By Marty Gangler
The Cubs continue to be in first place and I believe that they will finish up this season on top. So what does that mean to Cub fans? Well, it means meaningful games in September and must-see playoff baseball in October, and that doesn’t happen much around here. And with playoff baseball comes the hard thinking about where to watch the game. You could try to get tickets and go to the game, but that is hard to do. You could watch it at home (or at a friend’s house) with amenities like cheap beer, relatively clean bathrooms, and corn chips at your disposal. Or you could watch it out in one of the bevy of drinking establishments this great city has to offer.
For the sake of argument, let’s say you want to go out to the neighborhood corner tavern (they still have those, right?) Now, what are you going to wear? If you are a Cub fan of any significance you probably have at least one team T-shirt, sweatshirt, jacket or jersey. But what if you have more than one? What to do then? Decisions, decisions. It’s not like you can wear that shirt that you wore the last time they won the World Series. Back in 1908 you probably loomed a “C” on your own clothes. Okay, you probably didn’t loom your own clothes in 1908, but I’m not that into history and the point is you have to make a decision. The problem is, you are probably going to go with your most expensive piece of Cubness, and that would probably be a jersey – if you have one. And then, the problem with the jersey is that it’s probably a Sammy Sosa jersey that you bought in 2002. Or that Prior jersey you bought in 2003. Or maybe a Garciaparra or a Pierre. These guys aren’t on the team anymore (or in Prior’s case anywhere near the active roster ) and more than that they carry some baggage. It’s hard to look cool when you are going into the restroom in between innings with your 2001 Kerry Wood jersey when someone across the bar yells, “Hey Woody, don’t slip and fall getting off the throne in there!” It’s not the funniest thing in the world to say, but it might get some laughs at the bar and do you want to be the guy getting laughed at?
So what to do?
You could put on an Aramis Ramirez or a Derrek Lee and you’d be in the clear. But neither of those guys really say much about you, do they? I realize that the jersey isn’t about you per se, but you do shell out a bunch of cash for it so you might as well make it show who you are a little bit. With this in mind I decided that I was going to purchase an authentic Cub jersey. But who to get? Anyone on the current team? I really like Ryan Theriot’s approach to the game and focus – but really, can he be counted on for jersey staying power? A Carlos Marmol might be cool, but I’m not really a middle reliever jersey guy, even though he will probably be a closer eventually. I don’t think the current roster is going to do. So how about he past? Those 1984 Sandberg and Sutcliffe throwback jerseys are cool, but also pretty expensive and, besides, you’ve seen them around. Hmm, maybe a 1984 Keith Moreland, that would be cool. But I’d want the “Zonk” away jersey and I don’t think they make them. They make some 1969 throwback jerseys but I never really saw those guys play myself so that isn’t going to do. So, it’s got to be someone I’ve seen play, someone I was a fan of, and someone that can’t really tarnish their image.
I got it: The Shooter. Rod Beck.
Okay, before you think I’m a morbid jerk-face, hear me out. Rod Beck died recently from what looks like a drug overdose at the age of 38. He was a larger-than-life character who saved 51 games for the wild card-winning 1998 Cubs. In 1999 he started with the Cubs before he was traded to the Red Sox. He also gained notoriety for starting a comeback with the Triple-A Cubs and living in a trailer outside the ballpark in Des Moines where fans could hang out and throw down some cold ones with him. He was also buried in his Cubs uniform. Seems like he loved Chicago.
So we have a beer-swilling, Chicago-loving, mullet-wearing, fat guy, bad-ass, nice guy. Why not wear his jersey? It’s nice to know there was a guy like the Shooter who did it with his guts in one hand and a beer in the other. Plus, on the straight jersey aspect, the 1998 Cubs wore the Harry Caray patch and the Jack Brickhouse Hey-Hey patch. How perfect is that?
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Week in Review: The Cubs Meatloafed the Brewers and Astros, then got crushed by the Dodgers on Labor Day. Look out for the bandwagon to roll downhill so fast it might break the sound barrier.
Week in Preview: The Cubs have three more at home against the Dodgers and then head out to Pittsburgh for three against the Pirates. The Pirates have played better of late and will not be pushovers. Beware the Pirates.
Second Basemen Report: Stop the presses! We had one guy start every game last week at second base: Mark DeRosa. With any luck, the Cubs can get up a few games in the standings and give DeRosa a day off to let some of the others play second base. You know, like the good old days. With the rosters expanding, we have even more possibilities to explore. You know, just like Jim Hendry drew it up.
In former second basemen news, Matt Stairs played one game at second base for the 2001 Cubs (look it up, it’s true). Stairsy, who is originally from Canada, is currently batting .302 with 18 homers for the Toronto Blue Jays. He is missed.
Sweet and Sour Lou: 79% sweet and 21% sour. Lou is up one more point on the Sweet-O-Meter this week due to winning baseball and a good bullpen. And just like your real crazy drunk uncle, Lou is happy that you guys are getting along and doing well. But don’t expect him to get all mushy. He barely remembers your names when he’s sober let alone after a bunch of Falstaffs. Just keep it up.
Beachwood Sabermetrics: A complex algorithm performed by the The Cub Factor staff using all historical data made available by Major League Baseball has determined that no team will actually win the NL Central, but five teams will lose it.
Over/Under: The number of Chicagoans by the end of the week who will have turned in their Cubs hat for a White Sox hat who have now fished out that old Cubs hat: +/- 70,473.
Cubs Fans Theme Song: “Please Stop Believin’”
The Cubs Answer Men: #3 is in the building.
The Cub Factor: Catch up with them all.
Mount Lou: Lou is still experiencing a lack of offense pressure in his core. Expect early inning magma to boil up in a minor lava shower in Pittsburgh.
Posted on September 4, 2007