Did I miss something? The Cubs haven’t even APPEARED in the World Series since 1945 when they lost to the Tigers (who featured a guy named Dizzy Trout), right? Not to mention everyone on the North Side should be feeling the fresh sting of getting swept in the NLDS each of the past two seasons. So….why do Cubs fans act like they’re riding the wave of some glorious winning tradition?
Let’s take a look at the future the Cubs are looking at. Ownership made the reckless decision to commit to a strict "win-now" mentality after the 2003 NLCS, and as a result, they have the #26 ranked farm system in the majors. Not ideal for turning over an aging roster over the next 4-5 years while remaining competitive in a big market with a high payroll. In other news, GM Jim Hendry is possibly the worst GM in the league. His moves this past offseason continue to relentlessly assault the concept of reason.
He failed to upgrade the rotation, and then gave out that indefensible - and untradeable - contract to Ryan Dempster. The team has virtually the same rotation that has collectively shit the bed in the playoffs the past two seasons. (Side note: I love that they traded Jason Marquis to Colorado, and he’s 12-7 with a 3.49 ERA on August 7th. Back in the Windy City, Ted Lilly is on the DL and the rubber bands that hold Rich Harden’s skeleton together are beginning to wear thin from all the pitching he’s done so far this season.)
But the real travesty is what they did with the offense. What has happened to Soto isn’t Hendry’s fault (as far as we know, unless he’s also his weed dealer and chiropractor), and apparently they hired a Santeria shaman to re-animate Derrek Lee’s corpse about a month ago. That was a shrewd move; I'll give him that one.
That being said, he’s made a high percentage of atrocious moves. First, he traded a valuable non-superstar glue guy in Mark DeRosa for 4000 rosen bags and a popcorn machine. I believe the odds of DeRosa hitting a 3-run walk-off homer to win a 1-game playoff for the 2009 NL Central crown are about 5/2 right now. It’s coming, Cubs fans, and you know it. And how do you fill that hole and add an impact bat simultaneously? Exactly, by NOT signing Milton Bradley. Oh wait, they got that one backwards.
You know, Adam Dunn and his 40 homeruns were available. Bobby Abreu with however many 2009 AL MVP votes he’ll end up getting was available as well. And as an added bonus, neither of these guys is a "disease of a human being" as my friend Brad put it. I’m just surprised Bradley and Zambrano haven’t gotten into a knife fight yet on the team plane.
I really can't get over the whole Milton Bradley thing. Seriously? You let this happen, Cub fans? The guy is MEDIOCRE and he's absolutely crazy!! You were excited about this??? And where was the local media? Enjoying the “magic of Wrigley Field” and starfucking everyone who came to sing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” and writing surreal columns like this.
Cubs fans, your organization is a travesty and you don't even notice. You walk around proudly out here in L.A. in your Cubs gear like you're part of some elite fraternity of successful sports franchises. I don't get it. Where's the criticism? Where’s the pushing ownership/management to make the team better? You have a pink-hat nation without having won anything to get it. It’s like you’re just copying how Phillies fans act NOW when you should be copying how they were acting for the previous 28 years.
Oh, please. You act as if we Cubs fans aren't aware of these moves that have gone awry. How dare we saunter around here in LA and wear our Cubs gear proudly as if we've forgotten about our 101 years of losing. How dare we help Dodger Stadium sell out every time the Cubs come into town and even have the audacity to show up before the 3rd inning and leave after the game is actually over. Maybe we should be more like Phillies fans and throw batteries at players so upper management will listen to us and make the necessary changes. Go ahead and blame the guys at the top who are paid to create a winning team. We'll join you. But to insult a fanbase that has remained loyal during the worst drought in all of sports is simply myopic.
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