| And the Curse Continues… |
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| Written by Troy Chuinard | |
| Saturday, 06 October 2007 | |
Goats, cats, and Bartmans. It doesn’t matter what you choose as an excuse, the outcome is still the same: the Cubs have not won a World Series in almost 99 years.
Wednesday night did not give hope for any Chicago fans. After pulling ace Carlos Zambrano in the sixth inning with a pitch count just over 80, reporters went rampant, claiming that Lou is thinking ahead of the game. The fact of the matter is the Cubs are now down 0-2, and this weekend is a test of how friendly the confines of Wrigley Field really are. After being outscored by twenty runs during the regular season, few would have thought that the Arizona Diamondbacks would supply the offensive surge that they have shown so far in the National League Division Series. But that hasn’t been the only surge that has been seen. After serving up a three-run homer to Chris Young in game 2 of the series, Ted Lilly slammed his glove down with frustration. "It was clear that I was upset," quoted Lilly. "This was a big game." But the problems aren’t just with the pitching. The main three sluggers on the team, Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, and Aramis Ramirez, have gone a combined 4-27 in the first two games of the series. Considering the money that has been invested in these athletes, one would guess that the issue of hitting would never become a problem. "I think they have a very good scouting report and they know how to pitch," quoted Soriano. The players haven’t been the only ones to receive criticism. Newspaper reporters all over Chicago have bashed skipper Lou Piniella for pulling ace Carlos Zambrano after the sixth inning, claiming he was trying to save his arm for game 4. The way things are going, there may not be a game 4. Saturday could be the last game of the 2007 season for the Cubs, and the fate of the team lies in the hands of the young lefty Rich Hill. He will face veteran Livan Hernandez, and it will be interesting to see if the Cubs can finally spark up some offense and give Wrigley fans something to cheer about. As far as the curse is concerned? Call it what you want, but the Cubs have by no means “choked” this season. For one, they were probably considered the worst team heading into the playoffs, and one has to keep in mind that this was a major transition season for the ball club. After spending roughly $300 million this off-season, the team acquired a new manager along with several key additions that have solidified their lineup. By winning 85 games this season, it is no question that the team improved from the dreaded 66 wins that the ball club mustered up last year. Down 0-2, it will be extremely difficult for the Cubs to pull this one off. However, aside from the fact that the Cubs will be playing at home, Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb is not expected to start if a game 4 is forced. The Sunday probables look to be Carlos Zambrano for the Cubs and Micah Owings for the Diamondbacks. Either way you look at it, Lou Piniella has done a tremendous job in his first year with the organization, and critics cannot take away the 85 wins that he brought to Cubs fans. After seeing teammates fighting, Sweet Lou kicking dirt on an umpire, and several intense late-inning comebacks, Cubs fans have witnessed one of the biggest roller coaster rides in franchise history. If they do not manage to pull it off, there will be several unhappy Chicagoans all across Cubs nation. But hey, like the saying goes, there’s always next year.             |
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