2015: The Back To The Future Season

[Slaky]

I've been to two of the last three games and I'm probably going tomorrow and let me tell you this season is giving me some feelings.

[Quality Start Machine]

Had a convo yesterday with a a friend of mine (we used to cut school together to go to games), and he offered an interesting take about this team...

He thought that whatever happens this season, Cub fans can be in a very Zen place. Even if there were to be a Bartman redux. He thought it was because if somehow they go down in flames this season there could be a calming belief that this wasn't going to be our one and only chance.

I told him that there was no way in Hell Chicago sports fans could be in a Zen place about anything, it's pretty goddamn clear that watching this aggregate of very yound and very good Cubs could only lead to one assumption.

It's not a matter of if, only a matter of when. We're looking at the main bunch of guys who are winning a World Series.

[Eli]

He thought that whatever happens this season, Cub fans can be in a very Zen place. Even if there were to be a Bartman redux. He thought it was because if somehow they go down in flames this season there could be a calming belief that this wasn't going to be our one and only chance.

When Bartman happened, the team was built around extremely young, extremely good pitching. No one thought that would be their "one and only chance" either. You can look back at their roster now in hindsight and argue otherwise, but everyone thought that rotation was going to be the foundation of a long run of sustained success. It's a nice sentiment by your friend, but you had it right -- Zen-ness has a way of disappearing in big moments (which is fine, because sports).

If anyone does feel more Zen now than they did back then, it's only because Theo and Co. are way better at PR than Hendry was and they've been setting up a public narrative for years now.

[R-V]

He thought that whatever happens this season, Cub fans can be in a very Zen place. Even if there were to be a Bartman redux. He thought it was because if somehow they go down in flames this season there could be a calming belief that this wasn't going to be our one and only chance.

When Bartman happened, the team was built around extremely young, extremely good pitching. No one thought that would be their "one and only chance" either. You can look back at their roster now in hindsight and argue otherwise, but everyone thought that rotation was going to be the foundation of a long run of sustained success. It's a nice sentiment by your friend, but you had it right -- Zen-ness has a way of disappearing in big moments (which is fine, because sports).

If anyone does feel more Zen now than they did back then, it's only because Theo and Co. are way better at PR than Hendry was and they've been setting up a public narrative for years now.

Come on man, seriously? The ONLY reason one might feel more confident about the 2015 Cubs long-term prospects than the 2003 Cubs long-term prospects is because Theo Goebbels is a PR genius? Not because he's got a track record of building a sustained winner elsewhere, and Hendry didn't? Not because he's built a stable of prospects that Hendry never did?

[Eli]

He thought that whatever happens this season, Cub fans can be in a very Zen place. Even if there were to be a Bartman redux. He thought it was because if somehow they go down in flames this season there could be a calming belief that this wasn't going to be our one and only chance.

When Bartman happened, the team was built around extremely young, extremely good pitching. No one thought that would be their "one and only chance" either. You can look back at their roster now in hindsight and argue otherwise, but everyone thought that rotation was going to be the foundation of a long run of sustained success. It's a nice sentiment by your friend, but you had it right -- Zen-ness has a way of disappearing in big moments (which is fine, because sports).

If anyone does feel more Zen now than they did back then, it's only because Theo and Co. are way better at PR than Hendry was and they've been setting up a public narrative for years now.

Come on man, seriously? The ONLY reason one might feel more confident about the 2015 Cubs long-term prospects than the 2003 Cubs long-term prospects is because Theo Goebbels is a PR genius? Not because he's got a track record of building a sustained winner elsewhere, and Hendry didn't? Not because he's built a stable of prospects that Hendry never did?

I'm mostly saying that the outlook was pretty rosy even after Bartman happened, too. And people still lost their minds over every little foible.

[Slaky]

He thought that whatever happens this season, Cub fans can be in a very Zen place. Even if there were to be a Bartman redux. He thought it was because if somehow they go down in flames this season there could be a calming belief that this wasn't going to be our one and only chance.

When Bartman happened, the team was built around extremely young, extremely good pitching. No one thought that would be their "one and only chance" either. You can look back at their roster now in hindsight and argue otherwise, but everyone thought that rotation was going to be the foundation of a long run of sustained success. It's a nice sentiment by your friend, but you had it right -- Zen-ness has a way of disappearing in big moments (which is fine, because sports).

If anyone does feel more Zen now than they did back then, it's only because Theo and Co. are way better at PR than Hendry was and they've been setting up a public narrative for years now.

Come on man, seriously? The ONLY reason one might feel more confident about the 2015 Cubs long-term prospects than the 2003 Cubs long-term prospects is because Theo Goebbels is a PR genius? Not because he's got a track record of building a sustained winner elsewhere, and Hendry didn't? Not because he's built a stable of prospects that Hendry never did?

I'm mostly saying that the outlook was pretty rosy even after Bartman happened, too. And people still lost their minds over every little foible.

However, the 03 Cubs was for most of us (the 30 somethings) our first foray into real Cubs heartbreak. The older guys here knew it in 69 and 84. We only really had heard about those. 03 and to maybe a greater extent, 08, broke me down pretty good.

But I was younger then. Now I know better. These Cubs aren't relying on a couple of power arms to carry them through a decade. They're set up way better than those teams were.

I defnitely do not agree with Fork that it's a matter of when not if. Winning a Series still comes down to more than just talent.

I'll never be surprised when things go wrong because that's how I've been conditioned as a Cubs fan. Fuck zen. In the ninth inning yesterday as Motte and Russell shat the mound I was fearing the absolute worst. It'll never change.

[CBStew]

He thought that whatever happens this season, Cub fans can be in a very Zen place. Even if there were to be a Bartman redux. He thought it was because if somehow they go down in flames this season there could be a calming belief that this wasn't going to be our one and only chance.

When Bartman happened, the team was built around extremely young, extremely good pitching. No one thought that would be their "one and only chance" either. You can look back at their roster now in hindsight and argue otherwise, but everyone thought that rotation was going to be the foundation of a long run of sustained success. It's a nice sentiment by your friend, but you had it right -- Zen-ness has a way of disappearing in big moments (which is fine, because sports).

If anyone does feel more Zen now than they did back then, it's only because Theo and Co. are way better at PR than Hendry was and they've been setting up a public narrative for years now.

Come on man, seriously? The ONLY reason one might feel more confident about the 2015 Cubs long-term prospects than the 2003 Cubs long-term prospects is because Theo Goebbels is a PR genius? Not because he's got a track record of building a sustained winner elsewhere, and Hendry didn't? Not because he's built a stable of prospects that Hendry never did?

I'm mostly saying that the outlook was pretty rosy even after Bartman happened, too. And people still lost their minds over every little foible.

However, the 03 Cubs was for most of us (the 30 somethings) our first foray into real Cubs heartbreak. The older guys here knew it in 69 and 84. We only really had heard about those. 03 and to maybe a greater extent, 08, broke me down pretty good.

But I was younger then. Now I know better. These Cubs aren't relying on a couple of power arms to carry them through a decade. They're set up way better than those teams were.

I defnitely do not agree with Fork that it's a matter of when not if. Winning a Series still comes down to more than just talent.

I'll never be surprised when things go wrong because that's how I've been conditioned as a Cubs fan. Fuck zen. In the ninth inning yesterday as Motte and Russell shat the mound I was fearing the absolute worst. It'll never change.

There was a time when I would get tied up in knots over a ninth inning like yesterday's.  But I guess I have entered a zone of zen.  "Come on Jake.  It's Wrigley."  Ought to start a thread with that in the subject line.

[SKO]

This team is good enough to win a world series and should have have chance to do so. If they don't win it it'll be a disappointment. Sure I'll be as excited if not more so next year than I've ever been,  but you're guaranteed nothing. If you get that close it blows not to finish the deal and it'll never not blow.

[Eli]

I defnitely do not agree with Fork that it's a matter of when not if. Winning a Series still comes down to more than just talent.

Mostly this. It feels dramatic and badass to be all "when not if," but it ignores the entire issue of luck. And the fact that the Cubs aren't the only team in baseball -- they have to deal with the Cardinals, Pirates, Astros and Dodgers, who have an equal (or better) amount of young talent plus an endless supply of money.

That's not to say the Cubs don't have an excellent shot at a World Series in the next 0-6 years. But if they blow a chance this year or next and people act like it's no big deal, that's going to be annoying and I'm going to totally subtweet them.

[SKO]

Holy shit. Man I forgot how strangely good it feels to have your heart literally pounding over a baseball game.

[Saul Goodman]

SWEEP SWEEP SWEEP SWEEP SWEEP SWEEP SWEEP

Time to remind my Giants fan coworkers how much shit they talked about this series all week.

[flannj]

What a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

[flannj]

DPD:

Right now I kind of feel like I do after a Hawks Sunday afternoon matinee win. Give me the appropriate 30 minute refractory period and lets go again.

[Oleg]

DPD:

Right now I kind of feel like I do after a Hawks Sunday afternoon matinee win. Give me the appropriate 30 minute refractory period and lets go again.

I'm fairly disappointed tomorrow is an off day.

[SKO]

DPD:

Right now I kind of feel like I do after a Hawks Sunday afternoon matinee win. Give me the appropriate 30 minute refractory period and lets go again.

I'm fairly disappointed tomorrow is an off day.

My heart needs it. So does Hector's arm