Exile in goatville
Steven Chaitman gets rowdy in the bleachers at the Friendly Confines
In Nomine Padres, et Phillies, et Spiritus Cubbies
By Mike Maguire | Sep 20, 8:52 AM
Since September's stretch run began, I feel like I have had 3 coronaries, 2 grabbers, and a heart attack. Chicago Cubs fans are many things… but seasoned veterans of playoff hunts we are not. It's safe to say that the Cubs nation of invested fans is in need of Thursday's off-day as much as the players are. The Cubs are enjoying their first day off in more than three weeks today… and the Cub-less Thursday will give us all a chance to catch our breath before taking the final plunge.
As the Cubs sit on a one game lead with just nine games remaining, all that is left to do (from the fans perspective) is pray to the baseball Gods in their infinite wisdom. I am going to take this off day to pray for the holy union of Cubs lumber to horse hide. I'll pray that the back end of the bullpen remains divine, and I'll pray that Lou Piniella's heart is in better shape than my own. I'll pray that our big guns can hold up on short rest, and I will pray that the Cubs saintly leather remains true.
I will also say a prayer asking that the San Diego Padres don't wrap up a playoff spot before the final weekend of the season. The Padres play the Brewers to end the season, and if the Padres have already clinched their fate… they could evolve into a lame duck pushover of an opponent for the Brewers final series. Please baseball God's, don't allow this to be.
For Cubs fans in 2007, the dull moments have been few and far between. While I appreciate the excitement and fulfillment that comes from enjoying every step down God's path, I'll be praying for nine, ho-hum, boring, old fashioned Cubs blowouts from here on out.
What I pray for most is Cubs baseball in October, and eventually Hell freezing over as my Cubbies celebrate a World Series title at Wrigley Field. Cubs' fans have suffered in ways that would make Job himself cringe. Maybe I am asking for a miracle here, but I feel like it's time for the suffering to end.
Let my people go, Baseball Gods. I humbly pray to you… let my people go.
Discuss
DUKE, 09-22-2007
Praying? sounds like a typical longtime Cub fan...like my mother. Do you wear Cub earrings during the games like she does? How about rooting for the team, analyzing strengths and weaknesses and discussing that. By discussing, by the way, I mean real talk about the team, not the hairtrigger-like booing you get at the "friendly confines" the minute a great player drops a ball. This mushy Cub quasi-religion stuff is maddening at times.
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