“Just when I thought that I was in they pull me back out!”

I’ve been thinking of things to write about lately.  Just yesterday, I had what I thought was a good idea.  I planned to write two mini-columns.  The first one was going to be optimistic, pointing to all the reasons why the team still has a chance at the playoffs, how it’s still relatively early, and why there is still hope despite their lousy play over the last few weeks.  The second one was going to be pessimistic, talking about how there are some disturbing things we’re seeing and how this team is not only playing lousy and making stupid mistakes, but is ultimately flawed in its roster construction.

That was yesterday.

Tonight, I look back to last season and to 2005.  It was toward the end of 2005 that I realized that I was getting myself too emotionally invested into the day-to-day events of a team that ultimately doesn’t deserve my attention.  It was in the offseason before 2006 that I vowed to start watching a new team (the Devil Rays), just so I can get some happiness back to watching games without the emotional sturm und drang that comes with following the Cubs. 

The most difficult part was Opening Day 2006, having to get used to watching a new team and trying to devote less attention to the Cubs.  Eventually, it got easier, however—not only because I got to know the Devil Rays, but more importantly, last season so quickly turned into a train wreck for the Cubs.  It got so bad that at some point during May, I found myself nearly rooting for them to lose, simply because I disliked so many people in the organization, from Andy MacPhail to Jim Hendry to Dusty Baker to Larry Rothschild and to several of the players.  The more poorly they performed, I figured, the more likely the team was to weed out these imbeciles.  I simply found very little in the team to like, not just in terms of performance, but in terms of the players themselves.

This season, I was encouraged by the changes.  Not that I expected grand things from this team, but with Baker, MacPhail, and several players gone, and with Piniella and several new players in, I thought that this was a team that I could generally root for and, more importantly, like.  I especially liked Piniella—not because he could be a red ass, but because he seemed to have a good approach in dealing with the media as well as the team.  Though skeptical, I’ve been rooting for this team for the last two months, unsure about their chances but encouraged that they are making progress.

Today, though, I realize that I’m really not much further than I was last year at this time.  I do like Piniella and some of the players on the team are genuinely likeable and easy to root for.  Too many of them, however, are the same knuckleheads that have been around the last few years, with no perceivable difference between their idiocy last year and this year.  I could name names, but I won’t; you could probably name them as easily as I can.

I don’t want to say I’ve had it and I don’t want to say that I won’t pay attention to the team.  Of course I will.  I will say, however, that although I generally want them to win, I don’t really like them all that much.

Screw it, I’ll name names --

Jim Hendry—I realize that it was necessary to keep you around for some sense of continuity.  I also recognize your desire to win ASAP, though your spending spree makes me wonder why it had to take a season like last year’s for you to open the pursestrings.  (Remember when Vladimir Guerrero hit the market?) Nevertheless, I don’t understand why you need a 25-man roster with three (maybe four) lousy middle infielders or with three left fielders and no center fielder.  I also don’t understand why you needed three lefties in the bullpen and serious question marks at the back of the bullpen and in the rotation.  Most of these problems still remain and I’m looking forward to your successor.

Jacque Jones—I appreciate that you’ve improved your defense and have even drawn a walk on occasion.  How about doing it more often, and maybe add some power while you’re at it?

Cliff Floyd—Same question.

Mark DeRosa—Same question.

Matt Murton—You have to be frustrated with being jerked in and out of the lineup.  It might help you, though, if you could hit with some degree of power, run the bases well, and play even halfway decent defense.  Catch a ball, will ‘ya?

Alfonso Soriano—As Judge Smails said, “Well . . . we’re waiting!” Yes, you’ve got a tweaked hamstring and I like you’re defense in left field.  The team is paying for a lot more than that, however.  At this point, I’d like a refund.

Michael Barrett—I’m so sick of asking what were you thinking that I might as well put it on a recorded loop.

Aramis Ramirez—Same thing.

Cesar Izturis—You seem like a decent enough guy, but how about getting on base?

Ryan Theriot - I like you.  You play hard and seem to get the most out of your talent.  Still, while I wish that people wouldn’t tout you as the next Ryne Sandberg, you’ll also not turn out to be the next Tom Verizer.

Carlos Zambrano—I don’t even know where to start.

Bob Howry—When can we see what you did last year?  If we can’t see it, when can we see you leave?

Scott Eyre—Same thing.

I’m done.  This franchise still needs to make some changes for me to start to like it.  The changes do not have to lead to immediate on-field success, but something’s gotta give.