As you probably have already heard, the Cubs lost to the Marlins in the decisive game 7 of the NLCS, meaning the Marlins are cruising their way to the World Series. I can't even imagine what people in Chicago are feeling right now -- to have come so close, with such good prospects, only to fail in the eleventh hour...the Cubs watched unbelievably as their 3-1 lead in the series disappeared, one painful game at a time.
It's heart-wrenching. Truly amazing. The Cubs fans came back game after game, not believing it possible for them to lose three games in a row, and yet, there it is. Statisticians must be screaming bloody murder at the odds of it happening. The Marlins's persistence paid off, and got them their trip. Too bad the Cubs were the losers in the end.
Probably every Cubs fan in the world knows of two things right now. The significance of the number 005895, and Steve Bartman. Oh well, there's always 005996 to erase next year, right?
I feel truly bad for Steve Bartman, who now must feel like he has a target painted on his back. The only thing that would have vindicated him would have been a win in game 7, and now to Chicago, he must come across as a late day Bucky Dent. He's now legendary and a part of Cubs history; he's the infamous one who robbed the Cubs of their World Series run in '03. His middle initial right now just might be 'F', though it reads better if you make it his first initial: F. Steve Bartman.
What makes it so sad is that it's not even his fault. Here's this poor guy, going out to a game to watch his favorite team vie for the pennant, seeing a pop fly. He wasn't looking at Moises Alou. He saw a foul ball, and did what most any fan would do, which is try to catch it. Point of fact, though, it was a foul ball, and he wasn't the one responsible for the eight runs in one inning let through by the Cubs. Say all you want about momentum; it wasn't him who let through those runs, or forced Kerry Wood to give up seven runs in 5.2 innings. Let's take some responsibility here. Steve Bartman is just a convenient scapegoat, because everybody needs a common enemy, and Cubs fans don't want that enemy to be the Cubs. Their heads might explode. Poor Steve now has to live with the fact that he's hated in the city in which he lives.
Watching game 7 felt a lot like what Red Sox fans have felt for years. The feeling of "they can't do it" builds up; at first you don't quite believe it, you just say it. Then, you truly believe it. They can't do it. Yet, proof keeps adding up until you get to the point where you start questioning yourself. Wait, maybe they can do it. Followed by, whoa, they're really doing it! Then surprise, surprise surprise, you find you were right the first time. With a 3-0 lead for the Marlins in the first inning, I thought it was pretty much over. The tone was set. Yet, the Cubs bounced back. Hard. They took the lead, leaving me to say, "They just might do it!" But alas, the billy goat brayed, and the lead was gone. So it goes.
What irks me the most about this series was that it got me to be hopeful again for the Cubs. I used to be a Cubs fan, back in the day when Andre Dawson and Ryne Sandberg were big guns for the team. Year after year, despite their record, I kept rooting for the Cubbies, adding years and years of disappointment. Hence, when I moved to Boston, my alliances switched. Why not root for the home team? Little did I know, the Red Sox history wasn't exactly an upgrade over my previous situation.
This NLCS championship rekindled my love of the Windy City team, which I guess makes me a fair weather fan. Yet, there it was anew -- the disappointing, final answer, that yet again, they would not be making it in. I felt tricked, betrayed, called out. It was as if they were dangling the World Series before me. "Wouldn't you like to come back? We're going all the way! Psyche!"
So after the stunning ALCS game 6, which rocked my world, I left the evening in the end dejected. Yet, I know that come next season, I'm going to be watching for them. They've shown that they have the will and the talent, even though they didn't reach it this year. I wonder if I'm setting myself up for more bitter, future disappointments...but isn't that what baseball's all about? The question is, which team would I root for? I have to go with the Red Sox -- sorry Cubbies. I'm too out of touch with the gang in Chicago.
I have to say this about the ALCS and the NLCS: they've brought me into the baseball world with an enthusiasm I never realized I could have for the game. Regardless of who wins in the end, both of these sereies have been absolutely astounding. I've never been so interested in baseball, ever, with most every game being a nail biter. I wonder how many other people found a sudden zeal for the game, after astonishing performances by the teams involved. (Well, all except one, who shall remain nameless, but whose name rhymes with Spank-Mes. I want them to lose. Hard. Badly.)
Congrats to the Marlins...I hate you only because you trounced my old home favorite. Hopefully, I'll get to see you face off against my new town heroes. Of course, if it turns out to be a Yankee / Marlins World Series, I wonder if I'll even care to watch. (Maybe I will, in the off chance that the Marlins can wipe the smirk off Derek Jeter's face, as well as send Roger Clemens out with a loss. We can all dream, right?) You can bet I'll be very interested in game 7 of the ALCS -- let's see if the Red Sox can pull it together!
Posted by John at October 16, 2003 12:47 AM | TrackBack