August 14, 2008

VACATION? WHAT VACATION?

Like many of you, also having to work too hard to make a living, I look forward all year to that American of all American things, the summer family vacation. And, as I get older, I seem to have a little Griswald in me. (If I have to explain that, you’re too young to be reading this, or you need a little Chevy in your life.) Webster’s defines a vacation as: A period of suspension of regular work, study or other activity, used for rest, recreation or travel. I don’t think that I understand the whole definition. I’m caught in the part that says, “suspension of regular work”. Like my boy Clark, vacation time has become a “quest for fun”. Everyone’s going to enjoy themselves, or else! It seems that vacation time in a lot of ways has become another kind of work, but it’s a job I’ll take everyday of the week.

While I was gone, I realized how lucky I am, since in this age, info on any sport is only a flip of my phone away. It’s at these times that I realize the depth of the “issues” that I have, but what can I say, I need my baseball scores!

Speaking of scores…the Cubbies went 10-2(!) while I was away. They’ve gone 4-1 since my return, so I feel no need to “go back on vacation” as it has been suggested by some of my bar regulars. Notably, in what felt like the series of the year, maybe the last 100 years, the Northsiders went into Milwaukee and absolutely pummeled the 2nd best team in the NL in four straight games. That, my friends, is what they call making a statement, a bold statement. They’re saying, “We’re good, we know we’re good and that team that looked like it was afraid of its shadow last year in the playoffs doesn’t play here anymore!” Anything short of a World Series berth this year, has to be considered underachieving. Not to go Wanny, but all the pieces are in place! After a brief 3-7 hiccup around the all-star break, the Cubs are 14-3 and look like they’re just getting warmed up. June swoon? Not this year. The way to combat the inevitable “day baseball fatigue” questions is to keep winning. Pounding everyone in your way makes those questions especially moot. (What?)

As in every “championship season”, a lot of people have to make contributions, including a few from within the system that you didn’t star the year with. The White Sox in 2005 had Bobby Jenks and the Cubbies this year have Jeff Samardzija. This kid looks like the real deal and gives Lou another way to end the ballgame. Even better, he allows for Carlos Marmol to stay in his utility role to put out a big fire where needed and not necessarily be the closer if anything happens (again) to Kerry Wood. I think it’s a great sign that they’re taking their time with Wood right now. He’s needed in September and October, make sure he’s completely healthy and find out what else you have in the time he’s down. Other people are going to have to step up, find out now who has it in them.

And, finally, what conversation about the Cubs is complete without mentioning Alfonso Soriano? As I’ve mentioned many times before, I think he drives Lou nuts. In many ways Lou’s hands are tied in dealing with him, and I think it’s a testament to how good Lou (and Soriano’s teammates) thinks this team is by not confronting him on his “new school” behaviors. Bottom line-this team can not and will not go all the way without him, so getting in his face about his selfish actions and making him pout will not help the “team” in achieving its ultimate goal. It’s just Alfonso being Alfonso. Bobby Cox has sure let it be known how he feels about it though. Can’t say I don’t agree.