By Marty Gangler
Through the course of a Cub Fan’s career you get used to a number of things.
One of those things is the Cubs ultimately losing, of course, and with that comes the second-guessing (and first-guessing) of Cubs management.
This would concern trades, free agents, draft picks, the roster, playing time, strategy, etc. Just all of that stuff.
And typically you would have really good cases for your thoughts – like you didn’t feel wrong about things too often.
Because the Cubs always seem to “cub” something up.
But those times are over.
There’s nothing to second- or first-guess anymore.
The roster is solid, and all the pre-game and in-game moves work.
Okay, sure, they don’t all work, because you know, the Cubs don’t win every game, but I’ve never just shook my head in disbelief this much in as long as I can remember – disbelief in a good way.
Look at Joger Soler. The guy was doing close to nothing when he went on the DL in June. And he was doing less than that in his minor-league rehab stint. So the Cubs bring him up this weekend as the DH and he just smoked the crap out of the ball to help sweep the Oakland Moneyballs. Now what do you do with him?
He can’t really play the field all that well and the Cubs don’t play any other American League teams on the road all year – so there is no more need for a DH. (Well, in the regular season . . . )
I have no idea what they will do, or what they should do, but frankly I think the Cubs will figure it out and win more games no matter what they decide. Because they just do no wrong. I mean, just this week I told a friend that I thought there was a decent shot Soler would never be in the big leagues with the Cubs again. And then he gets activated and has a couple homers and just looks great in there. So, how much wrong was I? Like 500% wrong? Its fine, I guess, I’m wrong a lot, but typically not this wrong.
All this being said, it makes for a different kind of watching a game. You kind of really just sit back and watch or listen and just see what happens. Sure, you can try to be one step ahead of things, but you are probably going to be wrong, so let’s not bother. Let’s just soak in this magic of this season.
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Week In Review: The Cubs went 6-0 for the week, sweeping both the Marlins and the A’s. The Cubs are now 11 1/2 games up in the division and 28 games over .500. And Jason “Moneybucks” Heyward still isn’t hitting much at all.
Week In Preview: The Cubs have the day off Monday to flex in the mirror and feel good about themselves, and then get back to work with two against the Angels and four against the Cards, all at home. Cubs Fever should be really, really ramping up this homestand, and pretty much from here on out it should be insane. Please plan accordingly.
Musical Outfielders: And no aren’t talking about Matt Szczur playing the French horn. It was status quo for the Cubs again this week in left field. Willson “The El” Contreras got two starts, as did Szczur, with Kris Bryant and Chris Coghlan each getting a start as well. Now throw Jorge Soler into the left field mix and who knows what will happen out there. I’m still waiting for the real curveball – you know, when just one guy plays the whole week out there. Make it happen, Joe!
Former Annoying Cub Of The Week: I’m going to once again kind of take a little liberty here, but it seems like Tommy “3 a.m.” La Stella has not reported to Iowa yet. Does anyone know where he is? Should he be on a milk carton or something? He certainly seems like a former Cub right now. I’d say he is missed, but more correctly it sounds like he is missing.
Current Annoying Cub Of The Week: None. I can’t think of any of them right now. How can this level of winning be annoying to anyone? Oh, give me a week and someone will grind my gears, but right now, it’s all sunshine and rainbows.
Mad(don) Scientist: Big Poppa Joe is apparently “stressed” about all the roster juggling. But I’m not stressed at all. I know he’ll do the right thing. I love this guy.
Kubs Kalender: Fans attending the Cubs-Cardinals game at Wrigley this Saturday will get to deal with a lot of Cardinal fans, and that is never fun. But the first 5,000 kids will receive a Clark Hat, because nothing says August in Chicago like a furry hat of a bear wearing a hat.
Beachwood Sabermetrics: A complex algorithm performed by The Cub Factor staff using all historical data made available by Major League Baseball has determined that this magic number thing is going to sneak up on us.
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Marty Gangler is The Cub Factor. He welcomes your comments.
Posted on August 8, 2016