Fuzzy Dunlop 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2004 Please tell me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2004 They don't. Their record is slightly better than last season's, and their pythagorean record is significantly better. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Staravenger Report post Posted October 1, 2004 A better title is "Why do the Cubs always choke", and even then, I wouldn't know. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fuzzy Dunlop 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2004 No, I'm pretty sure they suck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UseTheSledgehammerUh 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2004 The Cubs are not going to make the playoffs because they are doing the little things wrong and losing to poor teams as a result. Also, they're now playing a good Braves team and will soon be mathematically eliminated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2004 I'm sorry, but 88 games is not exactly sucking. Did they come up short and fail to win crucial games at the end of the season? Certainly. But they are a better than average team. They overachieved last year, and analysts over-estimated their chances. Same thing happened in 1984, '89 and '98. They don't need to blow up the team, honestly. Just make a few prudent moves here or there, and they are in good shape. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fuzzy Dunlop 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2004 If we're judging the Cubs solely on their performance over the last ten days or so, it'd be a fair assessment that they suck. They haven't sucked all year, they just picked the absolute worst time to do so. At times, this team has been great. But the Cubs at this moment suck, and I want to know why. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2004 If we're judging the Cubs solely on their performance over the last ten days or so, it'd be a fair assessment that they suck. They haven't sucked all year, they just picked the absolute worst time to do so. At times, this team has been great. But the Cubs at this moment suck, and I want to know why. There is no reason. Some teams get cold at the wrong time. It happens to the best of teams. Look at the Yankees in 2000. You really can't explain it. It's not a lack of effort, as I'm sure the Cubs don't enjoy looking bad. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bruiser Chong 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2004 I don't think they suck. I just think most things that could go against them this season, did. They made the mistake of trying to rely on the homer all season, which bit them in the ass. This is just a team that never really got it together. Their longest winning streak was six; not exactly the sort of streak you'd expect a real contender to have. Even missing key pieces of their team throughout the year, they managed to hang in there. I just think playing everyday for the last month finally caught up to them. They're an old team and you can really tell from the way they've swung the bats as of late. In the end there aren't really any reasonable excuses. It's just gonna be wait till next year...again. While we're talking about them, I was telling Al earlier that last year's team wasn't exactly better, they were just lucky. The series with the Cards at the end (the five-game one) really put the Cards out and then Houston booting the final series of the season is the main reason the Cubs even won the division. They definitely made improvements this season. More changes need to be made in the offseason, but I'll be looking forward to next season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
geniusMoment 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2004 If Prior and Wood had not missed so much time the Cubs would have won the wild card. Also, losing Grudz and Sosa's injury hurt them, as Sosa was not the same once he hurt his back. The closer situation hurt them all year, and Nomar was basically a worthless pickup, and could turn out to be an absolutly horrible trade if Beltran works out, as I do not see the Cubs spending 12 million a year on Nomar. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fuzzy Dunlop 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2004 Yeah, but last year coming in I expected third place AT BEST. That's why 2003 will be remembered as one of the great years in Cub history. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2004 If you figure you're dumping 10 million dollars by letting Alou go that leaves plenty of room to pay for Nomar. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted October 1, 2004 their pythagorean record is significantly better. Well, that makes it all better. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Salacious Crumb Report post Posted October 1, 2004 The long ball is what killed them down the stretch. Swinging at the fences constantly killed this team over the long run. Homeruns are pretty and all but it's too inconsistent to build an offense on. And it only got worse the last week as everyone was trying to smash one out of the park instead of just trying to progress runners. Lack of leadership is another big problem. Dusty Baker needed to kick some ass in the clubhouse but he's just been the players' bitch all season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2004 The closer situation hurt them all year, and Nomar was basically a worthless pickup, and could turn out to be an absolutly horrible trade if Beltran works out, as I do not see the Cubs spending 12 million a year on Nomar. They didn't give up much of value to get him though. Yeah, but last year coming in I expected third place AT BEST. That's why 2003 will be remembered as one of the great years in Cub history. Plexiglass Principle. A team that improves drastically one season will usually regress the next. See Angels 2003 and Marlins 2004. Well, that makes it all better. Shut up. It doesn't make a difference in the results, but it damn sure means a lot when you are making personnel decisions. Stop flooding every thread with the same god-damned opinions we've discussed ad nauseum too many times. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
geniusMoment 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2004 The Cubs should not sign Nomar, go after Carlos Beltran. Nomar has shown me nothing all year, I have no faith that he will ever be the same again. He is like Griffey, anything hurts him, and he plays shortstop. Besides catcher, that is the hardest position to play in terms of wear and tear. Even when healthy he is not the same hitter. Ever since his wrist injury he has not been able to consistantly drive through the ball like he once did. To me signing Nomar would be an even dumber move than trading for him turned out to be. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damaramu 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2004 It's funny b/c if you came to the Cubs last year and was like "Hey guess what your record is going to be?" and then told them they'd be like "Hey! We won the division!" Nobody could predict the Cardinals would have a freak year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted October 1, 2004 Nobody could predict the Cardinals would have a freak year. I honestly don't think a club has EVER had a top three as good as Rolen, Edmonds, and Pujols. Its incredible. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted October 2, 2004 Two words, and they rhyme with Bassist Crusty... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smell the ratings!!! Report post Posted October 2, 2004 the cubs don't so much suck as they aren't as good as advertised. Clement is gone, Alou could come back for less (no seriously), and Nomar is up in the air. The more important question is will Prior's return to form cancel out Ramirez's return to earth. hey at least you won more games then the Sox! Eh? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted October 2, 2004 Shut up. It doesn't make a difference in the results, but it damn sure means a lot when you are making personnel decisions. Trust me. I've been in this state before. The last thing he wants to hear is "well, according to some meaningless stat, they're better than last year!" Just tell him they suck and there will be a house cleaning. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Winter Of My Discontent Report post Posted October 2, 2004 Honestly, you Cub fans are quickly making me hate this team. They didn't suck this year, its just with injuries (most notobly to their pitching staff) and their last season slump, they got surpassed by other impressive teams. That said, there isn't much of an excuse for their 1-5 streak lately. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gert T 0 Report post Posted October 2, 2004 July 20th: Cubs blow an 8 run lead at home, in their last game against the Cards, and lose 11-8. That and the Mets game from last Saturday, were two huge losses that hurt their psyches. This year's Cubs team just never seemed to click on all cylinders at the same time. I agree they have had a good year, they just did not meet the pre-season expectations. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fuzzy Dunlop 0 Report post Posted October 2, 2004 July 20th: Cubs blow an 8 run lead at home, in their last game against the Cards, and lose 11-8. It was never an 8-run lead. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted October 2, 2004 When did Cubs fans become the equal of Red Sox fans? Stop it! I'm a Cubs fan and I don't think they sucked, they struggled and the hitting just got cold at the wrong moment. They didn't improve the bullpen much because of the injury to Borw which left Hawkins in a role he really is not suited for. He's a nice little piece but Hawkins makes the bullpen better as a 7/8th inning guy instead of ninth inning guy. Nomar should come back since he's still a solid shortstop (trade deadline deals NEVER work...ever until the next season), they don't need Beltran cause Patterson is on pace to win a Gold Glove in center, they need to repair the bullpen and get a new hitting coach. That's it. They were not healthy this season, they lost a big bat off the bench to injury. the bullpen just couldn't come through and the bats got very cold at the wrong time. It happens. Get some solid bullpen relief (B.J Ryan perhaps?), figure out whether or not they want to pursue a closer and go from there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cabbageboy 0 Report post Posted October 2, 2004 You can just do what I do: Blame Farnsworth. They better not bring this guy back next year. Know who chiefly blew it in that 11-8 loss to the Cardinals? Or who blew a big lead in another game with the Cardinals that could have forged a tie for 1st (which the Cubs never recovered from)? My boy The Farns. Hell he was even the guy who gave up the winning run to the Reds yesterday, though it being the 12th I suppose he was the last option, heh. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted October 2, 2004 You gotta admit Hawkins has been giving the Farns a run for his money in terms of Most Embarrassing Bullpen Pitcher. I say Farnsworth is finally gone after this year, as is Alou. And I want John Smoltz to close. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MikeSC Report post Posted October 2, 2004 The problem is Baker. He's killing the pitching staff. Unfortunately, he won't be canned until it's far too late. -=Mike ...I'm shocked nobody mentioned the SI curse... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Man in Blak 0 Report post Posted October 2, 2004 Look closer. I think you shit-can Baker for ruining the arms of the players and allowing his team to attempt to shift the blame for their losses onto just about anybody but themselves. I think you tip your cap to Moises Alou and then you shove him out of the door as quickly as possible. His subtle hints at retirement should not be taken seriously - I'm sure he knows that some dumb team will pay a pretty penny for his 30+ HRs, even though the year screams "peak year." Oh, and make sure that his little sidecar, Kent Mercker, carries his bags for him when they both get shoved out the door. Mercker's taunted referees, called the broadcaster's booth in the middle of games, while being a mediocre left handed reliever. There will be better out there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damaramu 0 Report post Posted October 2, 2004 The problem is Baker. He's killing the pitching staff. Unfortunately, he won't be canned until it's far too late. -=Mike ...I'm shocked nobody mentioned the SI curse... My old boss is a HUGE Cubs fan. But as soon as he saw that SI cover that said "The Cubs WILL win the World Series" he freaked out and cursed SI forever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
