Re: Irrational Exuberance

I agree with Eric that these Cubs are clearly not satisfied with just
winning this first round. They want to go to the World Series. On that
score, I think they take their cue from Baker, who's been as cool as a
cucumber after the division clincher and last night's game. Remember, *he*
wants to go back to the Series which his Giants came oh, so close to winning
last year.

And bless your heart, Mark, but I think you're a little too obsessed with
'84. The Cubs had one truly dominant starter, then, in Sutcliffe. Today they
have two lights out starters and a healthy closer (Smith had a rib cage
injury). You're right that winning the pennant will be the *real*
breakthrough, but winning this first round was a necessary step to getting
there and there's nothing wrong with noting and celebrating that fact.

The Cubs were a serious underdog facing a team with home-field advantage
that won 101 games during the regular season. I think that's a remarkable
accomplishment.

"Mark Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> I'm happy that the Cubs beat Atlanta but was a bit disturbed at the
> celebrations going on.  This was only a divisional playoff, the real
> playoffs start Tuesday.  Although the Cub players (especially Kerry Wood
> and Mark Prior) should be happy and deserve congratulations, they
> shouldn't be drinking champaign, the real games start Tuesday.
>
> If anyone remembers 1984, the first time the Cubs won their division
> since 1945, the city went totally nuts, as it should have.  I have it all
> on tape if anyone's interested.  Back then there was still a lot of time
> for Cub players to get over their hangovers before the playoffs and if
> anyone remembers, the hungover Cubs lost the next regular season game to
> Pittsburgh that year.  In 1984 there weren't two levels of playoffs
> before you go to the World Series.  Winning the division put the Cubs in
> a 5 game pennant series, the winner representing the National League in
> the World Series.  The Cubs were up 2-0 and ultimately lost 3 heart
> wrenching games in a row to San Diego in which they should have won any
> one of those 3.
>
> All of these celebrations are very premature at this point and all these
> bullshit stats of the Cubs not winning a post season series in 95 years
> is also misleading.  Before 1969, the winner of the division went
> directly to the World Series, that was the only post season play.  And we
> all know the Cubs never fared so well there either.  Comparing beating
> Atlanta to losing to the Yankees or Red Sox eons ago in the World Series
> is comparing apples to oranges.
>
> That said, although the Cubs pitching was better in 1984, I'm starting to
> think they may have a good chance and hopefully they'll have some day
> games at Wrigley to showcase the ivy turning color in October like it
> looked in the 1984 postseason games when the Cubs clobbered San Diego.
> Unfortunately this year the ivy looks real green and it may not start
> turning color unless they make the World Series.
>
> I just had to get that off my chest.
>
> BTW: RCN still sucks.  I still have to get that off my chest too.
>
>