Posted By: Mike Rodbard
June 23, 2009
The ex-Cub factor.
We hear about it every year. You know how it goes: There's someone who used to play for the Cubs, and now they don't, and then they spank our beloved North Siders with a wink and a grin and a comment lke, "Gosh, I loved wearing the Cubbie pinstripes. I really thought I'd end my career in Chicago."
Uh, right.
Can you say Mark DeRosa and Kerry Wood?
Ok, maybe those are bad examples, considering the three-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians (I still don't like inter-league play) that took place at Wrigley this past weekend. Woody took the b.s. (blown saves, not the other nasty thing you're thinking of) to a level of futility that can only be described as Cub-like.
They both waxed poetic about their fond memories with the Cubs.
Now, I know, you're thinking, "But the ex-Cub factor usually works against us, and not in our favor. We swept the Tribe. Woo hoo. We're gonna win it all, now, for sure."
Right. Roger that.
This much is true: It's still a month 'til the All-Star selling spree.
Which means, of course, that there's still plenty of time for false hope and great expectations.
Again.
I can see (Cubs' GM) Jim Hendry already, sitting in his cozy office, or hospital bed, or wherever he does what he does, thinking, "We swept the (last place and lowly) Indians. See? Who needs Mark and Kerry? We're the best, finally. I'm sure of it."
Either that, or some aging journeyman, perhaps a pitcher (Tom Glavine?) will be brought to the North Side, certainly overpaid, and will be showered with praise for doing such a great job with a team that just couldn't quite cut the mustard.
He'll of course be given a nice, cushy, one-year deal, then, in typical Gary Gaetti fashion, only to be lamented and then soon released for having a career half-year.
Remember, management knows that a mere playoff appearance is all that's necessary, no matter how much the talking heads will say that Cub fans aren't going to stand for anything less than a championship.
Actually, just getting close to the playoffs might be enough. It's not like the tickets aren't selling (kind of like Tribune Co. honcho Sam Zell).
So we take the roller-coaster season on to Detroit to face the vaunted Tigers, featuring Dontrelle Willis.
Another ex-Cub.
Remember the pain from 2003's shellacking? Of course you do. Dontrelle Willis and (then-Marlins manager and former Cubs catcher) Joe Girardi were the anchors.
Ok, Willis never really had a chance in Chicago, and we sent him to the baseball hot-bed (who knew?) of Miami. (I still can't believe that the Marlins have won it all TWICE...)
Yes, Wood blew two saves in fine Cub form. And DeRosa was only 1 for 7 with 5 strikeouts. He DID, however, add to his (somewhat respectable) season stats with 2 RBI for his fine, multi-million dollar weekend performance.
But come October, when the Cubs play the Indians again (that's really the only scenario there can be, right?)...
Only ex-Cubs can pull off feats of glory like that.
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You can read more of Mike Rodbard's drivel about Chicago and music in his blog, So it Goes...
