SB Nation User Blog: Champ Summers

I'm tired of the whiners in Wrigleyville. Rooftop owners, etc.

Champ Summers — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:44:31 -0000

Look at the Als's post from today:

The alderman is concerned about having a third concert on a Saturday night at Wrigley. I guess he's worried the neighbors will complain about the noise...

A rooftop owner is stiffing the Cubs because they had the temerity to put a Jumbotron up in their own stadium.

I mean, come on people! Other than about five households who have ninety five year old owners, NO ONE in a ten block radius around Wrigley moved there without full knowledge that a ballpark was on the corner of Clark and Addison. Stop whining about traffic, and the noise. You knew what you were getting into.

And dont tell me that you expected that the cubs would only play a small number of night games... I bet 80+% of the homes have been sold since 1988.

And as far as the rooftop owners.... I'm sorry, but you specifically bought your property so you could pirate the Cubs product. It is only by the grace of the Chicago Cubs that you do not have a temporary wall put up that will effectively destroy your business. Pay your 17% and shut up.

I'll step off the soapbox now... but I had to get it off my chest.

Just say "No" to a Peavy Deal

Champ Summers — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:13:26 -0000

Yes, Jake Peavy is a great pitcher.

Yes, the Cubs would have a dominant pitching staff in 2009 with him.

But is he that critical to the team right now? I dont think so.

The Cubs need to win the division first, and they certainly look like the dominant team in the Central Division. I think they'll be heavy favorites to win. So Peavy probably isn't needed to win the divsion.

However, the Cubs real goal is a World Series, and to get one, we have to get through the playoffs. The strategy for getting through the playoffs, or even winning the division, may change significantly if there are some significant injuries (remember 1985?) or other issues that arise during the season.

So doesnt it make sense to keep the powder dry until July, before the trading deadline, so we can sign some key, high salary player from a hopeless team instead of paying up front for a dominant pitcher on what is already the leagues dominant starting staff?

What say you out there in cubdom?

Why the Cubs will come back

Champ Summers — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 21:26:35 -0000

Cub Fans - we've just seen two miserable performances by our team. The pitching is failing, the fielding has been uncharacteristically terrible, and the hitting has been virtually nonexistent.

These are the anti-Cubs of 2008.

Is the Cub curse upon us? Will the Cubs fold this weekend in LA? I don't think so. It doesn't make sense.

This is the best Cub team in my lifetime. Its the best Cub team in my father's lifetime. Its the best team in my late grandfather's lifetime, who started watching Cub games in 1919 from his apartment near Wrigley.

They are destined for more than this. And a regular easy sweep of the NLDS can not be in the cards for a team like this - it will be, it MUST be a spectacular, come from behind win to overcome adversity - like the 2004 Boston Red Sox - who's own World Series drought came to an end only after a dramatic come from behind win in the ALCS. Remember Curt Schilling pitching the final ALCS game with a bloody ankle after the Sox came back after losing the first three games of the series? And remember - the Red Sox lost the first game something like 19-5! THAT'S the kind of drama we would expect after a 100 year drought gets broken.

Its the reverse of 1984 - where we turn out to be the good guys. Or the reverse of 2003 - but this time we are the Marlins.

We also have Harden and Lilly going the next two games in a pitcher's park. These pitchers have been pitching better than their Dodger counterparts - this is where the Cubs pitching depth will pay off.

On the other hand. I personally am uncomfortable with the concept of winning a World Series. I just think it would take something out of my Eternal Cubness- whatever that is.

Either way, I remain stubbornly and reluctantly optimistic.