Baseball season's underway
Well you better get ready for a brand new day.
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today.
They're singing ...
Go, Cubs, go
Go, Cubs, go
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today.
Go, Cubs, go
Go, Cubs, go
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today.
They got the power, they got the speed
To be the best in the National League
Well this is the year and Cubs are real
So come on down to Wrigley Field
They're singing ...
Go, Cubs, go
Go, Cubs, go
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today.
- Lyrics by Steve Goodman
Here it is, August 2 and the Cubs, yes the Chicago Cubs, are in first place in the National League Central. The same team that hasn't been to the playoffs since 2003, the World Series since 1945 and they haven't won a title in nearly a century, but as we're entering the dog days of August, my beloved Cubbies are in first place. Granted, it's only by percentage points over the pesky Milwaukee Brewers, but I'll take it.
As you would expect, I'm giddy with excitement. Sure there's still two months of baseball left to be played and if history is any indication, the Cubs should blow it and wind up watching the postseason from their couches, but as Charles Schwab likes to say, past performance is no gauaruntee of future return.
In year's past, I'd be a nervous wreck right now worrying about the Cubs. But over the past year or so, I've realized that all that worrying really didn't do me any good. Instead of analyzing every little thing about the team, I'm taking a different approach this year. I'm riding the wave of emotion. It's a lot simpler than agonizing over the team's lack of on base percentage or their starting pitching after their top two starters. The formula is simple: Cubs win and I'm happy. Cubs lose and I'm unhappy.
Screw all the statistical analysis (which is odd of me to say considering the vast majority of my reading material over the past few years is about that stuff.) It's fascinating from an intellectual level and, ideally, should help me with my fantasy team, but it takes away some of the joy of just watching a game. After all, the game is supposed to be fun, and what's more fun than an emotional roller coaster ride with your favorite team. Sure, there's bound to be some lows, but those will make the highs seem that much more magical.
A few weeks ago, a fan brought a sign to a Cubs game that simply read "It's Gonna Happen." While the cynics and naysayers may say "it" is a collapse, I'm on board with those who believe "it" is a World Series trip.
Hop on board, it's going to be a great ride for the next two months.
4 comments:
I told you in '03 and I'm sticking to it. Cubs Win World Series = I'm driving one of the floats in the parade down Peg-Wen.
Oh yeah, and this could affect "it": Kerry Wood is coming back?!? Don't know if that makes you feel better or not, huh?
At the Cubs vs. Reds game Joanna and I went to, there were more Cubs fans there than Reds fans, and I'm not exaggerating. Blue dominated red that night, Cubs cheers outshouted Reds cheers (or sobs), and the players... well, let's just say the Reds were outmatched. I say all that because I can, not because it really relates in any way to your hope for a World Series appearance, because beating the Reds is not impressive anymore. Just a fun little tidbit of history. Oh, and all the Cubs fans helped the park reach the highest attendence for a game other than an opening day one in history. Thanks Cubs fans for a memorable game!!!!
You write blog about Cubs -- best hitter pulls up lame going around second.
You'd think the Cubs in first would be like a no-hitter by now: no Cubs fan would dare mention it until after the deciding game of the World Series.
Scott, you've got it all wrong. While hopeful that this is the year, history indicates the Cubs won't win the series (and although it's a small sample size, the Cubs have won every World Series with a year ending '07), so Cubs fans have to revel in the first place time we have.
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