Chicago -
By Steve Rhodes
When we last left you, it was with limericks.
Let’s start the season the same way:
There once was a fielder named Schwarber
his parents wanted him to be a lawber
But he played ball instead
Rocks in his head
And then he ran into Dexter Fowler and ruined the season.
Posted on April 11, 2016
By Steve Rhodes
There once was a manager named Maddon
Who benched Starlin Castro, who was saddened
But Starlin came back
at the keystone sack
And everyone was gladdened
There was also a prez named Theo
who probably likes Duran Duran’s “Rio”
He put together a team
that played like a dream
But he’s sure no Ronnie James Dio
Posted on October 27, 2015
By Marty Gangler
Ugh. Why does this always feel the same way in the playoffs? Oh that’s right, because it kinda always is the same way.
In the days leading up to this weekend the front office of the Cubs was front and center talking to anyone who would listen and gloating in the success of The Plan. But how does everyone feel now? We rode our ace for close to 90-some more innings over any season he’s pitched in the past going into the game on Sunday. Was that part of The Plan? Fatigue might happen, right? Was there a plan for that?
It just sure would be nice if the Cubs would have went out and got a Johnny Cueto or a Cole Hamels or a David Price for this moment right now – you know, like other playoff teams did. Even the Mets ditched some assets and shored up their team at the trade deadline with track-record performance-tested bullpen help and a real bat (with a real arm). And it’s kind of working out for them.
Posted on October 19, 2015
By Steve Rhodes
Look, we’ve had a lot of fun around here talking about the magical mysticism of Joe Maddon, but that’s all in fun. In truth, Maddon is neither sprinkling holy water on his lineup cards nor playing hunches. As a sabermetrician, he is in diametrical opposition to hunches. I’d like to see us get it right, so we can understand the truth about the man’s managing.
Instead, even the city’s best sportswriter – by far – has fallen for the latest Cubs myth:
“Who takes out his hottest hitter and replaces him with another rookie and then gets a two-run homer as if it is exactly what he expected to get?” Bernie Lincicome wrote after the Cubs beat the Cards in Game 2 of the NLDS the other night. [“Shaft!” – Tim Willette]
“Manager Joe Maddon, the mad alchemist, that’s who. He shakes his beaker and pronounces today’s brew ready and darned if it isn’t. What has no business being anything is not only good enough, not only remarkable enough but satisfying enough.”
Please.
Posted on October 12, 2015
By Marty Gangler
That’s the big question as the Cubs embark once more unto the breach, dear friends. What if they win the whole thing?
Sure it’s been speculated upon for years – the part about the Cubs faithful burning the city to the ground and wandering the ruins for months in a drunken stupor. And, yeah, that could really happen.
But how would all things Cub really change? I’ve been thinking in terms of all the things that would go away, never to be thought of again. I submit to you a list.
* The Billy Goat Tavern(s). Poof! Gone. Replaced in an instant with Beachwood Inns.
Posted on October 4, 2015
By Marty Gangler
Finally! September baseball that is completely meaningless.
With the Pirates pretty much icing up the home field wild-card game, we are back to not really caring what happens during the last week of the season. So let’s all take this week to relax, maybe step away for the team for a few games and enjoy life a little.
Because that game on Wednesday, October 7, is going to be a real doozy. The ghosts of playoff pasts may not haunt these happy-go-lucky Cubs, or this manager, or this management staff, but they haunt the fans. They haunt the fans a lot.
Posted on September 28, 2015
By Marty Gangler
After another week of baseball magic, it’s pretty certain the Cubs will make the playoffs. With this as a fact, the next issue is not who the Cubs will be playing. Nope. That is irrelevant to what we will be discussing here. The issue here is where do you watch the playoffs. Because this isn’t a “We’ll see how the series goes” type deal. This is a one-game, team-defining, possibly season-ending game. The Cubs haven’t played a game of this type in like forever. It’s like Instant Cup-O-Game Seven. So where do you watch the game? What are the pros and cons of each location?
Posted on September 21, 2015
By Marty Gangler
Um, guys, what’s going on with this bullpen?
The Week In Review: The Cubs went 4-3 for the week taking two of three from the Cards and splitting four games with the Phils. Four of seven would normally be fine, but somehow it felt worse because 1) It’s the Cubs, which makes everything feel worse, and 2) They either blew leads in all the losses or came storming back to tie it up only to lose the leads again. There is clearly no quit in this team at the plate but those were three punch-in-the face losses.
The Week in Preview: The Cubbies get a day off Monday before heading to Pittsburgh for four against the Buccos and then three back home against the Cards. It’s Division Week!
Posted on September 13, 2015
By Marty Gangler
Here is an e-mail exchange I had with Beachwood grand poobah Steve Rhodes on Labor Day. It’s just another homage to the great and powerful Joe Maddon.
Rhodes: Before the season, I was really eager to see Joe Maddon’s lineups. Then I was befuddled. Then amazed. Then perturbed. Then amused. Then baffled. I’m giving up. Start Kris Bryant at catcher if you want, Joe. It doesn’t seem to matter.
Posted on September 7, 2015
By Marty Gangler
I know it’s really hard to do right now, but I’m going to try and look at this week as it actually happened and not through the no-hitter colored glasses of one game. Because there was some real scuffling going on and it took a no-no to wash out the bad taste of losing four in a row and it really wasn’t that much fun. The cold slap of reality came in the guise of two West Coast powers; one is the three-times-in-five-years champion and the other is the more-money-than-God monster team – and let’s not even get into the jet lag . . .
Posted on August 31, 2015
