rljmb23
Love Chicago Sports
- Joined:
- Jun 14, 2010
- Posts:
- 7
- Liked Posts:
- 4
- Location:
- Lake Villa
I can remember my first MLB experience. My father taking me to the ballpark, and while walking the concourse my father insuring that I didn't peak and look out onto the field at all. We climbed the ramps up and up until we came out directly behind home plate while in the upper deck. My father with hands over my eyes making sure that I could not see the glorious sea of green and the landmark scoreboard until he had me in perfect position. When I begged for him to let me see he said "my father did this to me, and now I'm doing it to you."
We finally moved into position and with the count of 3 my dad removed his hands from my eyes. As my vision was able to focus I saw the most beautiful sight I have seen and possibly will ever see, Wrigley Field. I believe that it is in that first glimpse a child has on Wrigley's beautiful green grass, the red brick and that wonderful green ivy that instills that sense of Cubdom in all of us. From that first look you are filled with the Evers to Tinkle to Chance, 1907 and 1908, Babe Ruth's called shot, Banks 500+ HRs, Sweet Swinging Billy, Ron Santo and his painful love for baseball, Ryno and his graceful mastery of second, Dawson winning a MVP for a "typical" Cubs team, Sosa's HR chase (tainted or not), 2003, and everything in between. This is the same glorious frustration I will pass onto my children and hopefully they will pass it to their children. This is what always was, and always will be the beginning of a torrent love affair with lust, frustration, excitement, and disappointment, and I do not know a true blue Cubs fan that would have it any other way.
This brings me to the current edition of the Chicago Cubs currently playing out the string on Chicago's North Side. With the calls for Pinella's head on a platter and Hendry's for dessert. For the Ricketts and their new found sense of promise. For the Cubs that only two seasons ago were the most electric offense in the game. All of these things create the newest helping of disappointment on the North side, and this is what draws the fans passion in 2010.
We know the disappointments that Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee are providing. We know all about Crazy Carlos and is he a starter is he a reliever, and we definitely know about the shortcomings of the Cubs bullpen and the failure to improve it. We also know about the bright futures of Tyler Colvin, the sensational Starling Castro, and Carlos Marmol. We have also heard that Lou doesn't have the passion anymore, Hendry was a one year fluke, and Rothschild just ruins pitchers.
I understand that Cubdom is looking for an end to our 100+ years of misery, and all I hear for answers are paths to the unknown. I constantly hear Tyler Colvin needs to play everyday! Well yes the kid does have a disservice by not getting 25-30 at-bats per week, but here is a kid that does not have a history and currently is striking out 33% of the time, and this is in Lou's hand picked at-bats setup for him to succeed. Sure this number could be lower if he were starting everyday, but this number could remain constant which over a 550 at-bat season converts to 180+ strike outs for a season.
I also hear Lou needs to go and Ryno needs to replace him. I am sorry, I am the worlds largest Sandberg fan, yet he has not shown me enough in the minors to be able to lead the Major League team. Currently he has an under .500 record in the minors (I realize that record isn't the most important thing in the minor leagues) and has only managed 8 post season games. Further he has only played in another 10 postseason games in the Major's. I know that Ryno has built a managing reputation for demanding excellence and hard nosed baseball from his players, but this is the same thing Lou demands, correct? I really feel that Ryno needs some time as a bench coach on another team, one that shows a great deal of success before he steps up to the top of the dugout as the Cubs manager. I would hate for him to come into the position too early and we are all saying these same things about him in three years.
I also hear, fire Hendry and promote Greg Maddux. Really?! I mean Really?! Here is another guy which, although he has had a Hall of Fame career, and I am sure knows how to evaluate talent, just doesn't have the qualifications to be the Cubs General Manager. I somewhat don't get the Maddux love all together. . . Here is a guy who had his best seasons in Atlanta, yet we celebrate his heroics as if he had never left. I know his 300th win came here, his first CY Young came here, but his career was in Atlanta. Please don't be fooled, as soon as his name appears on the Hall of Fame ballot and he is elected, he will be wearing a Braves hat, there is no debate a la Andre Dawson. Looking at this situation Hendry is guilty of mismanaging money, especially in 2007, maybe that heart condition effected his judgment. But his other moves have been nice. Aramis Ramirez, Derrek Lee, Marlon Byrd, Kenny Lofton, and ensuring that there is finally some talent coming through the minor leagues. He does have the negative marks, like budgeting, Milton Bradley, Jacque Jones, Juan Pierre, continued faith in Wood and Prior, and Soriano's lofty contract.
I will go on record and say, this year is NOT the year, and we will not be waiting till next year. I do have to say that the near future is fairly bright with the Cubs youngsters. Look at Starling Castro's quick blossoming, Tyler will eventually be an everyday player. The Cubs have shown us Andrew Cashner, and if they ever figure out how to handle Jeff Samardzija, Josh Vitters, Brett Jackson, Esmailin Caridad, as well as future role players or trade-ables in Sam Fuld or Mike Parisi, also James Russel and Chris Carpenter. The future is fairly bright, and we could be having some fun times in the summers ahead.
I will bring my son's to a game not to far from now, holding their eyes shut so they cannot take a quick peak through the concourse at the field. I will walk them to the upper deck and wait till they are in perfect position. I will defend their attempts to get me to remove my hands, and I will say, "my father did this to me, and now I'm doing it to you." They will be filled with the history of the game, the Cubs, and Wrigley, and we will laugh, we will cry, we will experience great times, and we will be frustrated. One thing I know we will be able to do is hear those words that have eluded Cub fans for 102 years and counting. I dare not to say those words as to jinx the team as we already have too many curses.
We finally moved into position and with the count of 3 my dad removed his hands from my eyes. As my vision was able to focus I saw the most beautiful sight I have seen and possibly will ever see, Wrigley Field. I believe that it is in that first glimpse a child has on Wrigley's beautiful green grass, the red brick and that wonderful green ivy that instills that sense of Cubdom in all of us. From that first look you are filled with the Evers to Tinkle to Chance, 1907 and 1908, Babe Ruth's called shot, Banks 500+ HRs, Sweet Swinging Billy, Ron Santo and his painful love for baseball, Ryno and his graceful mastery of second, Dawson winning a MVP for a "typical" Cubs team, Sosa's HR chase (tainted or not), 2003, and everything in between. This is the same glorious frustration I will pass onto my children and hopefully they will pass it to their children. This is what always was, and always will be the beginning of a torrent love affair with lust, frustration, excitement, and disappointment, and I do not know a true blue Cubs fan that would have it any other way.
This brings me to the current edition of the Chicago Cubs currently playing out the string on Chicago's North Side. With the calls for Pinella's head on a platter and Hendry's for dessert. For the Ricketts and their new found sense of promise. For the Cubs that only two seasons ago were the most electric offense in the game. All of these things create the newest helping of disappointment on the North side, and this is what draws the fans passion in 2010.
We know the disappointments that Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee are providing. We know all about Crazy Carlos and is he a starter is he a reliever, and we definitely know about the shortcomings of the Cubs bullpen and the failure to improve it. We also know about the bright futures of Tyler Colvin, the sensational Starling Castro, and Carlos Marmol. We have also heard that Lou doesn't have the passion anymore, Hendry was a one year fluke, and Rothschild just ruins pitchers.
I understand that Cubdom is looking for an end to our 100+ years of misery, and all I hear for answers are paths to the unknown. I constantly hear Tyler Colvin needs to play everyday! Well yes the kid does have a disservice by not getting 25-30 at-bats per week, but here is a kid that does not have a history and currently is striking out 33% of the time, and this is in Lou's hand picked at-bats setup for him to succeed. Sure this number could be lower if he were starting everyday, but this number could remain constant which over a 550 at-bat season converts to 180+ strike outs for a season.
I also hear Lou needs to go and Ryno needs to replace him. I am sorry, I am the worlds largest Sandberg fan, yet he has not shown me enough in the minors to be able to lead the Major League team. Currently he has an under .500 record in the minors (I realize that record isn't the most important thing in the minor leagues) and has only managed 8 post season games. Further he has only played in another 10 postseason games in the Major's. I know that Ryno has built a managing reputation for demanding excellence and hard nosed baseball from his players, but this is the same thing Lou demands, correct? I really feel that Ryno needs some time as a bench coach on another team, one that shows a great deal of success before he steps up to the top of the dugout as the Cubs manager. I would hate for him to come into the position too early and we are all saying these same things about him in three years.
I also hear, fire Hendry and promote Greg Maddux. Really?! I mean Really?! Here is another guy which, although he has had a Hall of Fame career, and I am sure knows how to evaluate talent, just doesn't have the qualifications to be the Cubs General Manager. I somewhat don't get the Maddux love all together. . . Here is a guy who had his best seasons in Atlanta, yet we celebrate his heroics as if he had never left. I know his 300th win came here, his first CY Young came here, but his career was in Atlanta. Please don't be fooled, as soon as his name appears on the Hall of Fame ballot and he is elected, he will be wearing a Braves hat, there is no debate a la Andre Dawson. Looking at this situation Hendry is guilty of mismanaging money, especially in 2007, maybe that heart condition effected his judgment. But his other moves have been nice. Aramis Ramirez, Derrek Lee, Marlon Byrd, Kenny Lofton, and ensuring that there is finally some talent coming through the minor leagues. He does have the negative marks, like budgeting, Milton Bradley, Jacque Jones, Juan Pierre, continued faith in Wood and Prior, and Soriano's lofty contract.
I will go on record and say, this year is NOT the year, and we will not be waiting till next year. I do have to say that the near future is fairly bright with the Cubs youngsters. Look at Starling Castro's quick blossoming, Tyler will eventually be an everyday player. The Cubs have shown us Andrew Cashner, and if they ever figure out how to handle Jeff Samardzija, Josh Vitters, Brett Jackson, Esmailin Caridad, as well as future role players or trade-ables in Sam Fuld or Mike Parisi, also James Russel and Chris Carpenter. The future is fairly bright, and we could be having some fun times in the summers ahead.
I will bring my son's to a game not to far from now, holding their eyes shut so they cannot take a quick peak through the concourse at the field. I will walk them to the upper deck and wait till they are in perfect position. I will defend their attempts to get me to remove my hands, and I will say, "my father did this to me, and now I'm doing it to you." They will be filled with the history of the game, the Cubs, and Wrigley, and we will laugh, we will cry, we will experience great times, and we will be frustrated. One thing I know we will be able to do is hear those words that have eluded Cub fans for 102 years and counting. I dare not to say those words as to jinx the team as we already have too many curses.
