Under Pressure!

I'm sure that if you actually care about this, you will have read your fair share of articles and columns about this already, but I think it would also be unfair for me to quietly sliver away after the Cubs' humiliating three-game sweep they just suffered, knocking them out of the playoffs.

But, to start with a defense of myself, I never actually said they were going to win it all, and I never even guaranteed a series win over the Dodgers. Now, to continue with a blast at myself, I still entered this thing with a pessimistic view, which a lot of us Cubs fans did, and I still firmly believe that's why our Cubs lost.

Please don't tell me any junk about how they're professionals and they should be able to handle this, because they're also humans, and humans can only handle so much pressure. The Cubs infield had all the pressure in the world on them on Wednesday, and then they were in the hole.

This is the problem, Cubs fans didn't know how to handle being the favorite. We've ALWAYS been the underdogs, and now that we had some pride to carry, we didn't know how. Boston fans know how to carry pride, and so do Yankees, Cardinals and Angels fans, and this year Dodgers fans are just thrilled to even be in the playoffs. That's what worked for the Cubs in 2003 and what was sailing them through the playoffs, until a fan (irony????) slowed it all down, and then once the fans suddenly didn't have the Cubs' back, the Cubs infield booted the next ball and everything collapsed (SOUNDS FAMILIAR!!!!).

I'm not sure how this will work. Everyone is crying on their pillows right now saying, "this was supposed to be our year!!! WAHHHH!!!!!" But an attitude like that, one that believes it is hopeless, will only ruin what this could and would be, what I'm ready to call the Cubs' era, which would lead to another excellent season. The Cubs could very easily win 95+ games again next season, but then we'll be at the same spot next season, worrying worrying worrying, rather than CHEERING!!! Something's got to change.

It does matter who the Cubs sign and re-sign this offseason, but what matters even more this offseason is what kind of attitude their players and fans carry, optimism, pessimism, or realism. Realistically, the Cubs can't shake that "curse" until they and their fans somehow forget it.

I hope for some seasoned Cubs fans. Fans who learn not to expect too much, learn to root for their team even if they might get hurt in the end, walk in confidence about BOTH the season AND post season, and leave behind this disillusioned hope, something we fans are famous for. Throw hope out the window and replace it with confidence.

And, of course, I hope these Chicago Cubs learn a lesson, too, don't take it too seriously. Al Yellon, editor of my favorite sports blog, bleedcubbieblue.com, posed a good argument today. First, we need to model ourselves after the 2004 Red Sox, (especially now that the Cubs' front office is starting to spend like the Red Sox. The Yankees have shown us that dollars don't translate to world series wins, and we know that a ridiculously long championship drought may take some special actions.)

Yellon pointed out that the 2004 Red Sox team called themselves the Idiots, and they did everything they could to take the pressure off, which helped them win their first title in 86 years. Now, not too sure if Lou Piniella would be all about this idea, but the end justifies the means, right? And I'm SURE Carlos Zambrano would be ALL ABOUT this.

And, of couse, being idiots not the only recipe for success, but my only point is that the Cubs players need to find a way to take the pressure off, too.

That's all for now. See you in the playoffs again next season, Chicago, I will step out and make that prediction.