[MORE: On to the next one – Schwarber, Cubs dismantle Pirates in wild-card game]. “We weren’t very good, but they were preparing for this”.
Advertisement
He did, as evidenced by the statement Bartman issued the following day: “I ask that Cub fans everywhere redirect the negative energy that has been vented at my family, my friends and myself into the usual positive support for our beloved team on their way to being National League champs”.
The unstoppable Will Clark, Durham’s error, Garvey’s homer and September of 1969. And they’re such a unusual team.
And just enjoy the show. The Cubs were in the middle of their last World Series appearance for, well, nearly forever. At worst, we’ll endure discussion of the Billy Goat curse, Al Capone and Jim Belushi. Game 4, if necessary would be at Wrigley Field on Tuesday. “They may not wager enormous amounts, but they support the team in droves, and those small tickets tend to add up over time”. One year later, after losing 100 games two years in a row, they nearly won 100 games this year. “He said to me, ‘Hey, I want you to just play and don’t be afraid to make a mistake, ‘ and to me that spoke a lot about the confidence he has in us and that helped me, and all of us, feel right at home”. “So you look from previous year, and it’s legitimate”.
Do you remember how Jake Arrieta threw a no-hitter but wasn’t too proud to wear ridiculous pajamas?
Arrieta, Jon Lester, Justin Grimm, Pedro Strop, Hector Rondon, Fernando Rodney, Travis Wood, Clayton Richard, and Neil Ramirez/CJ Edwards/Trevor Cahill.
Do you remember how Kris Bryant had a torrid Spring training and how “torrid” was the word everybody used to describe his Spring, but he still started the season in the minor leagues forcing the most neurotic Cub fans to throw their arms up in the air and complain that this decision might ruin the season? Patience was a virtue for Theo Epstein and his front office and the fruits will bear of the next few years even if everything doesn’t blossom over the next month.
The point is not to prep you for a loss on Wednesday but rather to not think so much about the possibility of one.
Advertisement
Regardless of whether or not Back To The Future Part II predicted the future correctly (even though we’re still missing the hoverboards), the boys from Chicago are going to do whatever they can to be the first World Series champions on Addison Street since Teddy Roosevelt’s was in the White House. Chicago lost the game and the series in seven games and have not been to the Fall Classic since.
