100 years of hurt never stopped them dreaming (Chicago Cubs)

Member Name: shanediablo

Product:	Chicago Cubs
Date:	27/09/08 (152 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great pitching, Great batting, Great fielding

Disadvantages: Bottlers reputation

100 YEARS OF HURT - THE CHICAGO CUBS
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It is almost one hundred years to the day since the Chicago Cubs last won the World Series of baseball.

For a team that has such a vast fanbase and plays its baseball one one of the most well loved sports venues in the world in Wrigley Field, it is quite incredible that they have the longest title drought in North American professional sports history!

Cubbies fans have heard what I am about to say several times before. They have their best ever chance to end the drought this year! Several false dawns have occured form the Cubbies and quite frankly the fans must be sick of hearing it but how fitting would it be if they ended on the hundred year anniversary?!

In the clubs history it has two world series titles and they were back to back in 1907 and 1908. Wonder if the team of 1908 would ever have imagined that the next title would be well after their passing, I think not!

The Cubs are a team based on the 'north side' of Chicago and are not considered the 'real Chicago team' because of the amount of celebrities, corporate types and just general 'non-fans' that go to Wrigley on a typical gameday. The White Sox by contrast have a much more blue collar reputation within the game. Even Barack Obama mentioned this!

If my Mets are going to miss out on the post-season which looks highly likely thanks to another collapse, the Cubs are probably the team that I wil; follow in the play-offs if only for the historical factor!

In my usual baseball team format I will now review what I consider to be the Cubs strongest starting line up player-by-player and the same for the starting rotation of pitchers.

CUBS:

CATCHER - Geovany Soto - Soto has had a terrific season as the Cubs catcher and it is mainly his batting which has caught the eye. Having made an appearance in the all-star game, Soto has continued to show that he can hit for decent average and score home runs. Will no doubt have a great career as he is still very young and has already shown such a high standard.

FIRST BASEMAN - Derrek Lee - A golden glove first baser, Lee is brilliant in every facet of his game. Lee can hit for power and average, he can field to a high standard and is a brilliant team man. The word to describe Lee is class. Every team needs a player like this guy quite frankly!

SECOND BASEMAN - Mark DeRosa - Very good team man. DeRosa can field pretty much anywhere on the park except for catching. Having great power, DeRosa is capable of hitting the ball out of any ballpark on a given day so is a feared opponent for a lot of team. By no means a star of the Cubs team but someone you would be happy to call one of your own.

SHORT STOP - Ryan Theriot - Is disliked by quite a number of fans that simply do not understand his worth. Theriot has minimal power which can be easily recognised by his career total of seven home runs but what people need to notice is that his batting average and amount of runs scored shows that although he doesnt belt homers or knock other runners in, he does contribute to the run scoring process by constantly getting onto base by gaining base hits or inducing walks. His fielding is pretty decent and he needs to stop getting caught stealing but Theriot is a winner as his minor records show.

THIRD BASEMAN - Aramis Ramirez - Top class. Ramirez can really come through when the team needs it. His numbers for the season are superb with over one hundred runs batted in and twenty seven homers with a couple of regualr season games left. A solid if unspectacular fielder, Ramirez has the respect of many within the game and will alwas be a key player in a given teams success.

LEFT FIELDER - Alfonso Soriano - The team powerhouse. Soriano is a brutal hitter when on song. Having crushed twenty nine home runs this season despite a spell out with an injury it is clear to see why he would be badly missed if he were to get injured during the post-season. Is a terrific hitter which is obvious but is also a brilliant base-stealer which can also be a very crucial ingrediant for success.

CENTRE FIELDER - Jim Edmonds - The old man of the team. Edmonds has power in abundance and plenty of experience. If they can replace him next season them I'm sure they will but for now he can do a job.

RIGHT FIELDER - Kusoke Fukodome - Probably the teams weak link. After a stellar time in Japan, Fukodome came very highly rated to the Cubs and boy did things look good when he belted a homer on his debut! However despite a slightly undeserved all-star selection - ever since the midseason break Fukodome has been very poor with the bat indeed. A total of nine homers on the years is not the power that the team needs. He can steal bases though but if you keep striking out you wont get onto base in order to steal. Give him another season.

PITCHER 1 (ACE) - Carlos Zambrano - The staff ace threw a historic no hitter earlier this season against the Astros and is a brilliant pitcher. The one thing that can get to Big Z is himself - Zambrano can on occasion have quite schizophrenic battles with himself on the mound so that ca be a concern but usually he is spot on.

PITCHER 2 - Ryan Dempster - Was terribly unreliable in the bullpen so when they converted him to a starter everyone feaered the worst really. What a joke that theory was!
Dempster has been the teams best pitcher this season and has been particularly light out at Wrigley. Is a shoe-in to be the pitcher in game one of the play offs.
Is capable of striking people out or inducing grounds out and has surprisingly good command.

PITCHER 3 - Rich Harden - A terrific purchase from the A's. Harden was a staff ace and it just shows how strong the Cubs line up is! With an ERA of just over 2 on the season, nobody has been able to get Harden away this season. Has a rather unfortunate name really and must get some ribbing for that but then again, he's earning millions so as if he gives a s**t!

PITCHER 4 - Ted Lilly - Is not having a brilliant season on the whole and could be struggling for a rotation spot. Has been pounded on a few occasions and looks to be a weak link here perhaps. Can never get too excited about a guy called Lilly.

PITCHER 5 - Jason Maquis - Threw a one-hitter the very next night after Zambrano's no-hitter which gave an addication of how talented he is when he chooses to show it. Would be solid number 3/4 in the majority of lineups but is very overshadowed at Cubs. Hit an incredible grand slam in a batting effort recently!

CLOSER - Kerry Wood - Tough old war horse. Can usually go three up three down so if you have a lead going into the 9th, you will invariably win with such a reliable closer.

PREDICTION - This is the year. Chicago Cubs to triumph and win the 2008 World Series. Only the LA Angels have the pitching to match them this year and Boston the offense to match them but nobody is as good an all round team. If you can get a good price, have a bet on them.

Summary: Winners for 08? Or just Weiners?