Lou Pinella’s Famous Wrigley Field Ejection

I’m Ready For a Tirade

I generally try and stay away from negative posts but the 2009 Cubs have driven me to do this once already this season, back when Kevin Gregg blew one of many of Randy Wells should-have-been wins.  I came really close to another one two nights ago when Mr Gregg blew the Cubs victory by walking the first batter in the ninth and then giving up a home run to the next.  I don’t like to single out players but Kevin Gregg you have come so close to getting a thrashing from me.

That’s not entirely fair though, because as thoroughly mediocre you’ve been as a closer, it’s really nothing compared to how consistently crappy the Cubs offense has been this year.  In the last three games, the Cubs are 1-29 with hitters in scoring position.  I don’t think I need to say it, but that’s PATHETIC. They are hitting .219 with runners in scoring position, easily putting them at LAST in the majors in that category.  I think your team is in trouble when Fukudome and Andres Blanco are your best hitters with runners in scoring position.

After a string of exciting come from behind victories last week, the Cubs have given all those wins back and fallen down to right at the .500 mark again. Somehow all is not lost yet though because the Cubs still find themselves only 3 1/2 games out of first place.  They could actually get back into contention quite easily if they could just manage something like a measly .270 with runners in scoring position.

But here we are almost to July and we can no longer say the Cubs are off to a slow start.  That excuse ran out awhile ago.  They now are beginning to look like an overpaid, underachieving middle of the pack team.  It’s certainly not what we hoped for after two straight division titles.  Expectations can be rough like that; 3 1/2 games back makes you a contender but the fans are expecting way more than we’ve seen this year.

It’s getting harder to want to pay attention to this team.  2008 was a remarkable season.  I probably watched more Cubs games then I had in years.  The Cubs were incredibly fun to watch.  After so many years it was fun to see a team that could take a walk, hit with runners in scoring position and execute plays consistently.  Where did that team go?

Today in the Sun Times, Dan McNeil said he wanted some old school fired up Lou Pinella.  Frankly I’m surprised we haven’t seen a real big Lou Pinella explosion yet.  I don’t know how he can contain himself.  I’ve already kicked around my Cubs hat and cursed up a storm this month.  Is he keeping it behind closed doors?  Did his doctor tell him his health was in danger if he had a blow up?

I don’t know that a blowup would change anything but we’ve all been waiting for something, anything to happen that would send this team on a tear.  It sure seemed like those come from behind victories might do it last week.  Then the offense quickly fell back to earth.  THUD!

One more game to try and salvage a win against the Tigers and then the Cubs have to travel to Hell in the Cell field for an interleague series against the White Sox.  The Sox swept the Cubs there last year.  I cannot tolerate that happening again on top of how frustrating this team has been this year.  I will definitely take matters into my own hands and go on a tirade myself if that happens.

I know it’s just another three game series with over half the season left to go, but every true blue Cubs fan knows it’s way more than that.  I’m putting all the Cubs players on notice.  It’s time to wake up.  Get your lucky bats out.  Put on your lucky socks or whatever it is for you.  Eat your lucky breakfast.  It’s time to get this offense hitting for real.