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Past the 3/4 Pole: The Cubs Have the Horses to WinAugust 26th, 2008
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I recently found myself stuck with a bad car. The brakes went out shortly after the purchase of the beaten fillie. The power windows don’t work right. The engine has a lifter problem. For $500, you get this sort of vehicle. One without the horses to get you home at night.
The Chicago Cubs are not any of that. They are a sleek thoroughbred, a Genuine Risk, that can bring it home in the derby.
Surprisingly, they are a team with more ways to beat you than just the usual bang-it-over-the-fence mashers they implemented from 1998-2005.
They employ on-base expertise in actually racking up walks and long pitch counts. They can string together hits, get the merry-go-round of 1st and 3rd going steady while keeping pitchers in the stretch and managers harried and annoyed.
The top 3 pitchers of Zambrano, Dempster and Harden, can turn in a gem, or fight for 6-7 innings while allowing 3 or less tallies. The bullpen of Samardzija, Marmol and Wood are The New Nasty Boys of Lou’s Crew. Even centerfield, with Jim Edmonds and Reed Johnson platooning, has become a strength, unlike years of plodding by disappointing colts and overused sires.
This all came at a significant price tag – as the Cubs spent freely $350 million on the cusp of the ball team’s billion dollar sale – but it spent wisely, and acquired well. GM Jim Hendry, know best for fleecing the 2003 Pirates and the frustrating lack of moves in 2004-2006 seasons, has either become wiser or just leveraged the cash spent to put a quality product and team on the field. Hendry’s horses have finally turned in times worthy of Triple Crown contention.
But at the ¾ pole, teams are faced with either pulling away while others bite the dust, or fading down the stretch, to finish 2nd, or out of the money.
Realistically, no one could blame a fan for doubt. 100 years of yearning and learning that the Cubs have their own curses of black cats, drunk goats and grabby Bartmans teaches you frustration that only a Cub fan has the history buttressing his/her point of view.
But this team has the horses.
This 2008 Chicago Cubs team has ample talent to be the frontrunner in the post season. In a race of eight teams, they may be the ones that set the pace, drives the turn and shows superior instincts in the final leg of the season and post-season. (Unless they are engaged in a match race with the Brewers ala Affirmed and Alydar.)
A World Series takes these horses to new heights in Cubs lore. A win to the pinnacle of the franchise’s history.
It’s early still, but this observer staked these Cubs fillies to a Spectacular Bid.
Go Cubs Go!
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