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I haven't been on much this season, but after last season it was just hard to get into Cubs baseball for me this year. I've told people of my own opinion which is that last season was the Cubs year and they blew it. Last year was so great, consistent play and winning, what appeared to be a problem free clubhouse with good guys, and a calm Lou at the helm keeping things in perspective. I guess during this season I never snapped out of last seasons playoff debacle.
I got to only one game this year, the 2-1 win over the Brewers on July 3rd. The beers and food were good, I got to see Milton Bradley get clobbered by a flyball he lost or misplayed, but I just sensed that everything was gone this season.
I am old enough to remember 69 and 84, 03 and 04 were disappointing too but my ability to get interested again this year never happened. Maybe I'm just getting old too.
Any of you feel the same way?
The Crabby and Bitchy Old Man of SOI
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I feel the same way, and it may be a function of age and experience. The last time I was really excited was 2003, and we know how that ended. Maybe that was the final straw---to be so close and to blow it in such spectacular, cub-like fashion. I've been skeptical ever since.
And then there was that year where the team blew apart, with the result of Stone leaving (even though he's an asshole now)--that didn't help.
I really didn't have a lot of love for last year's team.
I'm 100% fine with this. I'm just glad there's an actual plan in place that isn't, "Let's load up on retreads and hope we get lucky." I'm a little tired of that plan.
Butcher
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I feel the same way. I've fewer games this year than any other year that I can remember. I never felt proud or pumped up. They went winless in the games I went to, and I just felt ashamed and embarassed watching them. The ironic thing is, that if we had this team in 1962 or something, this year would be considered a success.
I hate my pretentious sounding username too.
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I still haven't recovered from 03 and 04, so no, I haven't fully adjusted to anything that has happened since. This season was like getting kicked in the face after being run over by a truck (2008).
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I totally recovered. I was ready for this year. I knew we were going back to the playoffs. I didn't believe for sure that we were going all the way, but I knew it was a possibility and that was good enough for me. Just to get that chance in the playoffs was all I was looking forward too and I knew we were going to at least have that.
I fell for it. Hard.
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The real question is have the Cubs recovered from last season.
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<!--quoteo(post=62463:date=Sep 9 2009, 11:31 PM:name=CCwinwssoon)-->QUOTE (CCwinwssoon @ Sep 9 2009, 11:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->The real question is have the Cubs recovered from last season.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's a real good question. One thing I will say about the 07/08 teams is that they went out and played hard, hustled, and were pretty sound. They however seemed to lack spirit. As much as we were frustrated in 03/04, I kind of miss Sammy, Alou, and Lofton doing the fist jump after a win.
The Crabby and Bitchy Old Man of SOI
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<!--quoteo(post=62457:date=Sep 9 2009, 11:07 PM:name=Scarey)-->QUOTE (Scarey @ Sep 9 2009, 11:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I totally recovered. I was ready for this year. I knew we were going back to the playoffs. I didn't believe for sure that we were going all the way, but I knew it was a possibility and that was good enough for me. Just to get that chance in the playoffs was all I was looking forward too and I knew we were going to at least have that.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I was like Scarey. I thoroughly enjoyed last year. Sure, I thought the off-season moves might knock us down to maybe 92 wins, but I figured that'd be enough to get us into the "tournament."
It's like we just never caught fire. We have some good players. As I said in a post about a week ago, if you had told me in March that D Lee and Fuk would have serious comeback seasons, I'd have been even more certain of our invincibility.
What's tough to swallow is that we're an old team, and we were kind of built for now-or-never.
There's nothing better than to realize that the good things about youth don't end with youth itself. It's a matter of realizing that life can be renewed every day you get out of bed without baggage. It's tough to get there, but it's better than the dark thoughts. -Lance
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<!--quoteo(post=62468:date=Sep 9 2009, 11:56 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Sep 9 2009, 11:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->What's tough to swallow is that we're an old team, and we were kind of built for now-or-never.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The thing is, if I try to look at this team objectively (which is very difficult to do), they could have a very strong season next year. I know they're old, but there's some very talented players here.
Admittedly, it's very difficult to envision 90 wins next year. Maybe that's just the way it's supposed to be though. The last only seasons I remember that people generally came into spring training thinking the Cubs would be the best team on the continent was '04 and this year. I just don't think I'll be comfortable being the front runner anymore, so it may be all for the best that the Cubs will be off of everyone's radars.
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Nope. I have not watched near as many games this year. With the year going the way it has gone it has just gotten worse. I honestly have not watched a full game since the week before SOITOW.
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things have never been the same for since 03. after that season, i realized that there is so much more to life than revolving my schedule around 162 baseball games every year. bartman changed my priorities.
Wang.
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I was as excited for this season as any season. I just assumed too much.
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<!--quoteo(post=62480:date=Sep 10 2009, 07:00 AM:name=Ace)-->QUOTE (Ace @ Sep 10 2009, 07:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I was as excited for this season as any season. I just assumed too much.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Me too.
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I'm excited for the start of every season. And I'm emotionally invested in every team. My expectations is really what fluctuates. And that's what affects my attitude more than anything. If I go into the season not expecting them to do much, then I just enjoy it for what it is -- a game of baseball. I enjoy individual performances. I soak up Wrigley. If my expectations are high, then it's hard for me to enjoy the little things. Because winning becomes the only thing that matters.
The reason this season sucks so much is that I expected another playoff appearance. If I came in to the season expecting a .500 team, I'd probably really be enjoying myself right now.
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i'm not saying i'm not excited every season, it's just that the edge is off. there's a dark cloud now at the beginning of the year and i get tired of them so much faster than i used to.
and i don't believe they'll ever win the world series which makes me question why i even bother.
Wang.
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