As I continue to read BCB, hearing about the potential pros and multitude of negative cons about keeping, trading, rehabbing, etc., involving Carlos Silva, I am reminded once again of the Cubs dire missing organizational/systemic need - scientifically-based pitching analysis and training.

How many posts, comments, and polls continue to deal with current and past needs involving pitching – short or long term relief, LOOGIES, "ROOGIES," 3rd, 4th, or 5th starters (middle and back end of the rotation), closers, and various pitchers' Injury Reserve list stints and rehab?                                                                              

The “regular” use of this list pertains to some teams and players more than others, but appears especially true for the last six years and historically to the Chicago Cubs.

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I pledge not to enter into the "p**sing contests" about Jim Hendry, or any other commentators at BCB.  I have grown tired and weary of the negativity, of which I have also been guilty. 

The fact is that the 2008 Cubs won 97 games; the 2009 team won 83 games, and Jim Hendry was the General Manager for both years. The difference in wins between the two seasons was fourteen under the same GM and Manager.

The 2009 Cubs team was riddled with injuries, and never could find players to step in or step up to compete successfully or consistently for the Division title or Wild Card berth.

The "Blame Game" is not worth playing, especially when an accurate analysis of the complexities that injuries play cannot be made.

Lou P. wisely dispelled the myth of "curses" as blame for the Cubs long World Series drought.  In typical Lou fashion, however, he did refer to "Cubbie Occurrences" as he got to know the team, and Cubs culture better.

The Yankees fail to make the playoffs just once and their management, players, and fans react as if the Cubs HAD won the World Series - Armageddon arrived and Hell Truly Froze Over!

The Yankees' brain-trust quickly regroups and recoups their World Series deluge!

Why?

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NOTE: I prepared this to be posted on September 24, 2009; however, as Jack Brickhouse so often would lament after another Cubs loss,"...a day late and a dollar short."

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As the 2009 Chicago Cubs season fades from the perennially optimistic hopes and dreams that followed Spring Training, I thought this would be an appropriate time to post a tribute to the 1969 Cubs.

Almost forty years to the date, I wandered despondently through a refuge of wooded Oak trees in a park off of Sycamore Road - a short escape from the NIU campus in DeKalb, IL.

Reflecting and trying to regroup from the most glorious and yet bitterly disappointing Cubs season in my life (at that time - and still remains so), I found a park bench, and began to put my thoughts and feelings into words -desperately trying to lay to rest the whirlwind season of Peace, Love, Woodstock, and the almost Miracle on Addison Street.

The poem that follows was written on that bright sunny September afternoon in those Sycamore woods surrounded by magnificent sturdy Oak trees, ablaze in colorful glory of another fall season; but ironically a season of fall for my beloved Cubbies.

Lambs of the Summer Shepherd

Green sun-soaked leaves of Summer lay heavy,

Drooping now on the tawny deer-like branches

Of October's oak trees.

Patches of crisp, red and gold leaves 

Add plumage to masses of green foliage, 

As Autumn's cold and heavy winds 

Blanket the fruits of fertile Summer and Spring seasons.

Passing by is their golden loveliness. 

In transition is Autumn's revelation.

Winds of Boreas are the harbingers of Winter,

As they twist and toss tiny acorns from the grasps of brawny thrashing oaks.

Boreas bellows he is master of bare plains and chilly skies,

Of icy times, 

When warm rays no longer nurse

The lambs of the Summer Shepherd.

Dedicated to the 1969 Chicago Cubs and fans:

Before, During, After, Forever, &

Someday...

Someday...

Someday...

Someday... and perhaps many more "Somedays" to come... until?

What scenario of a season do Cub Fans really believe will lead to our final "Someday"?

I have faithfully, loyally, devotedly followed and supported the Cubs for over 50 years.

1969 was worse than crushing--a major depressive funk until receiving my reply letter from Ernie Banks (on a wintry, but sunshiny bright first day back to begin my third trimester while at Western Illinois University)!

I have always believed that the kind of Cubs team needed to win it all, especially at Wrigley and on the road en route to a WS Championship, would require SPEED, GREAT DEFENSE, above average pitching, consistent and TIMELY hitting, and a manager who maintains an "even keel" with great players' support.

The 2008 season had many, if not all of these "ingredients"! Until the full-blown (pardon the pun) reversal in the pregame and Game One at Wrigley, when Crane Kenney, Lou, and the players all contributed to tanking.

I refuse, as always, to ever give up if there is even a remote possibility of the Cubs finally achieving their "MIracle" finish!

I hate looking back, lamenting, and second-guessing - at least until the season is finally over, or the Cubs are eliminated from contention.

Baseball, and especially Chicago Cubs baseball is a most erratic and unpredictable proposition. 

I also like to believe in the proposition that somehow the Cubs and Cub fans are "owed". Not in the sense that we can collect anytime we want.

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It's been a while since I last posted on BCB - a tough 2008 with health/medical issues that kept me occupied; but never far away from my beloved Cubbies!

I am getting ready to head out to wet, soggy, glorious Wrigley Field - hopefully Left Field Bleachers, unless I opt for the protection in Center Field - "Put me in Coach!..."

I posted this poem in the past under my old screen name which changed when SBNation was introduced to BCB.

I still plan on merging this poem with some background music, which I did find - George Winston's instrumental on harmonica, 'Maris' Farewell'.

This poem was written on my first ever Opening Day game attendance at Wrigley - now twenty-nine years ago.

I hope to be inspired today to start penning a sequel or at least something memorable. 

Go Cubs!

Someday...

Poem follows.....

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There ARE environmental factors/stimuli that shape and affect people's behavior every day. This is what makes Madison Avenue so successful. It all started with a behavioral Psychologist, John Watson, who had to leave academia in disgrace due to a sordid affair that was not tolerated in that era.

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As Cubs fans, it is a good thing not to have lived during the entire last century!

WARNING!

Review and relive the NYT's time line below at your own risk and torture!

SPORTS   | October 1, 2008
Timeline:  100 Years and Counting
By JOE WARD and JAY SCHREIBER/THE NEW YORK TIMES
The Chicago Cubs haven’t won a World Series championship since 1908. Review the team’s postseason history including long-ago triumphs and bitter disappointments.

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& probably the ONLY way that the Cubs will ever win it all! Ironically, Rich HARDen is pitching tonight.

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During the conversion of BleedCubbieBlue to the ranks of SBNation, I never recovered my original screen name, and have tried since with no luck. Nonetheless, I re-registered with SBNation as GeneticCubsFan.

I initially was going to post this to a recent thread about whether the Cubs and/or their fans needed to be called "nation", or some other far-reaching descriptor.

What follows in my post is a five year anniversary tribute to my Mom, Florence, who died at age 87 (almost 88) as a lifelong dedicated Cubs fan. She always referred to herself as a "Diehard", long before Sears branded their batteries with this name.

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