What really accounts for the improvement, however, is the pitching. Over the last few weeks, even when they were losing, they have been getting good starts from Garza, Zambrano, Dempster, and Wells, and they have been in a position to survive a few clunkers from Lopez. As the starters have begun to consistently go deep into games, the bullpen looks much better.
All in all, this season seems oddly - well, maybe not oddly, in fact, maybe predictably - reminiscent of 2009 and 2010. Actually, to this observer, it is almost a re-run. Think about it, a well-compensated team of under-achievers hits the trade deadline twenty games under .500 more or less intact despite its obvious weaknesses. The season is over, now it is time to relax. We've seen this show before.
In a way, the Cubs belated revival is probably the worst thing that could happen to them. They were poised for a well-merited shake up from top to bottom, starting hopefully at the top. Now the danger is that, just as last season, they will be deceived into thinking they actually have the makings of a contending team.
Just as last year, Mike Quade will manage as if his life or his job at least depended on it. He will play his veterans every day, etc., etc. The pitchers, who are still the anchor of his team, will very likely come through again. And so we see some off-season tinkering and very likely another re-run in 2012.
The Cub Fan's dilemma: As Cub fans we want our team to win every game. But for the 3d yr in a row, they put on the big slary drive winning streak together afte the season is three quarters over with and they are 20 games out. Ram, as usual doesn't show up till around the middle of the season. Quade gets picked as the anointed saviour of the team when the pressure to win is removed by their 3 or 4 previous months of ineptitude. Again, as you say, Dunderhead Tommy Ticketts, in his delusional state of euphoria, will extend Quade and Jim, No Trade Clause, Hendry for five more years of bottom dwelling.
ReplyDeleteSigned B. Gullman