Saturday, April 4, 2009

Cub fans show tremendous optimism as the 2009 baseball season begin

With the baseball season beginning Sunday, have you asked your local Cub fan about his or her team's chances this year? It doesn't matter that the team hasn't won as Ring Lardner would say "The World Serious" since 1908. (By the way, the true Cub fan will tell you that the Cubs also won the World Series in 1907.) When their team takes the field this week, they all believe that the Cubbies will win the pennant and the World Series.

As a St. Louis Cardinal fan, I have always hated losing to the Cubs. I have a standing bet with my brother and Rick Hotard, my best man, that if the Cardinals lose to the Cubs in any series that I have to spend a week in public wearing a blue Cub hat. Sadly, I had to wear that ugly blue hat in public for five weeks last year, while my brother and Rick had to wear their Cardinal hat for one week.

My brother, the misguided Chicago fan, was so concerned about the ugly, non-regulation Cub hat that I wore in public that he sent me a gift certificate from Major League Baseball to buy a new one as a Christmas gift. (Note: I bought a St. Louis Cardinals sweater vest instead.)

Like Cub fans, I believe that my team will win it all this year. Even though the Cards don't have a hitter to protect Albert Pujols, my team has the world's best manager, Tony LaRussa, and pitching. However, the realism of the season won't truly set in until after the Cubs and Cardinals play each other in a couple of weeks.

If the Cardinals beat the Cubs in those first two series, I will truly be optimistic about our team's chances this year. Yet, the realist in me made me also buy a new Cub hats with the red C in it from my local Academy Sports.   For some reason, the Cubs can beat the Cardinals, especially without much offense behind Albert Pujols. 

So, here's to all of you optimistic Cub fans out there.  Someday, you may win a World Series title and someday, perhaps you'll come close to the 10 American baseball titles that my beloved Cardinals have in their trophy room.

1 comment:

RB Brian said...

I rarely post on other people's passionate blogs, but today I am making an exception.

As a lifelong loyal Cub fan, I do not understand why Cardinal fans continue to wish no success for the Cubs when the Cardinals are not even trying.

This is such a good rivalry that there should be joy when ONE of them has a good team. And now that is the Cubs. The Cards have not improved in offense or pitching. No amount of masterful managing can compensate for that.

This year the Cubs have good starting pitching and a solid bullpen. Their pitching depth even extends down into their minors where good backups reside when the inevitable injuries occur.

The offense has also been improved with the addition in to the lineup of a couple good lefty bats.

And I would put Sweet Lou ahead of Terrible Tony any day!!!

I am really looking forward to the baseball season this year with a strong Cubs team on the field. I do think they have a great chance to make the post season again. And they are looking to weather the short series better with their acquisitions.

And the Cards? Albert will hit but not sure what else will happen.

Good luck to all but especially the Cubs!!!!