Still the Team I Remember

Last year, after over 26 years of loyal Cubs worship, I gave up. It was just a few weeks into the 2010 season and I just couldn't take the frustration of watching a WAY overpaid -- even by baseball standards -- WAY underachieving team any longer.

This past weekend the Cubs played two extra inning games against the St. Louis Cardinals. With 2 outs and bases empty in the bottom of the 12th inning of the first game, Cardinals all-world first baseman Albert Pujols (who'd already homered once in the game) came to bat. In previous years it would be a "no-brainer" decision: walk Pujols and face whomever may be next. With Pujols' numbers down a bit this year and with .329 hitting Lance Berkman on deck, the Cubs decided to pitch to Pujols. Jeff Samardzija did well to only nibble at the plate and it was no surprise when his 2-1 slider looked like it was heading for the dirt. Knowing Pujols' talent -- and knowing Cubs history moreso -- it was even less of a surprise when Pujols dropped his bathead on the low slider and drove it out of the park to win the game, 5-4.

The very next day, Cubs pitcher Carlos Marmol was on for the one-run save in the bottom of the 9th. Back when I used to watch, Marmol was notorious for refusing to establish his fastball and instead, throwing slider after slider after slider. So with a runner on 1st and a full count to former Cub Ryan Theriot, I had giggle fits watching Theriot loop a hanging slider down the left field line for an RBI double. Then with the score still tied, guess who led off the bottom of the 10th for the Cardinals. Did you guess "Albert Pujols?" See, you're already thinking like a Cubs fan! As a Cubs fan, you're happy to know Marmol was no longer pitching but the bad news is the Cubs are still the Cubs. With Pujols leading off this time, the intentional walk strategy takes different factors into consideration, mainly "do you want to put the game winning run on base with no outs?" The Cubs again decided to pitch to Albert. This time instead of Pujols hitting a good pitcher's pitch out of the park, he took a hanging fastball from Rodrigo Lopez and deposited it in the center field bleachers to beat the Cubs again!

Oh, Chicago Cubs, you are incorrigible.

But gone were the days of wanting to punch a wall. Instead I took great pleasure in knowing I'm no longer emotionally invested in this mockery. Furthermore, I've found that not only do I not root for the Cubs but I actually root against them! And upon further reflection, I'm lucky it was only 26+ years of fandom when their World Series drought will be 103 years in October.

Just Joe