Still waiting for next year

by Caroline Basile, associate editor

                                                                

As October progresses, only one thing is on the mind of many sports fans.

For once, it’s not college football, it’s the World Series.

Not so surprisingly, the Chicago Cubs are out of playoffs after being swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks out of the National League Division Series.

After compiling an 85-77 record for the regular season under new manager Lou Piniella, the Cubs held on to the National League Central pennant, two games ahead of the strong Milwaukee Brewers.

All I can say is “how traditional.”

This never ceases to amaze me. Year after year, the Cubs get so close, but by the time October rolls around, they are either in last place or barely clinging to first.

 Despite being eliminated, I am proud of the team regardless of how far they got, or didn’t get The sheer fact that they made it this far was amazing.  

I have been a fan of the Cubs since a young age (practically since birth), and to watch them in the playoffs for the first time since 2003 was very thrilling. This season’s team had come very far to win the Central Division and make it to the playoffs, just to be sent home three games after playing Arizona.  

Injuries set aside, the team overall was very solid. Key players such as Mark De Rosa and Carlos Zambrano helped the team considerably, while others, such as Kerry Wood (though don’t get me wrong, he was contributing a lot more when he became healthy) and Mark Prior didn’t do anything. Injuries to Alfonso Soriano didn’t help out the team’s cause either (it wasn’t until he was healthy did he make a good contribution to the team).

So once again I sit and wait for next season. Not winning a World Series in 99 years is kind of a big deal (not to mention a little embarrassing). But now it’s at the century mark and it’s getting to be extremely stressful and worrisome, especially with a team who is often called the “loveable losers.”

Hopefully, next season will be different and Piniella will be back as manager. There was a definite change when Piniella joined the staff. It seemed the team actually cared about the game.

A small part of my mind wonders if somehow, Cub fans will try to think up an excuse, or “curse,” for falling out of the playoffs. I’m not saying the Cubs aren’t cursed, because they definitely are. But it’s just something everyone needs to ignore and move on with the present time, and hopefully, watch the Cubs advance to the NLCS and maybe even the World Series.

The goat, Steve Bartman and a black cat aside, it was fun and exciting while it lasted.

There will always be next year.