Is it better to travel well than to arrive?

Last year I took the Cubs playoff loss to the D-Backs extremely hard and couldn't bring myself to write about it here until mid-November. So in a conscious effort to update this blog more often and come to grips with the Cubs early playoff exit...Here we go. I don't want to rehash the three playoff losses to the Dodgers, you saw it. The list of reasons for the Cubs failure is long and extensive; no doubt you have heard them all by now so I will dispense with the postmortem inventory.

The build-up to this season was huge - 2008 being the 100 year World Series anniversary, the Cubs 2007 Central Champs, a new star from Japan, all of this going on before spring training even started. Expectations were huge for 2008, so the team goes out and wins a National League best 97 Games (the most for a Cubs team in 63 years), and THEN...The post season. As a Cubs fan I know you got that sinking "here we go again" feeling when Dempster served up that Grand Salami in game one.....and not the "oh we might be in trouble today" feeling, but the "doomed" numbness a prisoner might feel on a slow walk to the gallows before facing the inevitable.

Hey, I didn't want that feeling in my head and I quickly tried to push it away, telling myself at every turn - "Here is where the Cubs step up and change history", "Here is where D-Lee, A-Ram, Big Z, etc. come up with the big hit or pitch to stifle the insurgent Dodgers"...They didn't. Once again the Cubs playoff failure was a very bitter pill to swallow, you might think it would get easier...It doesn't.

The rest of the playoffs and World Series could be interesting but with the Cubs out, my appetite for such things has diminished. So where do we go from here? With the build-up to 2008 and incredible regular season I just can't see the same intensity level from the fans next year, after all "this" was the year. Then again, the one thing that Cubs fans seem to possess more than any other fans is...Resiliency. Going forward will the Cubs success during the season be judged on getting to and winning the World Series? Is spring training and the regular season only a preamble to what is important - the playoffs and World Series?

In the end I guess it depends on what success means to you, if the Cubs winning the World Series is your definition of success, then they are a very unsuccessful ballclub. If you define success as the Tribune Company probably does in terms of game attendance, apparel sales, and franchise value then the Cubs are very successful.

As a hardcore fan all these factors play a part in the Cubs appeal but there's something else; a visceral link formed with a Cubs player or a year (for me 1984). Since most often this link to the team is instigated and perpetuated by one of our family members the bond with the Cubs grows over time. Before you realize what has happened it's too late, you are a Cubs fan or as some might see it - one of the "Doomed". The team is woven so deeply into many of our families and memories that it's often hard to separate the Cubs and our own self-image. It tends to be especially difficult after a tough loss like this years playoffs to remember that baseball and the Cubs are in the end, entertainment.

As most of you know I try to be realistic about the Cubs and not delude myself about what this team will do any given year. At the same time I am optimistic by nature so I can see potential in most Cubs teams given the "if things go right" caveat. After last years playoff loss the D-Backs it took me quite a while to start getting excited about spring training. For some reason that isn't the case right now, and it's not because I think the Cubs will be any better, that remains to be seen. It's probably a selfish desire to be around the team again and enjoy the great weather and feeling that Cubs spring training here in Arizona offers. Or perhaps it's an extension of an email that my friend George from Waukegan sent the other day, after talking about the Cubs failure and "Blue Funk' that had set in after the loss, George closed with this:

"See you in February pitchers, catchers and anyone else who wants to get an early start on winning it all in 2009! The Cubs Media guide will be updated with these grizzly 2008 stats...0-3 NLDS...but 2009 starts out like all the rest 0-0 Won-Lost and nobody knows what will happen, optimism reigns supreme!

The sooner winter comes, the sooner spring training starts!"

Thanks Geo, spoken like a true Cubs fan! The title of this blog is a quote from Buddha in which I switched the first two words, "It is" to "Is it" in order to pose a question.

Word is the Cubs will have 18 home games at Hohokam Stadium this coming spring. This is a photo of my view from the press box at Hohokam, walk up the stairs between sections 200 and 202 before the game and say hello...See you in March. Tim

Armed and Dangerous

How bout those Cubbies! How bout Big Z! How bout the magic number down to 6! It really is hard for me to temper my excitement right now, this has truly been one incredible season...but it's not over yet. I just want to see the Cubs close the regular season strong and then...On to October!

After Big Z's no-hitter the other day, I was thinking back to the spring of 1998. I was sitting behind then Cubs President and CEO Andy MacPhail at Hohokam listening to him talk about a rookie pitcher from Texas who was going to be something special...Kerry Wood showed us why only a month and a half later with a one hit, 20 K game on May 6th against the Astros. Only two current Cubs players were in the organization back in 1998, Wood and a 17 year old kid from Venezuela who was getting his feet wet in pro ball with the Cubs Arizona rookie league...Carlos Zambrano.

So here we are ten years later with two home grown pitchers playing huge roles in the Cubs chances of winning their first World Series since 1908. Kerry Wood has certainly had an up and down injury filled Cubs career; no doubt the path has been different than the Cubs faithful had envisioned following that May 6th 1998 game. Wood has persevered during the last decade in spite of huge expectations and injuries by working hard and staying focused. This year's switch of Ryan Dempster to starter and Wood to closer has really payed off for the Cubs. It is however the final stretch and post-season when leaders like Kerry Wood must step up and take care of business.

Carlos Zambrano's no-hitter was a historic game to remember and another step in his pitching evolution. In 1998 few people knew anything about the 17 year old pitcher from Venezuela, in 2003 Zambrano won 13 games but when the Cubs made a push to reach the World Series he was overshadowed by the other young guns Wood and Prior. After the 2003 season things really accelerated for Z, while former phenoms Wood and Prior combined for 35 wins and 37 losses since 03, the Big Z has won 78 games and lost only 39. With Z having 12 days off because of a sore arm the no-hitter really came out of the blue, once again the Astros were on the other side of Cubs pitching history. Certainly the Cubs are capable of scoring more runs than in the recent past but this year's hopes will rest on the broad shoulders and continued evolution of Big Z come playoff time.

Theodore came up with a big game of his own yesterday allowing only 1 hit in 7 innings work. The Cubs were having a good time in Milwaukee while the Brewers were in Philly melting down...Manager Ned Yost took the brunt of the heat getting axed with only two weeks left in the regular season. So now we have the Cubs and the Brewers going at it in Wrigley tonight with the Cubs able to clinch if they sweep the Brew Crew. I'm thinking that the Brewers will be a bit on the testy side for the series, all things considered. As Lou likes to say "one game at a time"; should be a good pitching match up this evening with Dempster and Sabathia.

Go Cubs!

Winning is in Fashion

This has been one fun baseball season; the Cubs are doing what needs to be done and taking care of business. Haven't blogged in a while and was prompted to do so by an email from George in Waukegan. I met George this past spring; like the rest of us in Cubs Universe, he and his family are super excited about the Cubbies right now.

I was happy when the Cubs traded for pitchers Harden and Gaudin but was a bit leery of Hardens injury history. So far, so good, the Cubs are being smart with his pitch count. Harden has been as Soriano said "dominant"; he really gives the Cubs that needed starter for the end of season push and helps neutralize the Brewers Sabathia acquisition. Gaudin who was kind of an after thought in the deal to most Cubs fans has been a pleasant surprise.


The classic look

I saw that Bronson Arroyo is pitching against the Cubs tonight and couldn't help but remember that corn-row hairdo he sported with the Red Sox...man that was, well, less than flattering. Speaking of pitchers hair, in Jeff Samardzija's first major league camp at Fitch in 2007 he came in with the long locks. Let's just say Lou wasn't thrilled with the look, I shot some video of Samardzija that first day so I'll pass it along here. It's only about a minute long. Jeff is another Cubs pitcher that coming out of camp wasn't really expected to make an impact this season. It's great to see him help the club in a playoff race this early in his career.



I've been very busy on a couple projects and trying to stay cool down here in AZ...I hope to cool off while watching the Cubs in Chicago this October. Go Cubs!

No Offense but...

Last night Rich Harden pitched outstanding, another 10 K's with only a loss to show for it. Harden made one mistake giving up a HR to Alex Romero, combined with no run support from the Cubs' offense resulting in a disappointing 2-0 defeat to the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. It really was a tough loss as the Cubs hit Randy Johnson hard, but the balls went either right at someone or the DBacks made excellent defensive plays. It's a very good thing that Alfonso Soriano is coming back this week - provided he has no set-backs - the Cubs need an offensive spark. It's games like last night and the two losses in Houston where his bat could make the difference between winning and losing.


Good to see Soriano back (fielding during bp)

Some observations from last night's festivities at Chase Field: Man, it was HOT - I don't mean outside - but inside the building. I suppose some seats are better than others in this regard, but maybe the DBacks are trying to cut down on the cooling expenses because it was downright uncomfortable. At least at Wrigley, when it's hot you have a chance of getting a cooling breeze.


Cedeno started at 2nd

The introduction of the Cubs starting line-up was a joke. The barely audible PA Announcer rattled thru the line-up so fast if you sneezed you would have missed it. Very disrespectful to the visiting team in my opinion. Of course the intros for the DBacks were of the over the top basketball/hockey like variety. Randddddddeeeeee Johnnnnn-sonnnnnn, yea we get it...nothing like trying to artificially pump up the unresponsive DBacks fans. This stadium has some great amenities, no doubt, but what a contrast from my recent experience at Wrigley. Chase Field is the anti-Wrigley with it's Las Vegas style eye-tormenting cluttered neon and advertising everywhere you look.


Fontenot and Theriot have a laugh during bp

A huge amount of Cubs fans were on hand (as usual) displaying much more enthusiasm than the mostly stoic DBacks fans. The Dbacks also have between-innings live commercials with separate announcers who are doing bits or promos from different areas of the ballpark. At one point they are on top of the dugout doing a "let's make a deal" type giveaway. A Cubs fan selects the box which turns out to have a pail of water in it. Of course, the skit ends with the pail of water being thrown onto the fans and, you guessed it, not water but confetti. This skit wasn't even funny when the Harlem Globetrotters did it ad nauseum in the 1970s and 80s. Sorry about the rant but these things things seem more annoying to me when the Cubs lose.

I'll be watching tonight's game on WGN from the cool, comfort of my couch.


Things are looking up with Soriano back soon

Go Cubs~

Back Where It Started

Sitting here watching the Cubs and Dempster on MLB TV trying to get a win in Houston, bases full of Astros with the Cubs up 3-0 in the 5th inning. Dempster just K'd Backe for out 2, wow Backe is pissed on the called third strike. Ramirez just caught the 3d out and the Cubs escape a bases loaded no out situation.

It would be nice to get a win today and start winning some road games; the Cubs come to AZ tomorrow and I will be at the game. I will post my photos from Monday's Cubs/DBacks game on Tuesday morning. It should be an interesting game with Randy Johnson facing off against Rich Harden. Alfonso Soriano is going to play tomorrow with the Mesa Cubs and then back with the big boys on Wednesday or Thursday. Soriano's return this week should be a shot in the arm for the Cubs' offense.

Theriot just drove in Fontenot, Cubs 4 Astros 0, bye bye Backe. Back here on Tuesday morning with a report and photos from tomorrow night's game.

Go Cubs~

Pops and Me go to Wrigley

What a great trip to Chicago in spite of the crappy game we saw against the Reds on Thursday but the Cubs came back on Friday beating the Giants 3-1 in a thriller. As I mentioned in the last blog my dad and I went along with the Hohokams on their annual trip, which meant we saw two games at Wrigley Field (last Thursday and Friday).


Hey-hey, I'm at Wrigley

Those two games were vastly different experiences for us and not just because of the outcomes. In the Cubs 12-7 loss to the Reds we were in the center field suite, it's a nice set-up with lots of room and fantastic catered food and drink. The trouble is you are in this hermetically sealed room with no feel for actually being at a ballgame and no outside seating. It's more like a small bar with a great view but you can barley even hear the 40 thousand plus fans when they cheer after something exciting happens. Sure we stayed dry when it rained that day but I felt disconnected from Wrigley Field and the fans. The fact that the game lasted three hours and fifteen minutes and the Reds blasted Cubs pitchers for 7 HR's didn't help.


A day earlier we were in the hermetically sealed black box

After Thursdays black box experience Friday was like being at another completely different ballpark, we had seats in section 122 behind home plate slightly towards the first base side. I looked at the starting lineup for the Cubs on Friday and saw Daryle Ward, Reed Johnson, and Mark DeRosa manning the outfield with Marquis the starting pitcher and was a bit apprehensive, then remembered the Cubs were facing the Giants. The game was a pitchers duel with Jason Marquis shutting down the Giants, the Cubs didn't break thru until the 8th when Aramis Ramirez hit a game winning 3 run HR. The game was even better for my dad and me because we sat for one inning in the first row behind the Cubs dugout; (courtesy of a friend of the Hohokams) those are simply amazing seats. We were also treated like kings over at Bernie's Bar before the game, a huge thank you to all those who made that happen.


A-Ram as seen from the front row


A-Ram takes a curtain call after 8th inning HR


The other hero of Fridays win Jason Marquis

If you've never been to a Friday day game at Wrigley, put it on your list of things to do in life, it's baseball meets Disney World. I know all games at Wrigley are special but Fridays just rock! This was my dad's first time ever at Wrigley; he's a fun loving guy from Irish American roots who has been known to bend an elbow on occasion. For him Wrigleyville was as if he'd found Shangri-La.

I've been to many of the bars around Wrigley but hadn't been to Murphy's Bleachers so that was a must this time. We stopped into Murphy's prior to Thursday's game only to hear the song "Friends and Family" playing on the sound system. While it certainly is a cool song and one Cubs fans can relate to, it has special meaning for me as my cousin Tracy played guitar in the band (Trick Turner) that made and recorded the song. Several years back I put the song on a mix CD that gets played at Hohokam every spring training. Murphy's is a very cool pub and much bigger inside than it looks from the outside. At Murphy's we met and chatted with some very nice ladies who had come to the game with there senior center, they had tales about bringing the kids to "ladies day" back when and were keen on swapping other Cubs stories.


Murphy's Bleachers after Thursday rain

Pops and I got the chance to go on the field prior to Thursday's game as the Hohokam group had their photo taken; I had one of the Hohokams take a shot of me and my dad on the field. That day ended up being a gathering of many of the Hohokam Stadium spring training crew at Wrigley as Stadium Manager Dave Dunne and Hohokam organist George Kiefer along with me and about 25 Hohokams all were in attendance. Robert Brinton the Hohokam Groups newly elected "Big Ho" (how's that for a title) talked with Len Kasper and Bob Brenly on WGN about spring training during the 3d inning of Thursdays game. Len Kasper was gracious enough to mention that we were at the ballpark and that my dad was attending his first game at Wrigley. The excitement and level of electricity in and around Wrigley was unbelievable, especially sitting in the stands on Friday...you just knew that one of the players was going to come through and the Cubs would win it.


Pops and me on the hallowed Wrigley sod

So here we are at the All-Star break with the Cubs sporting the best record in baseball (tied with Angels) with Soriano due back soon and Rich Harden in the rotation...it should be one hell of a second half. Being a Cubs fan the optimism is always somewhat guarded but I'll tell you what, I plan on being back at Wrigley to see the Cubs play this October! Enjoy tonight's Cubs game...er...uh...I mean All-Star game. T


Took this shot of Mike Fontenot while sitting in the front row

Speeding to the All-Star Break

Great game from Cubs pitcher Sean Marshall yesterday, a series win on the road against the Cardinals is always fun, too bad the Cubs let one get away missing the sweep. At any rate extending the Cubs lead over those birds in the standings is huge. Now if the Cubs can follow up with a strong home stand at Wrigley before the All-Star break it will be a very successful first half indeed.

It's fantastic to see a franchise record 7 Cubs on the NL All-Star squad. The Cubs are getting a lot of national media hype and deservedly so, expectations will only be raised from here -- having those 7 guys along with the rest of the ballclub playing like All-Stars come October is what really matters. The Cubs have talent and offensive prowess (especially when Soriano returns) and in my opinion have the right Manager in Lou Piniella to get the job done.


Rookie All-Star Kosuke Fukudome


Rookie All-Star Geovany Soto

With the Brewers closing in the standings and acquiring CC Sabathia the second half of the season in the Central division looks like a three horse race. It will be interesting to see what GM Jim Hendry pulls out of his bag of tricks to possibly get another starting pitcher for the Cubs.

Last week while driving across country back to AZ I was pulled over in a small town for speeding (less than 10 mph over limit) and then something unprecedented happened. The first thing the officer said to me after seeing my Cubs ball cap on the dash was "Are you a Cubs fan?" being in Nebraska I wasn't exactly sure why he was asking but I said "yes, I am". He then goes back to the squad car with my drivers license and registration, upon returning he says "I'm going to give you only a warning but please slow down". At that point I had to ask, "Are you a Cubs fan"? "All my life" he says, so we proceeded to chat about the Cubs for several minutes. I told him I do the Cubs spring training public address at Hohokam and he should come out for spring training, he said he plans to make the pilgrimage some day. Then off I went, thinking how cool it was to escape getting a ticket because I was a Cubs fan. Unfortunately the Highway Patrolman in Colorado wasn't a Cubs fan.

Now the part I am really excited about - this coming Thursday and Friday I will be at Wrigley Field when the Cubs take on the Reds and then the Giants! The trip is with the Mesa Hohokams and I am taking my Dad along so it should be a great time. I love the city of Chicago and can't wait to get some of that great authentic Chicago style pizza. It's a quick trip Wednesday to Saturday, I will post photos and blog about the trip upon returning. Wrigley Field here we come!

T