MLB Divisional Playoffs, NL Edition

[Brett Favre 0]

SAY HEY

SAY HEY

SAY YEAH

SAY YEAH

 

I LOVE THIS TOWN

[Darthtiki 0]

I'm not sold on Saito being ready to close again. I think the elbow isn't 100% and Broxy has been pretty decent down the stretch.

[Broward83 0]

Is it wrong that as an Astros fan, I'm fully throwing my support behind the Dodger's to win it all despite my Chicago girlfriend constantly looking for something blunt to beat me with when I make a snide remark about the Cubs?

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I'm just...at a loss for words. Cub implosions aren't anything new, but anyone who watched this team with any regularity knows that this team was different. An offensive approach of patience that has completely disappeared the last two nights. I could go on a multi-paragraph rant, but there's nothing worth saying. This team has looked awful. Zambrano deserved better tonight. The defense was at its worst and the offense was embarrassing. We can call this a choke. Lou said Fukudome's done, by the way. Thank god.

[Matt Young 0]

I watched the game at a bar full of Dodgers fans. Fun times.

 

Hey, Czech won't even be gone a week.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I will say that I don't understand the hate for the Cubs. It isn't as if they're some powerhouse team that is running a monopoly on all the big ticket free agents. I can't believe a team that hasn't won a championship in a century can get so much hate.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I watched the game at a bar full of Dodgers fans. Fun times.

 

Hey, Czech won't even be gone a week.

Do they all like a lot of other teams, too?

[KingPK 0]

I will say that I don't understand the hate for the Cubs. It isn't as if they're some powerhouse team that is running a monopoly on all the big ticket free agents. I can't believe a team that hasn't won a championship in a century can get so much hate.

 

It's like the Red Sox before 2004; people just like to kick around a team with an easy target (a long streak of futility in this case).

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I guess, although it seems like that's a silly reason to open fire. There was this girl at the first bar I was at that was clapping any time the Dodgers did well because her friend liked the Cubs. I wanted to punch her. And this was before my first drink. Emo big-chinned cunt.

[2GOLD 0]

I will say that I don't understand the hate for the Cubs. It isn't as if they're some powerhouse team that is running a monopoly on all the big ticket free agents. I can't believe a team that hasn't won a championship in a century can get so much hate.

 

I think the fandom sometimes tends to get very arrogant when things are going well. That and it's the constant "This is the year" into "Wait til next year" attitude that is pissing off people.

 

As for this team, I really don't know. It's like EVERY year they turn into...the damn Cubs. The Dodgers honestly I think were the absolute WORSE draw for the Cubs because all season it was obvious if the Dodgers had offense that they could have crushed them. Now the Dodgers have offense and they are crushing them.

 

Honestly, I think they are dead. Not because I am giving up on them, but because they are showing no signs of a pulse. It's the Arizona series re-visited. First game it was piss poor pitching and HORRIBLE swinging by the batters. Game two, it's the defense and the offense again. They are playing like a team absolutely shell shocked themselves and shell shocked usually means DONE in any sport. The Dodgers have a team that can win it all offensively, defensively, pitching and even speed. They are just really god damn good.

 

I'd say this is a nightmare but sadly, it's not. It's the Cubs MO and truthfully, I don't know what the hell can be done. They form a good team, they fail. They form a team built around the farm system, they fail. They buy high priced free agents for a spark, they fail. It's not a curse, it's a mindset and this team and the FANS cannot break out of it. Wrigley sounded DEAD in game 1, like they weren't waiting to see the Cubs win but waiting to see how they would fall apart. Game 2, they had already gave up and the team went with em.

 

Maybe the Dodgers fans can wake them up but I don't know. The Dodgers are really really damn good. Even if the Cubs somehow manage to take two in LA (which I think Harden and Lily can do), I don't know who would go in game five. Was Ryan's start a fluke or a sign he has reverted back to his Destructive Dumpster ways? Big Z has gone mental and I don't know if he can handle this. And Harden I don't think can go on three days rest, in fact I wouldn't even risk it.

 

Maybe the Cubs need to stop winning the NL Central? That way they avoid the NL West entirely since apparently they OWN the Cubs in the playoffs. Sorry I'm just really disappointed, this really bites. I want them to at least wake up and put up a fight, not go six lifeless playoff games.

[KingPK 0]

I'd say this is a nightmare but sadly, it's not. It's the Cubs MO and truthfully, I don't know what the hell can be done. They form a good team, they fail. They form a team built around the farm system, they fail. They buy high priced free agents for a spark, they fail. It's not a curse, it's a mindset and this team and the FANS cannot break out of it. Wrigley sounded DEAD in game 1, like they weren't waiting to see the Cubs win but waiting to see how they would fall apart. Game 2, they had already gave up and the team went with em.

 

I know I'm going to get yelled at for bringing the Red Sox into this again, but maybe the Cubs need their version of the "Idiots": guys who (at least publicly) don't seem to give a shit about "curses" or pressure and wear shirts that say "Why Not Us?" that the fans latch on to. Maybe Soriano can sport the Jesus look next season.

[JaMarcus Russell's #1 Caucasian Fan 0]

I will say that I don't understand the hate for the Cubs. It isn't as if they're some powerhouse team that is running a monopoly on all the big ticket free agents. I can't believe a team that hasn't won a championship in a century can get so much hate.

 

I think a lot of the Cub hate comes from the totally arrogant and annoying rep the fans get. I went to a Cub v. Dodger game in May this year, and the Cub fans were so fucking unbearable and loudmouthed for a franchise that hadn't won anything in 100 years. In 2003, I actually felt sorry for Cubs fans, but my sympathy has turned into schadenfreude in five years. I don't really participate in baseball talk round these parts, but I lurk and you, Bruiser, I respect and like reading your insight, because you are level headed and realistic unlike Czech, who is so fucking annoying at times with his sky is falling shit, I relish it when the Cubs eventually lose in the playoffs in the most agonizing way possible.

 

 

[RepoMan 0]

Well at least I can look forward to Frank TV. I have a feeling if I never got into sports I wouldn't be depressed/be an addict. Fuck Life.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I really feel for Ron Santo through all this. Every time I hear about the arrogance of Cubs fans, I think of people like Santo, who invest their entire being into this franchise. There are unbearable Cub fans, but that's going to happen with any team that shows signs of prominence. How much longer until we here about arrogant Rays fans? It just comes with the territory and it's important not to lump all fans of a team with the bad ones and bandwagon jumpers.

[Matt Young 0]

I watched the game at a bar full of Dodgers fans. Fun times.

 

Hey, Czech won't even be gone a week.

Do they all like a lot of other teams, too?

 

I don't know. They are certainly all bigger Dodgers fans than am I. The Dodgers are #1 to them, not to me.

 

That comment was more a jab at Czech than anything due to the unnecessarily vicious nature of the comments in his last post.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Yes, Bruiser, Czech can be blamed for a lot of the Cubs hate around here. In my case, I never thought much of the whole Cubs/White Sox rivalry before I joined TSM, it was like the Cubs were just there for me. But ever since Czech started in on that holier than thou bullshit where he condemns White Sox for the most minor transgressions all the while espousing the values of the Cubs who at the same time had the same unsavory elements, just drove me to root harder and harder against the Cubs in passing years.

[Cartman 0]

I would say that I am in the same boat as USC, but then I am reminded of how much of an idiot I am when it comes to the Red Sox...or any other Boston team for that matter.

[cabbageboy 0]

I'd like to say I am shocked at this series, but the way it's gone down....nah, not really. And yes, I fell for it big time, with the whole "It's been 100 years!" thing and also that the Cubs have the best record in the NL. But there's just nothing from the first two games that would make anyone think they could come back from this 0-2 hole. We're not talking about losing 3-2 on a Manny HR. These have been two beatdowns by the Dodgers, with the Cubs looking horrible and clueless.

 

There might be something to that theory that the Cubs need some guys who are wacky idiots. The Red Sox certainly had that in 2004, along with a guy like Schilling who basically said "I don't care about a curse, I'm here to win a World Series." Or like the White Sox in 2005, who had Ozzie Guillen doing his schtick and attracting all the attention and thus the team went out and won. The Cubs don't really have this mindset.

[2GOLD 0]

Even if they did, come playoff time the guy would make one mistake and get the Reche Caldwell "what just happened" stare that the whole team has.

[UZI Suicide 0]

I will say that I don't understand the hate for the Cubs. It isn't as if they're some powerhouse team that is running a monopoly on all the big ticket free agents. I can't believe a team that hasn't won a championship in a century can get so much hate.

 

I think a lot of the Cub hate comes from the totally arrogant and annoying rep the fans get. I went to a Cub v. Dodger game in May this year, and the Cub fans were so fucking unbearable and loudmouthed for a franchise that hadn't won anything in 100 years. In 2003, I actually felt sorry for Cubs fans, but my sympathy has turned into schadenfreude in five years. I don't really participate in baseball talk round these parts, but I lurk and you, Bruiser, I respect and like reading your insight, because you are level headed and realistic unlike Czech, who is so fucking annoying at times with his sky is falling shit, I relish it when the Cubs eventually lose in the playoffs in the most agonizing way possible.

 

I think it is that, plus I think most fans don't sympathize with or care about the 100 years thing that is constantly pounded into our heads.

 

Ok, they haven't won a World Series in 100 years, but aside from their fans that are 100 years old or over, it isn't like all their fans have been suffering for 100 years. It isn't like the current fans have been sitting there patiently waiting for the last century.

 

You can't expect a Dodgers fan, who hasn't seen a playoff series win in 20 years to give a shit about that. Or a Brewers or Astros or Padres or Mariners fan, whose teams have never won the World Series, to give a shit about that. And you can't expect a fan of other teams who may have won a World Series in the last 100 years, but not any that they were alive to see, to give a shit about that.

[garfieldsnose 0]

For me, it's that I just don't wanna deal with the 2004 Red Sox fan era. I used to love the Red Sox because I hated the Yankees for always winning. I rooted for the Sox in 2003 and was legitimately upset they lost in Game 7. I was never a merchandise buyer or "diehard" Sox fan. I loved Curt Schilling from his time in Philly and the whole team, really. I was unbelievably happy when they beat the Yanks and Cards in 2004. But then the whole Boston area became too cocky. The Pats were winning, the Sox were winning, and this past year the Celtics won. The Bruins also had a good run at the end of the NHL season. It became more of a "how could you not like us?" type of attitude from the Boston fans. That is what drives people away, and it definitely drove me away from being a fan of any Boston team. It's like that with Chicago with me too because their fans seem to think we need to be on their side. It's quite annoying.

 

Also, I was watching Around the Horn one day on ESPN and Bob Ryan basically was saying how great Boston teams are and how he can be cocky about it because they keep winning. Since then, I've had a disdain for Boston like no other. I've actually cheered for the Yanks this past season hoping they'd whoop up on Boston. If Jay Mariotti starts this why don't people like us? type shit, I may have to just quit watching that show all together.

[Matt Young 0]

Yes, Bruiser, Czech can be blamed for a lot of the Cubs hate around here. In my case, I never thought much of the whole Cubs/White Sox rivalry before I joined TSM, it was like the Cubs were just there for me. But ever since Czech started in on that holier than thou bullshit where he condemns White Sox for the most minor transgressions all the while espousing the values of the Cubs who at the same time had the same unsavory elements, just drove me to root harder and harder against the Cubs in passing years.

 

This. I could never hate the Cubs, simply because the Young side of my family has been comprised of diehard Cubs fans since before I was born. The only reason I didn't become one is because, since my dad left when I was 6, I only saw them on holidays and I ended up forming my own tastes. But Czech, while I like him most of the time, is insufferable in the sports forum (and half the time in music, but I digress).

 

He's like my friend Jeremy who plays Gears of War all the time and ends up screaming out 1,001 variations of "Bullshit!/Fuckin' bitch!" at the TV and throwing controllers. It's like, I can understand getting somewhat emotional, but in the end, it's just a game. You should be having fun most of the time. If you're constantly angry/frustrated, why spend so much time on it?

[Cartman 0]

For me, it's that I just don't wanna deal with the 2004 Red Sox fan era. I used to love the Red Sox because I hated the Yankees for always winning. I rooted for the Sox in 2003 and was legitimately upset they lost in Game 7. I was never a merchandise buyer or "diehard" Sox fan. I loved Curt Schilling from his time in Philly and the whole team, really. I was unbelievably happy when they beat the Yanks and Cards in 2004. But then the whole Boston area became too cocky. The Pats were winning, the Sox were winning, and this past year the Celtics won. The Bruins also had a good run at the end of the NHL season. It became more of a "how could you not like us?" type of attitude from the Boston fans. That is what drives people away, and it definitely drove me away from being a fan of any Boston team. It's like that with Chicago with me too because their fans seem to think we need to be on their side. It's quite annoying.

 

Also, I was watching Around the Horn one day on ESPN and Bob Ryan basically was saying how great Boston teams are and how he can be cocky about it because they keep winning. Since then, I've had a disdain for Boston like no other. I've actually cheered for the Yanks this past season hoping they'd whoop up on Boston. If Jay Mariotti starts this why don't people like us? type shit, I may have to just quit watching that show all together.

This happens with ANY city that ends up with a long-term dominant sports franchise. I remember when I was in High School the Cowboys were everypne's favorite team all the sudden during the Aikman/Smith/Irvin Era. After a while everyone started turning on the team because they were sick of how Cocky Dallas fans were getting and sick of seeing the same team dominate every year.

 

For me...Back before the Pats won it all, it was really awesome to experience 2001 and ALOT of people were jumping on the bandwagon and rooting for the Pats to finish the job and beat the diminant Rams. They were the most popular team in football all over the country because of how they won, and the fact that they had not won before. It was great being a fan and watching them, and seeing all the national support they got. Then, over the next few years they kept winning, and winning. It was still awesome for us Pats fans, but the rest of the country was sick of it. Added was the Red Sox championship and that just tipped the scales and made alot of people hate Boston fans and teams because yes, we got cocky. It's not a bad thing to get cocky and expect your favorite teams to win while they are on dominant streaks like the Pats, Sox, and now hopefully Celtics are on. At the same time the ire drawn from other teams' fans makes it even sweeter, for me anyways. I love the fact that other fans are angered by my favorite teams winning alot. It all depends on the situations. It's not like Boston fans care what other fans think of their teams anymore.

[Broward83 0]

I hate the Cubs because of growing up an Astros fan. Sure, when I was a kid and didn't really care all that much I'd watch WGN Superstation and see Cubs games and root for some of the players but as I began to grow up and found myself a fan of the Astros, I began to despise the Cubs. Add to this the nature of the games the two play against each other (usually with a bit of added physicality and at least someone getting a ball drilled into them) and yeah, the fucking Cubs can suck on a fucking sassage while getting VD from some random "Wrigleyville Trixie" going on about how its their year.

 

PS: My favorite Cubs/Astros moment? The Astros clinching the division in the Astrodome over the Cubs while the live airing of ER captured part of the celebration on a small TV in the breakroom.

[garfieldsnose 0]

For me, it's that I just don't wanna deal with the 2004 Red Sox fan era. I used to love the Red Sox because I hated the Yankees for always winning. I rooted for the Sox in 2003 and was legitimately upset they lost in Game 7. I was never a merchandise buyer or "diehard" Sox fan. I loved Curt Schilling from his time in Philly and the whole team, really. I was unbelievably happy when they beat the Yanks and Cards in 2004. But then the whole Boston area became too cocky. The Pats were winning, the Sox were winning, and this past year the Celtics won. The Bruins also had a good run at the end of the NHL season. It became more of a "how could you not like us?" type of attitude from the Boston fans. That is what drives people away, and it definitely drove me away from being a fan of any Boston team. It's like that with Chicago with me too because their fans seem to think we need to be on their side. It's quite annoying.

 

Also, I was watching Around the Horn one day on ESPN and Bob Ryan basically was saying how great Boston teams are and how he can be cocky about it because they keep winning. Since then, I've had a disdain for Boston like no other. I've actually cheered for the Yanks this past season hoping they'd whoop up on Boston. If Jay Mariotti starts this why don't people like us? type shit, I may have to just quit watching that show all together.

This happens with ANY city that ends up with a long-term dominant sports franchise. I remember when I was in High School the Cowboys were everypne's favorite team all the sudden during the Aikman/Smith/Irvin Era. After a while everyone started turning on the team because they were sick of how Cocky Dallas fans were getting and sick of seeing the same team dominate every year.

 

For me...Back before the Pats won it all, it was really awesome to experience 2001 and ALOT of people were jumping on the bandwagon and rooting for the Pats to finish the job and beat the diminant Rams. They were the most popular team in football all over the country because of how they won, and the fact that they had not won before. It was great being a fan and watching them, and seeing all the national support they got. Then, over the next few years they kept winning, and winning. It was still awesome for us Pats fans, but the rest of the country was sick of it. Added was the Red Sox championship and that just tipped the scales and made alot of people hate Boston fans and teams because yes, we got cocky. It's not a bad thing to get cocky and expect your favorite teams to win while they are on dominant streaks like the Pats, Sox, and now hopefully Celtics are on. At the same time the ire drawn from other teams' fans makes it even sweeter, for me anyways. I love the fact that other fans are angered by my favorite teams winning alot. It all depends on the situations. It's not like Boston fans care what other fans think of their teams anymore.

 

 

Well then why is it hard for Cubs fans to see why people hate the Cubs? Sure they don't win championships, but for fuck sake's they are all over ESPN with their curse shit. I'm happy Boston reversed the curse because who knows what we would be dealing with if they hadn't won in 2004 or last year.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Yeah, but how much of this hate should go toward the team or fans? They don't ask that ESPN refuse to do anything creative w/r/t speaking about the Cubs. They aren't asking ESPN to dwell on this century of futility thing. But just like everything else ESPN chooses to really lament, the 100 years thing is just an easy cliche that fills up air time.

[the max 0]

Yeah, but how much of this hate should go toward the team or fans? They don't ask that ESPN refuse to do anything creative w/r/t speaking about the Cubs. They aren't asking ESPN to dwell on this century of futility thing. But just like everything else ESPN chooses to really lament, the 100 years thing is just an easy cliche that fills up air time.

 

You're in the same trap that Red Sox fans were in. Nobody in the fanbase wants to hear about it, but it's seemingly what defines your team.

 

Like any team I've met some nice Cubs fans and some who were blowhards. Like Czech loves to tear Boston sports teams apart by taking one example and applying it across the entire fanbase, I'd love to do the same thing, but I won't.

[garfieldsnose 0]

I think it's natural for me to backlash the things ESPN does. The reputation everyone gives Philadelphia fans is by far media driven, and not even remotely close to being accurate. Not so much the Cubs, but ever since the Red Sox won the WS in 2004, I've seen Sox fans popping up out of the woodwork. That is the most telltale sign of bandwagoners, and nothing is more embarassing to a fanbase than having so many frontrunners clog up the fanbase and open their mouths like they deserve it. I'd rather hear about the people who've been waiting 60, 70 years. Not the bandwagoners.

 

Like my one classmate, she always rooted for the Yankees cuz her dad was a Yanks fan. She went to college in Boston, bam, all of a sudden she's a Red Sox fan after they win the WS. That kind of stuff is seemingly unforgivable to me. I bet if the Phillies go on to win the WS, our fanbase will have a ton of bandwagoners. It's the way the sports world is, so I expect a backlash to Philly and have fans start digging up ESPN reports of how horrible Philly fans are.

 

I'm not saying I'm right or wrong in hating the Sox or Cubs fan base or team. Sometimes I hate the players on the team (Zambrano's a POS, JD Drew cannot stay healthy, etc.) Then it becomes easy to latch onto things said or heard to try and justify your position on why you hate a certain team or a fanbase. Sports is a hard business to try and be unbiased most of the time.

[Slayer 0]

Jamie Moyer: Pitching's answer to Rickey Henderson

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Not the greatest start, but the Phillies are well in this if they can hold this to two runs.