Four word post:

Wait until next year.

Just wanted to say, best of luck to the Cubbies next year. They made a great 2nd half run and took the Central from the Brewers, and came into the playoffs red hot.

Simply, however, they got out-hit and out-pitched by the Dbacks. It happens. The Dbacks are a good team even if no one bothers to give them much credit for it.

The Cubs have great fans. Hopefully the Cubs will pleasantly surprise them soon.

Thanks, levski.

And likewise, congrats to the Diamondbacks. It's always hard to root for a team that just cleaned your clock, but objectively I think this is the kind of team we, Cubs fans especially, should root for. Can anyone imagine a Cubs team with the likes of Young, Drew and Reynolds winning a playoff series? I guess I can, oddly enough, which gives me hope.

Four word response:

The Diamondbacks were better.

-- MWE

How did this ####### get unblocked?

Piniella: "We've had some spells...this summer...where we had some trouble scoring runs..."

Exactly. This wasn't Lou's fault, but we all knew that was going to happen.

Condolences to Cubs fans.

Simply, however, they got out-hit and out-pitched by the Dbacks.

Yup.

As I mentioned in chatter, I can live with the Cubs losing to the D-backs. AZ had the better team. I'm more than a little annoyed by how they lost. Lilly had his worst game score of the year in Game 2. Tonight Rich Hill had his worst start in a month. In both cases, they just plain didn't look good. Carlos Marmol hadn't allowed runs in back-to-back appearances all year. Until now. Soriano and Rameriz looked like deers in headlights. Soriano swung at plenty of wildly out of the way ones. Rameriz tonight alternated swinging at nothing in a PA before swinging at everything in the next.

They ain't as good as Arizona. But they were better than this.

Simply, however, they got out-hit and out-pitched by the Dbacks.

Which, Captain Obvious, is saying very little. Not that the D'Backs don't deserve credit for their win, but the Cubs would've had a hard time beating the D-Rays the way they played. In fact, I'll come out and say it--they wouldn't have beaten the D-Rays.

And we don't need your feckin' condolences. It's just a damn series of baseball games.

Go Tribe.

It's always hard to root for a team that just cleaned your clock, but objectively I think this is the kind of team we, Cubs fans especially, should root for.

Am I the only person who finds the DBacks one of the least interesting postseason teams in recent memory? That the Cubs managed to out-boring them was pretty amazing. Game 3 has to be the least interesting game of its length (3 h, 22 m) ever played.

I think a Tribe/Rox world series should be all kinds of fun, and that's what I'm rooting for at this point.

Am I the only person who finds the DBacks one of the least interesting postseason teams in recent memory?

No.

I think my greatest frustration was that the Cubs actually took the bats off their shoulders against Livan Hernandez. Jesus, that guy's a joke. His fastball tops out at 86, and the rest of his repertoire's a collection of junk that he can't even control. By my count, he threw 2 called strikes in the first inning, both to Ramirez. A team with any semblance of plate discipline would eat him alive.

Am I the only person who finds the DBacks one of the least interesting postseason teams in recent memory?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

And just for the record, I'm stunned Livan allowed one run today.

And just for the record, I'm stunned Livan allowed one run today.

If the Cubs had hit like a decent team it would have been 7 or 8.

No, Dan, I was expecting a complete game shutout.

Am I the only person who finds the DBacks one of the least interesting postseason teams in recent memory?

No,you're not.
And does (1k5v3L) just hang around other teams threads to give meaningless condolences so he can get his c0c1< sucked by message board posters?Jesus dude,go outside.

No, Dan, I was expecting a complete game shutout.

I know. You were also expecting Augie Ojeda to go 5 for 5 with 5 HR and 21 RBI in 5 PA.

I think a Tribe/Rox world series should be all kinds of fun, and that's what I'm rooting for at this point.

I'm with you.

If I have to hear "Anyone... anytime" once more I'm gonna toss my freshly-eaten crow.

I honestly don't see how the D'backs can get by the Rox - who have capably demonstrated that they're quite prepared to continue to play as they have the last 3 weeks - beating a team better than the Cubs just as easily as the D'backs cleaned up.

Might have an interesting game or two with Webb pitching, but I don't see the rest standing up to a reasonable offense.

Rox-Indians is also my choice for a world series. But I hope to god the Rockies don't win it all. I don't think I could take it if another expansion team wins a world series. I definitely don't want the DBacks to do it. To have two expansion teams win the world series twice in the last 10 years would be too much to stomach.

Ever since the breakup of the 90's Indians team and the reemergence of the Indians in the mid 2000's they have been the AL team I want to see do well.

To have two expansion teams win the world series twice in the last 10 years would be too much to stomach.

Err...3. Dbacks and Marlins already did. I know, I know, I try to block out '03 myself...

Four word post:

Wait until next year.

When did BBTF become (in this thread and every other active thread involving the Cubs) a site for certain fans to troll other teams' fans? Aren't there enough other sites like that on the internet? Wasn't this supposed to be for "thinking fans"?

Err...3. Dbacks and Marlins already did. I know, I know, I try to block out '03 myself...

No not three, not unless the Rockies won a world series and I missed it. If the Dbacks win the series then they will have won the WS twice. Which would mean two expansion teams have won two world series each since 1997.

When did BBTF become (in this thread and every other active thread involving the Cubs) a site for certain fans to troll other teams' fans? Aren't there enough other sites like that on the internet? Wasn't this supposed to be for "thinking fans"?

As thinking fans, we are enlightened and believe in free speech (nanny not withstanding) so we don't censor the idiots.

And what fun is trolling if everyone on the site does it? They need a site where their ability to annoy actually gets a chance to be used.

No not three, not unless the Rockies won a world series and I missed it. If the Dbacks win the series then they will have won the WS twice.

My bad--I missed your saying "twice." Thought you mean 2 expansion teams winning the WS in the last 10 years--the Rox would of course be the third. (I also somehow misread "DBacks" as "Rockies" in your post. Perhaps I should fire up the coffee pot.)

They need a site where their ability to annoy actually gets a chance to be used.

Or more accurately, is more openly tolerated than it would be in the physical world.

Am I the only person who finds the DBacks one of the least interesting postseason teams in recent memory?

Hell, no. THey have a great pitcher in Brandon Webb. They got lots of young talent. They have a great bullpen.

They had the best record in the league while allowing more runs than they scored, and they're in position to win the pennant.

I think my greatest frustration was that the Cubs actually took the bats off their shoulders against Livan Hernandez. Jesus, that guy's a joke. His fastball tops out at 86, and the rest of his repertoire's a collection of junk that he can't even control. By my count, he threw 2 called strikes in the first inning, both to Ramirez.

I'm pretty sure that was 3. Rameriz went 3-0, and took one. Strike one. He took a second one, thining it was a ball and was unhappy with the ump's call. Strike two. Then Livian whiffed him looking.

Naturaly next at bat Rameriz swings wildly at anything, makes a fool of himself, and falls behind 0-2 on two pitches out of the zip code. Next at bat he didn't swing again. Naturally, he got a walk, because not swinging is the way to go.

Hernandez's strategy seemed to be just throw, and let the Cubs bail him out. Good plan.

Four word response:

The Diamondbacks were better.

Isn't that just the other half of the same coin? Why is it posed as a disagreement?

Hernandez's strategy seemed to be just throw, and let the Cubs bail him out. Good plan.

I was really surprised at how poorly they adjusted to Livan. All night long he was away, away, away. I kept expecting the Cub's smarter hitters - Aram and Lee, to start going with the pitch and take it to right field, but they just kept going with a dead pull approach to Drew's glove. Livan really got a lot of what he has left.

Outpitched, outhit, outmanaged - room for everybody in the blame hot tub.

Does this feel worse to you as Cub fan than 2003?

2003 was worse.

I knew the team wasn't that good this year (well, until August I thought they were, but by the playoffs, nope). My hope rested on the "it a best of 5 or 7 the better team doesn't always win" idea.

To whomever I offended with post #1, my apologies.

Anyhow, the Cubs did play the Dbacks, you know. Cubs. Dbacks. Me. There's some connection.

Again, the Cubs have a great nucleus of players, a big payroll, and a smart manager. They should be the favorites to win the Central next year as well. Cubs fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about 2008.

This series got a two-word review: #### Sandwich.

I know. You were also expecting Augie Ojeda to go 5 for 5 with 5 HR and 21 RBI in 5 PA.

What's with the hate for Augie Ojeda among Cubs fans? Didn't Augie play with the Twins?

And 5 homers X 4 RBI/homer =/= 21. Pythagoras is spinning in his grave right now.

2003 was worse.

Feel's that way to me, too. It was much worse to have expectations raised by the early wins in the playoffs, then dashed. Given the tight grouping of teams from 85 to 90 wins, I had zero idea how this thing would work out.

FWIW, I was rooting for the Cubs. I wanted to see happiness sweep the city, and the Bears don't look like they are going to do anything this year.

Well, they'll be good again next year and still be in the same division. They'll hit a hot run for the playoffs one of these years...

Does this feel worse to you as Cub fan than 2003?

God, no, the grave-dancing by various BTF arseholes notwithstanding. I was pretty much over this series loss when I walked out of the park yesterday, because the Cubs didn't deserve to win anything in this series, and indeed were never in a position to (they never led at the end of a single inning in 3 games); I wish they'd played better, but this is absolutely nothing compared to having my heart ripped out and shoved in my face when they were on the cusp of the world series in '03.

I'm more irritated by the glee of the masses (them asses?) in the Cubs' losing than I am by the outcome itself. The Cubs are going to be a lot better than this year's team over the next few years, so I'm confident I'll have my opportunity for retribution.

What's with the hate for Augie Ojeda among Cubs fans? Didn't Augie play with the Twins?

Augie played four years for the Cubs - 2000 - 2003. In his final year, at age 28, he went 3 for 25, good for a line of .120/.185/.120 and an OPS+ of -17. I can't speak for anybody else, but I don't hate Augie - he always seemed to be trying, he just wasn't very good. It was more amazement that this guy was helping to beat the Cubs. When you can't even get out Augie Ojeda - no disrespect intended to Ojeda - you're in trouble.

Thanks, Kiko. I didn't even realize Ojeda was a Cub once. In fact, I didn't even know who he was until this year. In an ideal world, he'd be on the bench, and Hudson would be starting, but them's the breaks. He really has no future in AZ, with Hudson back next year and Callaspo/Bonifacio set to fight it out for the 2b job in 2009, but it's been great to see little Augie play his heart out.

the grave-dancing by various BTF arseholes notwithstanding

Yup, it's like a goddamm 1992 Soul Asylum concert around here...

Thanks, Kiko. I didn't even realize Ojeda was a Cub once. In fact, I didn't even know who he was until this year.

I personally witnessed his only Cub homer, which was for a long time his only major league homer.

I don't get the Soul Asylum reference.

OK, I lied--he hit 2 homers in 2000, before the one I saw in '01. He must've hit those after I lost interest in the 2000 season, which was around April 16.

Thanks, Kiko. I didn't even realize Ojeda was a Cub once. In fact, I didn't even know who he was until this year. In an ideal world, he'd be on the bench, and Hudson would be starting, but them's the breaks. He really has no future in AZ, with Hudson back next year and Callaspo/Bonifacio set to fight it out for the 2b job in 2009, but it's been great to see little Augie play his heart out.

the grave-dancing by various BTF arseholes notwithstanding



Yup, it's like a goddamm 1992 Soul Asylum concert around here...


Post++++,gotta keep posting until everyone knows I am the reason my team is in.For I am the ultimate fanboy.

I don't get the Soul Asylum reference.

I'm sorry, I have a really bad taste in music.

And probably in baseball teams, but too late to change that.

Post++++,gotta keep posting until everyone knows I am the reason my team is in.For I am the ultimate fanboy.

He's not dim, that sum.

This series got a two-word review: #### Sandwich.

That's not real. They can't print that.

When did BBTF become (in this thread and every other active thread involving the Cubs) a site for certain fans to troll other teams' fans? Aren't there enough other sites like that on the internet? Wasn't this supposed to be for "thinking fans"?

Touchy much?

Which trolling are you talking about? It's hard to answer this question when you are just asking it into space...

2003 was worse.

1984 was still worse. Oh, and I'm not offended in the least, Levski.

When did BBTF become (in this thread and every other active thread involving the Cubs) a site for certain fans to troll other teams' fans? Aren't there enough other sites like that on the internet? Wasn't this supposed to be for "thinking fans"?

March 2, 2001

i didnt have a good feeling about this series after about the 5th inning of game one, i just knew they were going to lose, but im not broken up by it, im mad yeah but hey theres 08 and they should be mch better then. the thing that pisses me off the most is people rubbing it in, just let us ####### be its been 100 years we have herd it all just the the #### up and go away

oh and i agree with retro, back to my 05-06 alternate team go tribe

What's with the "expansion team" prejudice? Nearly half the MLB teams are expansion teams.

Rock on, D'backs and Rockies.

And probably in baseball teams, but too late to change that.

not true. if you want to root for the red sox, we'll have you. you could troll all you wanted and couldn't possibly the most hated red sox fan around.

But I hope to god the Rockies don't win it all. I don't think I could take it if another expansion team wins a world series. I definitely don't want the DBacks to do it. To have two expansion teams win the world series twice in the last 10 years would be too much to stomach.

Make that three. The Angels are also an expansion (1961) team.

Teams created before I was alive don't count as an expansion team.