In which the resident Nietzsche of Goatriders says something
I guess I don't have much to say, since Kurt is sick of all of us naysayers.
If we were fans of a normal team, things would be different. If we were, then we should take solace in having the best regular season record. We should be able to logically lean on having the best offense and the best starting rotation in the league. We should be able to rely on our faith on past Postseason comebacks, like fans of normal teams. They are able to say things like "Remember in 2004 when we were down 3 games to none, and down to our last out in the ninth inning? Remember how we didn't lose faith, and won it in the end?"
I shall list for you below, now, in great and graphic detail, all the great Cubs teams who have come back from a first game loss in the postseason, along with the manager, starters, benchwarmers, all their wives' names, kids' names, place of birth, mothers' maiden names, and make and model of the primary car they were driving at the time of the series, and finally, I will display all this information in bright green font on a bright red background:
Note: if you cannot see the above list at this time, please check your browser. Perhaps your settings do not allow display of bright green fonts against bright red backgrounds. Please contact your technical support if you are having trouble seeing this list of the great Cubs teams who have come from behind to win postseason series.
I had plenty of faith this year, that we would win the Central. Because we did it before. I had faith going into yesterday that we could win a NLDS. Because we did it before. But, fact is, this is a new trick that we're asking them to toss off now. last night's loss was a total, absolute defeat. Nobody, from the starter to the bullpen to the offense to the manager to the pitching coach to the fans, performed to any level of satisfaction whatsoever. They looked as dead as possible. There was absolutely nothing indicated last night that would suggest a comeback today. This is coupled with the fact that, in Cubs history, they have NEVER come back to win a postseason series. Ever. Faith is based on precedents, and there are NO precedents to base faith on at this time. If the Cubs ARE to come back to win this series, it will, in fact, be an unprecedented event, which provides another plank for Cubs Faith to stand on.
In the meantime, please don't ask me to have faith when I have no reason to have it.
I'm not saying "have faith."
I'm not saying "have faith." I just think it's ridiculous to believe there is NO reason for hope whatsoever because of a 1 game deficit.
Talk to me tonight. If the Cubs are down 2-0, I'll probably join you.
but
Boston fans were more negative than Cubs fans. I have friends who cheer for Boston teams, they were expecting a sweep in 2004. Here is a reason why you should have faith. Great baseball teams don't always win World Series. How many times did the Atlanta Braves win it all during the 90s. How many times did the St. Louis Cardinals break 100 wins only to fall short. Hell, if the stars didn't align perfectly they would not have won in 2006. This Cubs team will be around for a while. There is definite need for improvement, but depending on who owns this team there will be an owner who will do what it takes to win it all.
One last thing, Nietzsche wasn't negative. His statement that God was dead meant there was greater freedom. In the same vein, belief in curses should be obliterated. It was crummy management that shafted the Cubs all these years.
Crummy management
Crummy management was the reason, more than likely, for what happened between 1939-1983. In 1984, we started to see the fruits of decent mgmt. Then the WHOLE fucking starting rotation went on the DL at once. That ain't based on crummy management.
However, crummy management was once again re-installed in the forms of Lynch, Himes and McFail. This took us from probably 1991-2005, or whenever it was that McFail finally left town. How did 2003 happen? Even McFail could have figured out to draft Wood and Prior when he had a chance. However, he left us with a brain dead toad to sit on the bench and chew toothpicks.
Crummy management did not build the Cubs of 2008. However, whether it is a real curse, or just a thought in people's heads, but today's Cubs have to beat more than just the Dodgers in this series. Call it what you want.
BTW, Rob
Your article was linked on an LA Times blog post. You were described as being "delightfully pessimistic."