You had to know it wouldn't be easy

[TheBenjamin]

Come on, lets be serious for a second. When the season began, we took off and then started to dominate. Did you really think that it would be smooth sailing through out the whole season? Did you honestly think that we would sail through every month of the season without facing a time when we looked dead on arrival? Come on, this is the Cubs here. Nothing ever comes easily for the Cubs, or there fans.

For that matter, nothing ever comes easily for a "cursed" team. Look at the Red Sox. They had Bucky Dent, Bill Buckner before they even had another shot to win and break their "curse". Just look at what happened to the 2004 Red Sox when they finally broke their own "curse". They had to fight tooth and nail to get into the playoffs just as the Wild Card. They had a tough road as well. They had to go into Anaheim, then into the "House that Ruth built" and faced the evil empire themselves, the Yankees. They were down 3-0, down to their last out (I might be wrong on that) and magically everything came together. They never lost another game that season. The Red Sox breaking their own "curse" was anything but easy.

The 2005 Chicago White Sox also had their own "curse" of sorts to deal with. They had the supposed "Curse of Shoeless Joe Jackson" and had not won a World Series since. Sure, they soared through the playoffs, and made it look easy. But the road to the playoffs was anything but. They came within a game of completely blowing their 15 game division lead, and killing their dream season. Imagine that, having a 15 game lead in August, and having your entire season coming down to the last series of the year against the team who caught up and ate away at your 15 game lead. Easy? I think not.

Now imagine something that is a far greater challenge, and thats the Cubs. Breaking our own "curse" or "curses" depending how many you believe in. Yes there are at least three that I have heard and read about. You had to invision a very difficult stretch in our dream season when the time would come that we would finally be able to call our beloved baseball team World Champions.

Before this most recent stretch that has seen us drop 8 of the last 9 games, the longest stretch of losses that we have seen was only 5 games. After that, I believe was 2 or 3 games. Winning this season, while things seem to bet set up for us with the way some things have fallen, will be anything but easy. I, for one, would not be surprised if this was only the begining. As a life long suffering Cubs fan I would not be surprised if the Brewers were passed up for the Wild Card, and the Division race came down to game 163. It would not surprised me if after game 163 we went down 0-2 in the NLDS needing to win 3 straight. It would not surprise me if after that, we went down 0-3 inthe NLCS and had to win 4 straight. In the World Series, same thing, go down 0-3 needing to 4 straight yet again.

My point being, nothing comes easy to the Chicago Cubs or us fans. Expecting to run away with anything is nothing short of laughable.

[TheBenjamin]

Just for the record, before I am jumped on for the supposed "curse" talk, I do not now, nor have I ever believed in curses, jinxs, hexs, ect.

And yes, I wrote this myself (former journalism student)

[LeeEila's/rant]

I would have been happy with all the adversity we went through in those late inning and one run games we had earlier in the season .

[cubbie_kern]

No it's never easy. Yes this is the worst stretch of the year, but when you do it all year you come to expect the dominant team we've been this year.

[SKIPPER 11]

With the pitching staff we have and our supposed offense we should never lose 7 of 8 or 8 of 9, whatever it is.

[Bims]

Losing is one thing. Every team goes through stretches where they lose a bunch of games. But not only are the Cubs losing games. But they are playing terrible baseball. And they are playing their worst baseball of the season in all aspects of the game as the season winds down. That's where talking about other teams who "lost games down the stretch yet ended up making the playoffs and eventually winning a world series" argument doesn't make sense. Those teams still played solid baseball. They lost close games. The Cubs are playing flat out bad baseball. And if you want to continue to live in the false reality of the whole "the Cubs have no holes" BS, then I suggest that you don't look up the Cubs record in close games.

[TheBenjamin]

ummm, do you remember that I am the gu who is keeping track of the records with how many runs we score? I believe i am.

As far as those teams were not playing bad baseball, look at the White Sox in 05' they were playing horrible

[Drockvb]

No, i didn't think it would be easy. I have had concerns for a month now.

[Bims]

ummm, do you remember that I am the gu who is keeping track of the records with how many runs we score? I believe i am.

As far as those teams were not playing bad baseball, look at the White Sox in 05' they were playing horrible Yes I remember. My comment wasn't just for you. It was for everyone. ..... The Sox didn't play horrible. Their pitching, fudamentals, defense, and bullpen were still solid. It was their offense that went to sleep. The Cubs are playing bad in all aspects.

[cubbie_kern]

I'd rather not look for comfort in past teams success after sucking it up and just win dammit!

[Cubbie Blue Bleeder]

They have holes, they played the whole season up to this point with those holes. 86-58 not bad for a team with holes. Name me one World Series Champion that didn't have any holes. If it was all about great fundamental play then the Minnesota Twins, Anahaeim Angels, St. Louis Cardinals would win every World Series. Its about talent and in the NL the Cubs have the most talent. It's not about holes I mean if it was about that then they still have the upper hand they have the lesser of the holes in their game than the rest of the competitors in the NL. So I say this Swiss Cheese team with all it's holes will be fine.

[SKIPPER 11]

Sure talent can get you a long way, but there is a reason we are 19-21 in 1 run games. We do not get it done fundamentally. You brought up the Twins and the Cardinals. You need to really look at those two teams on paper and compare them to ours - its no where close - but the Twins have a good shot at the playoffs - just like they do every year and the Cards have made it 7 of the last 9 years- I may be wrong on that. These teams have no where near the payroll we do but still find a way to compete and have won 4-5 World Series in the last 25 years. The final team you brought up was the Angels- now thats really scary- they are loaded with talent and very fundamentally sound.

With that being said, our pitching hides a lot of our holes.

[Cubbie Blue Bleeder]

Well the Twins get to the playoffs and lose to teams with more talent that's what usually happens. As for the Angels being so fundamentaly sound they use to be not this years club. I saw a game in wich they made 4 errors in one inning. And the main reason why they traded for Texiera was because they had trouble scoring, the whole small ball thing wasn't doing it for them anymore. I guess you can cut ties with the label of a small ball team when you have Vlad, Hunter, Figgins, Anderson now Texiera in you're line up. Oh and uhh throw in there losing a game in wich you're pitching staff gave up NO HITS!!!!

[SKIPPER 11]

Now the Twins arew all about small ball- Im not necessarily saying we should use small ball. Being fundamentally good does not mean that we have to bunt when it presents itself or steal. It means that we hit with runners on third, meaning swing at pitches we can do something with- thats just an example. Go llok at the Yankees dynasty teams of the late 90s. Their team on paper right now, well the past few years, is so much better but they dont do the little things like they used too. I hated watching them play back then. Every game took 4 hours because they would have a pitcher at 100 pitches at the end of 5 innings. They ran the bases. What Im saying is it seems when I bring up fundamentals- people think small ball. Sure thats part of it, but its a heck of a lot more than that.

[Cubbie Blue Bleeder]

This team plays exactly like that Yankee team. Up to this point they have dominated in almost every offensive category, they are top 5 in all major offensive categorys OBS, Walks,Hits, Runs you name it they dominate in it. They have been taking out the oppositions SP by the 5-6 all year today was more of what they have shown us all of this year taking pitches and with there relentless approach force not only the pitcher but the opposing defense to make mistakes. But a few weeks of bad baseball eliminates the other 130 ball games they played? Even those 90's yankees had some flaws. So to bring up this teams flaws like they are the only ones who have them is not fair. I mean look at the competition like I said are probably the lesser of the flawed teams.

[SKIPPER 11]

This team may have some similar stats as the Yankees, but they were all gamers- meaning not necessarily great players but knew their jobs and played hard everyday. They went first to third better than any team I have seen since the 80s Cardinals. They were never satisfied. They didnt do things to beat themselves. Did they make errors- yes, but they were physical errors- but they didnt have mental mistakes. We make mental mistakes. Im not saying our talent cant overcome them.

[SKIPPER 11]

Look, Im not trying to start something here. As the matter of fact I took a week off from here just to see if I was the one that brought all of the negativity to the board. I found out that I wasnt. We have a good team and a real shot at the whole thing.

[Cubbie Blue Bleeder]

Yeah those teams where solid. Im not saying this team is as good as they where but they have a similar build. Don't forget to that the Cubs have a few pupps playing in Theriot, Soto, Cedeno, Fontenot these guys are still fairly young guys. And they will make some bone head mistakes. I hate seeing that but I know that it's just baseball. I have confidence that once October comes they will get the hit when they need it and the staff will make the clutch pitch. We have a good team they just have to start playing like it again :D

[Cubbie Blue Bleeder]

Im not trying to start anything either Skip just talking baseball with you. Now if you want trouble we could talk Bears vs. Cowgirls in the NFC Championship game :D

[SKIPPER 11]

I will admit I was very impressed the other night with the Bears. I thought they would have no chance in Indy especially with Indy opening up a new stadium.

[Cubbie Blue Bleeder]

Yeah they did good, but still alot of question marks I think there health is the biggest problem of this team. If that defense stays in one piece they could be a legit contender in the NFC. What a NFC title game that would be huh Bears vs. Cowboys. I bet you NBC would love that matchup.

[TheBenjamin]

bump it up, remember, we had to know it wouldnt be easy