S_Dedalus
1000+ Head-Fier
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- Jan 24, 2004
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I've been a Cubs fan all my life, and I'd love to see them win a bunch of games and go to the world series, but I know it probably won't happen. What really pisses me off, though, is that now that they have a guy who could really do something amazing, the rest of the team is not structured to help him out at all. Lots of sports analysts are talking about how Mr. Lee is either leading, or right up there in the major offensive categories, but no one seems to be talking about what will eventually keep him from winning at least one of the necessary titles.
1. Corey Patterson- This guy just drives me nuts. He's a fast, talented centerfielder with a lot going for him, but he just can't get on base. Striking out once a game, and swinging at every other high fastball isn't helping his cause any. The biggest problem is that he's supposed to be the leadoff hitter. You know, the guy who tries to draw walks, slap the ball around, steal bases, and generally make things happen? Well, obviously it isn't happening. Without a good leadoff man who gets on base frequently, Lee will never win the RBI title, because he'll always be up with 2 outs and nobody on, or leading off innings.
2. The Cubs need Lee's offensive production desperately, and when he's slumping, the team slumps. Thats why he's played every game so far, and why he'll probably play all 162 games. That makes a guy really tired. As the season wears on, fatigue will really start to set in, and those line drives that were going out will start going to outfielders or hitting the fence, hard ground balls that were slipping through, will slow down enough for the infielders to grab them, and throws to first he's beating out now will nail him at the last step. Without someone to occasionally pick up the slack for him, he's going to start dropping out of both the home run and maybe even the batting title races.
3. This is by far the most important one. Remember in '98-'01, when the home run race was burning away? Yeah, there were Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, and Barry Bonds. Despite hitting 240 home runs, and having 3 60 home run seasons, Sosa only won one home run title, and it was in '00, the only one of the four years he hit fewer than 60. Also, what do 97 and 60 mean to the cubs? The years since their last World Series win and appearance respectively. This team was born for the letdown. Unfortunately for Lee, I think the curse will fall on him as well.
So Cubs fans, lets go get drunk and mourn our ailing team. At least there's always next year.
1. Corey Patterson- This guy just drives me nuts. He's a fast, talented centerfielder with a lot going for him, but he just can't get on base. Striking out once a game, and swinging at every other high fastball isn't helping his cause any. The biggest problem is that he's supposed to be the leadoff hitter. You know, the guy who tries to draw walks, slap the ball around, steal bases, and generally make things happen? Well, obviously it isn't happening. Without a good leadoff man who gets on base frequently, Lee will never win the RBI title, because he'll always be up with 2 outs and nobody on, or leading off innings.
2. The Cubs need Lee's offensive production desperately, and when he's slumping, the team slumps. Thats why he's played every game so far, and why he'll probably play all 162 games. That makes a guy really tired. As the season wears on, fatigue will really start to set in, and those line drives that were going out will start going to outfielders or hitting the fence, hard ground balls that were slipping through, will slow down enough for the infielders to grab them, and throws to first he's beating out now will nail him at the last step. Without someone to occasionally pick up the slack for him, he's going to start dropping out of both the home run and maybe even the batting title races.
3. This is by far the most important one. Remember in '98-'01, when the home run race was burning away? Yeah, there were Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, and Barry Bonds. Despite hitting 240 home runs, and having 3 60 home run seasons, Sosa only won one home run title, and it was in '00, the only one of the four years he hit fewer than 60. Also, what do 97 and 60 mean to the cubs? The years since their last World Series win and appearance respectively. This team was born for the letdown. Unfortunately for Lee, I think the curse will fall on him as well.
So Cubs fans, lets go get drunk and mourn our ailing team. At least there's always next year.
