8 miles never seemed so far away
Maybe a minute had gone by after Ken Griffey Jr. struck out to officially end the White Sox season before my phone buzzed. The text message must have been sent before the last out—either that, or I had better contact Comcast and complain about a bad delay.
The message, from a friend whose allegiance lies with the Chicago Cubs, read: “Hahahaha, you guys managed to last a whole 48 hours longer and now we’re both in the same place.”
My response: “If that’s what you need to tell yourself in order to snap out of your undoubted state of depression…go right ahead.”
The core of his statement is obviously true. The 2008 World Series will not be a “Crosstown Classic.” It won’t even feature one Chicago team. But the set of circumstances that surrounded each team’s ultimate demise are as different as a filet mignon and a Big Mac.
After failing to land one of the prizes on the free agent market, Ken Williams’ club was picked by most experts—including myself—to finish third in a tough AL Central division.
Meanwhile, the Cubs were heavy favorites to repeat as NL Central champions—even that preseason prediction I couldn’t be wrong about.
The White Sox were a maddeningly inconsistent team, never giving their fans the same feeling they had in 2005. One week they looked like the best team in baseball, the next they looked like the Washington Nationals were capable of sweeping them. Trying to figure them out was like trying to make sense of one of Sarah Palin’s run-on sentences.
Meanwhile, the Cubs were on cruise control all season. They held first place since the third game of the season and after sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park--or “Wrigley North” as Cubs fans like to call it—shortly after the All-Star break, the division title and a playoff berth were never in doubt.
Not to make excuses, but injuries eventually took their toll on the Sox. Their only All-Star representatives—MVP candidate Carlos Quentin and third baseman Joe Crede—couldn’t play the final month of the season. Jose Contreras—having a nice season after an atrocious 2007 campaign—came off the DL for 1.2 innings in August only to suffer a season-ending injury.
Injuries are a part of the game, but take Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez and Ted Lilly away from the Cubs and where does it put them? Well, I guess it puts them in basically the same place they’re in now.
After being swept by the Minnesota Twins in the Metrodome—or “that Hellhole,” as Sox fans affectionately refer to it—the Sox were left gasping for air. But, the Twins committed a baseball no-no. They let the Sox get up and continue to fight.
You don’t put a mass murderer on the electric chair and just before flipping the switch let him off on parole. So, the Sox did what anyone would do with a new lease on life. They battled and survived, doing something MLB had never seen by beating three different teams in three days—Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers and the aforementioned Twins—to make the playoffs. The team looked relieved just to get in, their pitchers running on fumes after each going on three days rest multiple times over the last two weeks of the season.
Meanwhile, the Cubs clinched the division with about 10 games left. They were able to get some nice R&R, set their playoff rotation and give the Tribune Company ample opportunity to promote its new book celebrating the inevitable championship season of the 2008 Chicago Cubs.
The White Sox won a game in their divisional series with the far superior Tampa Bay Rays, improving Ozzie Guillen’s playoff record to 13-4.
Despite a dugout blessed with Holy Water (by a Greek Orthodox priest), the Cubs watched their postseason losing streak reach nine games after getting swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers. They were outscored 20-6 in the series and never led after jumping out to a 2-0 lead in game one. They got embarrassed and crumbled under the pressure that comes along with a century of futility.
Sox fans embraced the “Blackout” at the Cell and—with a World Series to fall back on—just went along for the ride. After a 90-loss season in 2007 left faithful Sox fans feeling ill, there are many reasons to look forward to 2009. Among them: the maturation of promising young hurlers Gavin Floyd and John Danks and the emergence of Quentin and “the Cuban Missile” Alexei Ramirez.
Following James Loney’s grand slam in game one, Cubs fans put their tails right between their legs. Their dreams had died right there and then. In the “Do or die” game two (thanks Mark DeRosa, no pressure at all), the tears began to flow ala 2003-post Steve Bartman. Way to have faith in the NL’s best team.
Most of the Cubs roster will return and they will be favorites to win the division yet again. Only how can fans get excited like they did in 2008? To borrow a song lyric by Green Day, all Cubs fans should do is say “Wake me up when September ends.”
In August, my father begged me to be fair and blog about the greatness of the 2008 Cubs. He explained that they do everything well and that there wasn’t a team in baseball that was capable of beating them in a short series. I promised that when they accomplished something, I would meet his request.
But, for the 100th consecutive season, the “Loveable losers” have nothing to be proud of. Their loyal fans continue to be let down in the most unimaginable ways.
White Sox fans have set the bar higher after 2005, but ultimately will look back on 2008 and realize it was a great success. Veterans regained their swagger and the youngsters provided terrific excitement. The team’s perseverance and fun-loving attitude made its fans proud.
*********************************************************************
So, now it’s officially football season and somehow, someway the Chicago Bears find themselves in first place. Every touchdown Kyle Orton throws and big run by Matt Forte leaves me in shock. My expectations were so low; the Bears would have to lose every remaining game to match my preseason prediction. The NFC North may be bad enough to allow the Bears come out on top.
My other football team, the Missouri Tigers, possess the best offense in the country. Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin are legitimate Heisman Trophy contenders and a 52-17 drubbing of Nebraska—in Lincoln for the first time in 30 years—was a definite statement.
Mizzou helped provide the stat of the week: Through 5 games, in drives started by Daniel, the offense has yet to go 3-and-out.
For the best NBA analysis and NCAA Basketball commentary, be sure to visit NaismithLives.com
The message, from a friend whose allegiance lies with the Chicago Cubs, read: “Hahahaha, you guys managed to last a whole 48 hours longer and now we’re both in the same place.”
My response: “If that’s what you need to tell yourself in order to snap out of your undoubted state of depression…go right ahead.”
The core of his statement is obviously true. The 2008 World Series will not be a “Crosstown Classic.” It won’t even feature one Chicago team. But the set of circumstances that surrounded each team’s ultimate demise are as different as a filet mignon and a Big Mac.
After failing to land one of the prizes on the free agent market, Ken Williams’ club was picked by most experts—including myself—to finish third in a tough AL Central division.
Meanwhile, the Cubs were heavy favorites to repeat as NL Central champions—even that preseason prediction I couldn’t be wrong about.
The White Sox were a maddeningly inconsistent team, never giving their fans the same feeling they had in 2005. One week they looked like the best team in baseball, the next they looked like the Washington Nationals were capable of sweeping them. Trying to figure them out was like trying to make sense of one of Sarah Palin’s run-on sentences.
Meanwhile, the Cubs were on cruise control all season. They held first place since the third game of the season and after sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park--or “Wrigley North” as Cubs fans like to call it—shortly after the All-Star break, the division title and a playoff berth were never in doubt.
Not to make excuses, but injuries eventually took their toll on the Sox. Their only All-Star representatives—MVP candidate Carlos Quentin and third baseman Joe Crede—couldn’t play the final month of the season. Jose Contreras—having a nice season after an atrocious 2007 campaign—came off the DL for 1.2 innings in August only to suffer a season-ending injury.
Injuries are a part of the game, but take Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez and Ted Lilly away from the Cubs and where does it put them? Well, I guess it puts them in basically the same place they’re in now.
After being swept by the Minnesota Twins in the Metrodome—or “that Hellhole,” as Sox fans affectionately refer to it—the Sox were left gasping for air. But, the Twins committed a baseball no-no. They let the Sox get up and continue to fight.
You don’t put a mass murderer on the electric chair and just before flipping the switch let him off on parole. So, the Sox did what anyone would do with a new lease on life. They battled and survived, doing something MLB had never seen by beating three different teams in three days—Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers and the aforementioned Twins—to make the playoffs. The team looked relieved just to get in, their pitchers running on fumes after each going on three days rest multiple times over the last two weeks of the season.
Meanwhile, the Cubs clinched the division with about 10 games left. They were able to get some nice R&R, set their playoff rotation and give the Tribune Company ample opportunity to promote its new book celebrating the inevitable championship season of the 2008 Chicago Cubs.
The White Sox won a game in their divisional series with the far superior Tampa Bay Rays, improving Ozzie Guillen’s playoff record to 13-4.
Despite a dugout blessed with Holy Water (by a Greek Orthodox priest), the Cubs watched their postseason losing streak reach nine games after getting swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers. They were outscored 20-6 in the series and never led after jumping out to a 2-0 lead in game one. They got embarrassed and crumbled under the pressure that comes along with a century of futility.
Sox fans embraced the “Blackout” at the Cell and—with a World Series to fall back on—just went along for the ride. After a 90-loss season in 2007 left faithful Sox fans feeling ill, there are many reasons to look forward to 2009. Among them: the maturation of promising young hurlers Gavin Floyd and John Danks and the emergence of Quentin and “the Cuban Missile” Alexei Ramirez.
Following James Loney’s grand slam in game one, Cubs fans put their tails right between their legs. Their dreams had died right there and then. In the “Do or die” game two (thanks Mark DeRosa, no pressure at all), the tears began to flow ala 2003-post Steve Bartman. Way to have faith in the NL’s best team.
Most of the Cubs roster will return and they will be favorites to win the division yet again. Only how can fans get excited like they did in 2008? To borrow a song lyric by Green Day, all Cubs fans should do is say “Wake me up when September ends.”
In August, my father begged me to be fair and blog about the greatness of the 2008 Cubs. He explained that they do everything well and that there wasn’t a team in baseball that was capable of beating them in a short series. I promised that when they accomplished something, I would meet his request.
But, for the 100th consecutive season, the “Loveable losers” have nothing to be proud of. Their loyal fans continue to be let down in the most unimaginable ways.
White Sox fans have set the bar higher after 2005, but ultimately will look back on 2008 and realize it was a great success. Veterans regained their swagger and the youngsters provided terrific excitement. The team’s perseverance and fun-loving attitude made its fans proud.
*********************************************************************
So, now it’s officially football season and somehow, someway the Chicago Bears find themselves in first place. Every touchdown Kyle Orton throws and big run by Matt Forte leaves me in shock. My expectations were so low; the Bears would have to lose every remaining game to match my preseason prediction. The NFC North may be bad enough to allow the Bears come out on top.
My other football team, the Missouri Tigers, possess the best offense in the country. Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin are legitimate Heisman Trophy contenders and a 52-17 drubbing of Nebraska—in Lincoln for the first time in 30 years—was a definite statement.
Mizzou helped provide the stat of the week: Through 5 games, in drives started by Daniel, the offense has yet to go 3-and-out.
For the best NBA analysis and NCAA Basketball commentary, be sure to visit NaismithLives.com
posted by Jeremy Lynn | 9:59 PM
1 Comments:
I agree with you that this season never really felt like 2005 where White Sox fans had that feeling they could finally win it this year. They just seemed like a team that could maybe make the playoffs and maybe win the first round. They did one of those, which counts for a successful season in my book because they weren't expected to do much this year. They also have several young players such as Floyd, Danks and Ramirez who will all improve.
You are right. It's now time to focus on M-I-Z! Z-O-U!
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