff series are set. American League Chicago White Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays Boston Red Sox vs. LA Angels National League Chicago Cubs vs. LA Dodgers Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies I am definitely going for the Cubs to win it all and hoping that they do it against the Chicago White Sox. The atmosphere around Chicago would be phenomenal for this series and everyone would be out at the bars watching the games. That said I do not expect the White Sox to make it to the World Series as I think the Rays will make it from the American League.

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1st October 2008, 04:31	#2 (permalink)
Alex Spam Alert! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dances With Smurfs Posts: 34,159	I'd love to see the Cubs win it; but I have to ride with my city, thus I have two picks as well. Amazing that 4 out the 8 teams are from teh same city cant remember that happening recently

1st October 2008, 04:35	#4 (permalink)
Alex Spam Alert! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dances With Smurfs Posts: 34,159	Didnt the Black Sox get a decent sized ban for like all of the 20s, the playoffs have expanded over the ages though I believe they used to just be a World Series v penant winners

1st October 2008, 18:49	#7 (permalink)
ecantona7 unlucky bet winner Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Whatever happens, there are always things you could have done better. You score two goals and you usually feel you could have done better.You score two goals and you usually feel you could have scored a third. That's what makes you progress in life. Posts: 9,492	Come on cubbies

1st October 2008, 22:08	#8 (permalink)
Leg-End Reserve Team Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 3,528	Id love to see the Cubs win it too, been a long time for them. As long as its anybody but the Red Sox im happy.

2nd October 2008, 05:31	#9 (permalink)
Alex Spam Alert! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dances With Smurfs Posts: 34,159	Dodgers take down the Cubs in game with the long ball

2nd October 2008, 21:29	#11 (permalink)
Nearco youth team player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Preston Posts: 2,183	Playing a team with Lowe and Ramirez on it was the last thing the Cubs needed. Chances are they`d murder the Phillies, but the Dodgers may have to much playoff savvy for them.

3rd October 2008, 00:09	#12 (permalink)
Alex Spam Alert! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dances With Smurfs Posts: 34,159	Big game for the Cubs tonite, they will be as good as done if they lose tonite

3rd October 2008, 03:37	#13 (permalink)
MrMarcello First Team Regular Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Saha's hospital room Posts: 24,568	Just have a feeling the Cubs will choke again. Hope I'm wrong. I also believe the Twins got hosed. They won the season series against the ChiSox and should have hosted that playoff game, not some stupid coin flip. MLB basically told everyone that the regular season means shit. But hell we know that with the fucking All-Star winner getting that league homefield. What a fucking joke. As is starting a game in Chicago at fucking 930 eastern time.

3rd October 2008, 03:40	#14 (permalink)
Alex Spam Alert! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dances With Smurfs Posts: 34,159	I thought the Cubs were gonna win it all in 2003, then along came Bartman(which is total horseshit because Alou even said he wouldnt have caught it anyway) They have the curse of the Billygoat

3rd October 2008, 03:47	#15 (permalink)
MrMarcello First Team Regular Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Saha's hospital room Posts: 24,568	Bartman did what a dozen other fans in that area attempted to do but he was the one that managed to touch the ball. The real reason for the implosion was Ramirez booting a ground ball on the very next pitch.

3rd October 2008, 04:04	#16 (permalink)
Alex Spam Alert! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dances With Smurfs Posts: 34,159	Cubs botch a double play, 1-0 Dodgers no one out

3rd October 2008, 04:10	#17 (permalink)
Alex Spam Alert! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dances With Smurfs Posts: 34,159	hahaha 5-0 LA, bases clearing double

3rd October 2008, 04:11	#18 (permalink)
GodlovesUnited Reserve Team Player Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New York, New York Posts: 2,355	I hate baseball almost as much as the thing I hate most: the Bears (sorry randomhero, but it's true). I usually don't give a shit who wins the world series, but I do hope the cubs win though. The poor bastards haven't won in like 80 years.

3rd October 2008, 04:16	#19 (permalink)
Cali Red Reserve Team Player Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,893	I couldn't really care less who wins as long as the Scrubs don't. The misery of their fans is a beautiful thing. Somewhat Citeh-esque.

3rd October 2008, 05:22	#25 (permalink)
Alex Spam Alert! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dances With Smurfs Posts: 34,159	The sad thing is that before the steroids, Bonds was a first ballot HOF and had more MVPs than just about anybody, why he felt the need to taint his name for the longball is beyond, the fact that the numbers were so high a decade ago just shows how many people were juicing. That's why you have to respect a player like Griffey Jr. a man who just flat out has a pure fucking home run swing, had he not been hurt he would have gotten 800, reckon 800 will though

3rd October 2008, 11:14	#26 (permalink)
Nearco youth team player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Preston Posts: 2,183	This Cubs team remind me of the Braves in the 90s. Very much built to dominate in the regular season with five effective starters but not so in the playoffs where timely hitting and a couple of dominant starters are the key.

5th October 2008, 05:04	#31 (permalink)
Alex Spam Alert! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dances With Smurfs Posts: 34,159	Let's go Dodgers

5th October 2008, 07:12	#32 (permalink)
Alex Spam Alert! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dances With Smurfs Posts: 34,159	City of Angels through

6th October 2008, 00:39	#33 (permalink)
MrMarcello First Team Regular Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Saha's hospital room Posts: 24,568	http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/colum...t&lid=tab1pos1 Cubs' latest failure is worse than ever By Gene Wojciechowski ESPN.com Updated: October 5, 2008, 5:08 PM ET It wasn't a collapse. "Collapse" is too nice a word. A collapse would mean the Chicago Cubs actually showed up for the National League Division Series. It wasn't a choke. A choke is what happened in 2003, when the Cubs were exactly five outs away from their first World Series in seven decades. A choke is when you blame someone sitting in Section 4, Row 8, Seat 113 of Wrigley Field. No, in some ways this latest Cubs playoff zombie film is worse than 2003's, and it's definitely worse than last year's October three-and-out. The 2003 choke produced anger and tears. The 2007 postseason losses produced disappointment, but with them came a weird, wait-'til-next-year optimism. Next year just came and went. The Cubs have become playoff-irrelevant, which is the cruelest thing you can say about a team. They simply don't matter once the leaves change. Nine postseason losses in a row. Nine. The Cubs haven't won a playoff game since Oct. 11, 2003. The Los Angeles Dodgers just eliminated them in three games. Check that. Only one of those Dodgers-Cubs games -- Saturday night's 3-1 loss -- was actually competitive. The first two were embarrassments for the Cubs. [We pause here to give the Dodgers their every prop. They bear-hugged the playoff moments. A little more than a month ago they were five games below .500 and losers of eight in a row. Now they're drying out their swim goggles and unis from the champagne and beer clubhouse showers. Their right-handed starting pitching Saran Wrapped the Cubs' predominantly right-handed lineup. So now the Dodgers advance to the NLCS. Nothing against the remaining playoff teams, but can you imagine what will happen if Manny Ramirez's Dodgers, led by a former New York Yankees manager, somehow face the Boston Red Sox, the team Manny couldn't wait to leave, in the World Series? Just think: At least two games, possibly four, of Manny back in Fenway? We now return to our previously scheduled skin peel of the Cubs.] The Cubs deserve every rip job they get. Winning 97 games during the regular season means zilch if you lose every time you reach the postseason. It means less than zilch (negative integer zilch?) if you waste the precious home-field advantage in a best-of-five NLDS. At least in last season's playoff sweep to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Cubs started the series on the road. The Dodgers had a lot to do with what happened earlier in the week at Wrigley and Saturday evening at Dodger Stadium. To mention Billy Goat curses, black cats and priests sprinkling holy water in the Cubs' dugout is to insult what Joe Torre's team did in the NLDS. But there is a 100-year weight (and wait) around this franchise's neck. It isn't what made Alfonso Soriano finish the Dodgers series 1-for-14. (Fittingly, his check-swing, Game 3-ending strikeout came on a toe-high pitch.) It isn't what made Aramis Ramirez finish 2-for-11 or Geovany Soto 2-for-10. But the failed history of the Cubs, combined with the expectations for this postseason, overwhelmed them. If they couldn't deal with the past, how were they going to deal with the present? Torre said afterward that the Cubs felt the pressure of opening the series at Wrigley. If so, these Cubs are exactly where they belong: out of the playoffs. Cubs manager Lou Piniella can pretend the 100-year World Series drought isn't a factor, but the numbers say otherwise. The Cubs reach October and suddenly need barf bags. Seven walks issued by Ryan Dempster in the Game 1 loss to the Dodgers. Four Cubs errors in the Game 2 loss. Rich Harden lasts only 4 1/3 innings and the Cubs leave nine runners on base in the Game 3 defeat. The Cubs were outscored 20-6. They might as well have been waving rhythmic gymnastics ribbons at the plate. By the way, Soriano and the holes in his swing are signed through 2014. Enjoy. Some of Piniella's decisions deserve scrutiny, too. He started the struggling Kosuke Fukudome in right field for the first two games and got an 0-for-8 out of him. He slotted Ted Lilly, who had won his last four starts in September, in the No. 4 spot of the playoff rotation. Lilly never threw a pitch. Piniella also tinkered with the lineup. None of it worked. And almost none of the Cubs produced, not even against Game 3 Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda, who was making his first playoff appearance after 11 years in the Japanese leagues and one year in the majors. Strange. The Cubs are done, but former Cubs Greg Maddux and Nomar Garciaparra play on for the Dodgers. I wonder whether they sneaked a peek into the Cubs' dugout during the celebration. Before this series began, there was a rally in downtown Chicago for the Cubs. A documentary film crew was assigned to follow the Cubs during the postseason. Back in 2004, another year the Cubs were favored to reach the World Series, an MLB film crew shadowed the team. The Cubs had a meltdown and missed the playoffs. Nobody at that rally, including White Sox honk Mayor Richard Daley, thought the Cubs' last game at Wrigley would be played Oct. 2, nor that the season would be done by Oct. 4. But it is. Wrigleyville is a quiet, subdued place today. "It's Gonna Happen." That was the unofficial slogan of the Cubs this year. And it did. Another failed October. Another sweep. Another long, cold winter of what-ifs. Gene Wojciechowski is the senior national columnist for ESPN.com. You can contact him at gene.wojciechowski@espn3.com.

6th October 2008, 00:40	#34 (permalink)
Alex Spam Alert! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dances With Smurfs Posts: 34,159	The Cubs are pathetic

6th October 2008, 00:40	#35 (permalink)
MrMarcello First Team Regular Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Saha's hospital room Posts: 24,568	More from Gene... Liner Notes I've got them somewhere in my desk: Cubs World Series tickets for 2008 (bleacher seats, $125 per), for 2007, for 2004, and, sigh, for 2003. They're useless, of course -- just perforated strips of what could have been. I woke up Sunday morning and looked at the NLDS stats. The Dodgers' James Loney had as many RBIs as the entire Cubs team during the series. No Cubs starting pitcher lasted longer than 6 1/3 innings (Ryan Dempster 4 2/3, Rich Harden 4 1/3, Carlos Zambrano 6 1/3). Five of the eight Cubs position players hit .200 or worse. No one was more brutal to watch, with the exception of those mind-numbing "Frank TV" promos, than Alfonso Soriano (.071), but Lou Piniella never talked about benching him. Instead, Kosuke Fukudome (.100), who at least can play defense, was the one who sat at the beginning of Game 3. Anyway, the numbers are only part of the story. The real question is this: Why did the winningest team in the National League (97 victories) assume the fetal position as soon as the playoffs started? The Cubs did it last year too. The Cubs are living proof that playoff baseball requires a special kind of player, a special kind of nervous system. I don't blame Mark DeRosa for stating the obvious -- that Game 2 of the Dodgers series was do or die. It was do or die. What I don't understand is how almost an entire team could belly flop again. I think it was Cal Ripken Jr. who said it on the TBS postgame show: The winningest team isn't always the best team. He's right. The Cubs won lots of regular-season games, but they switched to fragile mode once October arrived. They lacked the mental toughness of the Dodgers, or even of the less-talented White Sox, who grinded their way into the postseason. The Cubs' body language screamed, "We're doomed." You only get so many chances at greatness. This was the Cubs' chance, maybe their best chance. And like Soriano, they whiffed. The year began with Dempster saying the Cubs were going to win it all. It ended with the Cubs not even able to win an NLDS game. -- Gene Wojciechowski

6th October 2008, 22:34	#36 (permalink)
mboRa ndomHer0723 First Team Sub Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 6,906	I was in Wrigleyville for the game on Saturday. A lot of energy throughout the whole game in the bar I was at. It seemed like no one really cared that they lost in the end. Everyone just kept drinking.

11th October 2008, 07:18	#37 (permalink)
Alex Spam Alert! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dances With Smurfs Posts: 34,159	Dodgers down 2-0, got tixs to game 3 might scalp them though as I have stuff to do Monday morning and Dodger stadium is quite a ways from my house

13th October 2008, 03:21	#38 (permalink)
Alex Spam Alert! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dances With Smurfs Posts: 34,159	Manny is going crazy

13th October 2008, 03:42	#39 (permalink)
Alex Spam Alert! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dances With Smurfs Posts: 34,159	Tiger is at the game

14th October 2008, 02:24	#40 (permalink)
Nearco youth team player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Preston Posts: 2,183	Horrible couple of games. I was up until 6.30am watching that game on sat night/sun morning. This evening`s game was a shambles, Lester was awful and the Sox really need to get Ortiz going. `Bout time Magadan earned his keep, he needs to get Papi to stop focusing on his wrist. GO SOX!