Cubs Sky is Falling
Quick email thread with my cousin, Jim:
Jim: They have to win tonight. They need a huge performance from Z. I'm talking like 7 innings of 3 hit, shutout ball. And they need, someone, anyone, to step up offensively. I am so tired of seeing the big 3 choke in the playoffs. They need to get Fukudome out of there and work some other guys in - Johnson, Fontentot. Honestly I think they made a mistake leaving Hoffpauir off the playoff roster too. I'd have kept him over Ward.
In a nutshell, must win tonight. It's amazing the ramifications this game has. It will determine the series, if it's not already determined. They win, it's huge, because they have Harden going in game 3 and I like that match up. They lose, it's probably over.
They need someone to come out and make a statement early in this game to get the positive vibes back - like Z strike out the side in the first or someone comes up with a big hustle play or something. The negativity surrounding this franchise right now is just really eerie.
Mike: Agreed. I think the fan reaction worried me more than anything. All the negativity in the building and waiting to fail is just killing the team. Like when the Cubs gave up 8 runs after the Bartman play. Shell shocked. I'm convinced that a similar play on the road would have been overcomable.
Not sure about Hoffpauir over Ward. It's pretty difficult to hit cold off the bench, and Ward always has good at-bats (even if he doesn't often get a hit). I have never seen Micah get even a single hit off the bench. That said, I may have taken him over Pie and considered starting him in right (even though he's fricking terrible on defense. TERRIBLE.) But I think DeRosa's hamstring (and subsequent limited range) prevented that from happening.
Like you said, Z wins tonight or its over. Soriano, Lee, and Ramirez REALLY need to step it up. If they get swept, I might have to seriously start rooting for another team.
Jim: Pie is a complete waste of a roster spot. Like you said, Hoffpauir even though he's terrible defensively. Pie only has value as a baserunner, which unfortunately the Cubs don't get too many of.
If they get swept, I will sulk about it a lot - I mean, for a long time. Inevitably I'll be back next year, but I think my mood would be forever changed about the Cubs. This was the year. Last year was a surprise. 2003 was a surprise. They were dominant from start to finish this year, and if it culminated in a sweep, I'd just about lose all faith that this thing is ever going to end. Lou's mood after the game was strange too - very melancholy and reserved.
What do you think about the divisional series being switched to 7 games? It's only 2 more games so you're not lengthening out the playoffs too much. I just think that's part of the reason why you see so many of these teams come out of nowhere and go all the way. There should be more reward for teams that have great regular seasons - of course, I'm saying this now, that my team is being burnt. I don't know, just doesn't seem fair that a team works all season long to be great only to lose their season in basically 1 game.
Mike: You know, you're right. I understood the Pie pick because of his defensive ability. But even if DeRosa's hurt, they've got Edmonds, Johnson and Fukudome - who all can play anywhere just fine. Dumb pick.
Sure, I'd love a 7 game NLDS. Better teams win more in longer series. Personally, I think they should cut the season back to 154 games and do it. No sense in having a longer regular season with 8 playoff teams now. I talked about it yesterday in my blog. Best way to get the best 2 teams is to ONLY take the best two teams. No playoffs at all. Cubs-Angels. Done. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. If that were the case, this would be the Cubs first postseason since I was 14, and every single season since would have been a waste.
I will sulk and be incredibly pissed beyond belief if they get swept, but its too early to think about that. And this series isn't over after one game, by any means. Sure, NLDS history has 24 of 28 game one winners winning the series, but did you know AL is like 12-14 to the game one winners? Yeah.
I might be more concerned about Billingsley than Zambrano. I can see Z throw 7 innings of 1-run ball, only to have Billingsley shut the Cubs out. Typical Cubs.
Typical Cubs.
Jim: The only good thing I've heard about Billingsley from a Cubs perspective is he has looked tired recently and has thrown more innings this year than ever. I want to see counts worked deep.
Ya know, this is the moment of truth. At some point, if this thing is ever going to end, somebody is going to have to step up and do something big. Either this happens, or they lose. It's that simple. If it happens, my bet is on someone like Fontenot or Johnson being the guy.
It would be good to see the crowd into it from the start tonight too. I think that would help a lot to get rid of the jitters.