Hey, Pi Theory is not crappy. They're a solid group. And they love tacos.

And thanks, newper.

I... I feel so loved right now.
Thanks for the nod Frank. I'll try to take you up on that someday. However, I really hope you won't have to buy me one, if ya know what I mean.

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Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

This season will be the biggest waste of six months of my life if they dont make the world seres. Which they likely will not at this point.

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That strange look on his face is actually him laughing hysterically at the title.

I haven't read every post in this thread, so hopefully I'm not repeating....

when a team is the favorite coming out of spring training and they play like the favorite most of the season, to get swept, and by alot, in the first round makes 2008 a pile of steaming crap.

I think Eric Cartman could sum up this season best: "WEEEEAK!"

Alright, so maybe it was a great regular season, with a terribly frustrating playoff run. Can you really call this a playoff run, when the team is swept?

Anyway, THE STARS ALL ALIGN IN 2009!!

Sorry-that was really just for a laugh. We'll have to see what changes Hendry makes, before anyone can reasonably predict any chances they might have next year. I just had to throw that out there, as I know all the crap I'm gonna be catching from friends who have heard my lil slogan all these months. I was wrong, obviously. But I suspect the sun will still rise tomorrow and life will be about the same as it would have been had they won the Series. Doesn't really qualify as a tragedy.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Is anyone really going to be excited come April? I mean, how could you possibly be after these last two years? How could you be optimistic? I don't think I'll feel any optimism about the Cubs until they actually show something in the playoffs. I don't want to think about about next year. It's a long time away, and it's gonna be a long long season, regardless of how they do.

Hoju, I said the same thing in 03. Then I said the same thing after they couldnt even make the playoffs in 04.

This year was a failure. A certain former CEO set the bar for this team two years ago when he said the Cubs goal was to win a World Series this year, and then next year and the year after that. The Cubs did not win the World Series, therefore, they did not achieve their goal and they failed.

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Enjoy your crow, Steve. You're gonna be eating it for quite a while.

Maybe you can find some good recipes off of the food network.

I will continue to live on the planet earth, and commiserate with real Cub fans.

Not the first time the Cubs have disappointed me. I will anxiously look forward to seeing what the Cubs do in the off-season. In the meantime, I hope the Brewers can win again tomorrow and then again in a possible game 5, so I can go see a NLCS game in Milwaukee. I don't really care who wins very much. I just love the game and would enjoy seeing a Championship Series game there. I loved this Baseball season. It was a blast, in spite of the disappointing ending for the Cubs. I hope the Sox can rally too. It would be fun to go see an ALCS game over at U.S. Cellular too. Already planning for next years road trips. Love seeing the other ballparks, while taking in a ballgame. Plus, at a lot of places like Pittsburg and Cincinnati, real good tickets are easy to get and at face too.

WZ-what makes someone a "real" Cub fan to you? Someone who bitches and moans as if their life depended upon their team winning a Championship? Someone who gives up hope and rails against the team they "supposedly" were a supporter of when things go wrong? Many of the people who bitch and moan here, probably never even went to a game all year. At home or on the road. They made no real investment in the team, yet they want to complain when things don't go perfectly. Its a game, meant to entertain the fans. If your focus is only on the final outcome, you probably missed out on a lot of enjoyment that was available along the way.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Wasn't your final outcome focus that they end the wait in '08? Or was that just a stunt to annoy Sox fans?

What is a real fan? A fan is someone whose heart aches in the losses, and blooms in the wins. It's an emotional connection. It's why we use "we" when talking about our team. It's why I have dreams about the team at times, that they've won a dramatic game, or they've lost one.

You're going to take ME to task on whether I'm a fan or not? Go for it. I don't need to prove myself to someone like you, bleating all year that "THE CUBS END THE WAIT IN '08!" with seemingly no conviction or real emotional connection to the team (since you only were around to post anything about this team when the Sox struggled or the Cubs were doing well), when they FAIL as they did...and all you have to say for it is...well, we have next year. Pats on the back to the organization, pats on the back for a good SUMMER...THAT'S not a championship.

A fan says...THIS WAS our year. A fan says...THERE IS NO NEXT YEAR. That's what Sox fans felt in 2005. That's what Phillies fans felt in 1980. That's what Red Sox fans felt in 2004.

And we don't get that. And I can't sleep because of it. I'm up at 2:30am because of that.

THAT'S what I am as a fan.

And you don't need to be told that, because you're supposedly a fan. Or are you really?

You come off as a typical white bred, yuppy Wrigley fan. And you can go ahead and cheer and welcome the Cubs back from their failure as a team throughout this post season.

I won't be there. Because they weren't there for me. And that's what the fuck a fan is. And that's something you'll never fucking get.

Not spending money on overly priced tickets, as well as other merchandise, does not make you any less of a fan. Sports is a financial and emotional investment. Unless you are scalping your tickets, you do not get money back. Im sure a lot of people expect a championship as a return on their investment. I also don't think you are wrong for getting some emotional return on investment for the good moments during the season. So I dont think either side is wrong, in other words, Im not young Danny Bernstein.

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I blame you for the eternal opptimistic bullshit attitude "Wait till next year" excuse for the Cubs sucking every year. Fuck you and all the fans that permeate this fucking cancer on the rest of Cub fans that have to listen to your incoherent drivel and excuses. Fuck you.

D-Lee = Traded. Guy is so non-clutch and has no business hitting in the 3 hole. Defensively is a wonder but the absence of a bat coming from 1st base is irresponsible.

Fukodome = Coach. Needs to work w/ coaches and become a more intelligent hitter at the plate. It's a shame that he faded away like he did in the second half. Not sure if he's got something going on in his personal life that's had him distracted but god dammit he's been an epic disappointment ever since a hot start.

Soriano = Fucked. We're stuck with this guy for many moons. He's a streaky hitter who's a defensive liability and has no natural position or place in a lineup. He had 1 goddamn hit in 3 playoff games, and this is the kind of guy we want leading us to a title? He's the definition of a choke artist.

Pitching staff = EPIC FAIL. 3 games in the playoffs and not one single fucking starter can go more than 5. Inexcusable. Piss poor. The Dodgers had the Cubs by the balls since the second Dempster watched that grand slam sail out of the yard.

I don't know what this team's missing. The talent is there for them to contend for a title but they are absolutely SPINELESS.

This series and last year's series is a pure example why Soriano and Derrek Lee are lineup cancers that suck the momentum out of an offense. I don't see why guys like Reed Johnson didn't get more playing time. All Reed Johnson's done all year is bust his ass for this team and he gets rewarded by sitting down watching Jim Edmonds swing away. I fully expect Reed Johnson to come back and leadoff as an every day center fielder next season, to hell with Felix Pie.

Carlos Zambrano is a headcase piece of shit. The guy is untouchable one game, but melts down the next. I don't know what to do with the sonofabitch. Trade him off, do something with him, get him a shrink. He's his own worst enemy and it's a killer. Has no business being a #1 ace.

And get Bob Howry the fuck outta here already.

It was easy to hang the Cubs jersey up in the closet this year for the final time. This team if full of losers who can't hack it when the pressure's on, another overachieving overpaid bunch of no-lucks that wash out when it matters most. Good riddance.

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Morning everybody.....wasn't that a great year?

UrlachersOranjKleats, I agree with most of what you say but for the exception of Lee.

I hate to make excuses for a player when I dont know if any of its true, but...

- Lee's offensive production has been the same for most of career (with 2005 as an anamoly) in most major categories, with the exception of a decrease in home runs, a decrease in stolen bases and yes, a 100% increase in the number of times he grounded into double plays.

- During the 2003 world series run, Lee's batting average was in the low 200s over 17 games. As a Cub, in two playoff appearances, Lee's batting average was near the 500s over 6 games. Unfortunately, Soriano and number 2 hitters were never on base ahead of him. I think that would have significantly changed the two series.

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I agree with both your post and your avatar.

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Depmster was horrible, but you can't win if you don't score. In the 6 ALDS games under Lou, the Cubs have scored a grant total of 12 runs. That is not going to get it done in October.

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i missed the part where anyone was getting mad. all fans want championships for their teams, not just the ones who get all mad and upset when they come up short.

Here is the thing that just gives me the craps.

Marlins 2 world series rings

rockies have been there.

bluejays have 2 rings

the rays might get there

How in the hell does this happen, expansion teams winning and getting there at the least, but yet, the cubs cant. I cannot figure it out.

Astros been there.

Dbacks won one.

Angels won one.

Padres been there twice.

Almost every team that came about from the 60s on has been there, except the Nationals/Expos, the Mariners and the Rangers.

A great year ?
No not in the least .It was a very good year .A greta year would have not ended in another Fucking sweep in the first round .
I hope to hell Mr Cuban is allowed to purchase the team .From what I seen of him .The guy does not tolerate shit like this .If he does get the team , most of what you al have said needs to change will .
Lee -prob stay
Zambrano- He will be forced to get some counseling
Sorinao ,Cuban and Lou will have a talk where he is told he will be moved down in the order .Cuban will not be told by a player where he plays
Middle relief -gone
Rameirez -see Soriano
Fukadome- cached and expexed to improve or see yah back to land of the Rising Sun

There will be a lot of movement no matter who buys the Cubs , but out ofthose left Cuban is the only hope for someone to own the club who is not only a business man but a guy who wants to win.Its in his blood ,.Also if he does get the team I do not see Wrigley staying around in its current incarnation. If he does not get major help to renovate (rebuild it ), I see the Cubbies in the Burbs within 3 years .
Just to remind people great is not fucking play like the bad news bears in the playoffs .

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When I am stuck and need to figure something out I always remember the Immortal words of Socrates when he said:"I just drank what?"

The only rings the Cubs will ever get are the rings around their collective asses when they get off the crapper.

This bon mot from the King of Pompous Assholes himself. Fuckoff Slick.

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Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

Suck a dick kerchugathunk - please avoid your father's this time though. There's plenty of lonely guys around Wrigleyville right now.

Homophobia is the best you have? Methinks thou dost protest overmuch. You've got nothing because you're not happy with what you have.

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Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

Typical Sox fan response.

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"Ditkith"? See that? That's your I.Q. Buddy! ZERO! ....I'd rather talk to HIM!"