Miscellaneous Baseball Thoughts

Miscellaneous baseball thoughts from Wednesday September 26th 2007.

AN OPEN LETTER TO TONY LARUSSA:

Dear Tony,

Thank you for beating the Brewers tonight. If the Cubs end up winning the NL Central, next time you're in Chicago, drinks are on me. And so is the cab.

Sincerely,

Cubdom

THE THREE PHASES OF THE TRUE CUBS FAN:

THE ETERNAL OPTIMIST: Yeah, the Cubs have lost the last two games but look on the bright side. The magic number is down to three. Meaning any combination of three Cubs wins or Brewers losses makes the Cubs the NL Central champions. The Brewers have to play the Padres who are fighting for their playoff lives and will likely face Chris Young, Greg Maddux and Jake Peavy. The Cubs go to Cincinnati to face the Reds who are already eliminated, and without their two biggest power threats: Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr.

THE PESSIMIST: The Cubs are gonna blow it. You know why? Because they're the Cubs and they always blow it. It's what they've always done and it's what they will always do. They always find a new and interesting way to blow it, so at least we all know it will be entertaining!

THE REALIST: With four games left and the magic number standing at three, the Cubs chances at winning the division stand above 90%. The Cubs have played way below their potential and have three of their best pitchers going for them this weekend against the Reds. They also have a manager who has been in this situation before, and unlike some managers, will put the importance of the game at hand above retaliation.

RANDOM THOUGHTS:

• If the Padres can somehow take three of four games from Milwaukee, Cubs fans might have to take back all of those nasty things they said about the Padres in 1984 (at least for one weekend.)
• Miami's Joe Robbie/Pro Player/Dolphin Stadium is the new house of horrors for Chicago sports fans. Between the Bears and the Cubs, they are winless in their last 11 games against the Miami franchise--and are winless in 2007 in Dolphin Stadium.
• If the Cubs can't beat Dontrelle Willis (who entered Tuesday's game 9-15 with a 5.32 ERA) or Daniel Barone (1-3, 5.30 ERA entering Wednesday) then how are they gonna beat Cub killers Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo?
• Also, why do I have a feeling that former Cub Buck Coats is gonna come back and bite the hand that once fed him.
• I know that Steve Trachsel is scheduled to start against the Marlins on Thursday. I don't think that's a good idea. Start Rich Hill on normal rest--every game counts--especially ones that could decide the fate of the NL Central.

That was one moment inside this Cub fan's head.