Sounds like the Cubs' former first baseman liked his time in Chicago overall, but not completely. At least it's good to see he didn't receive any hate mail while he was here, although that wouldn't have surprised me, either.

He was one of my favorite modern-era Cubs, both for his play and his demeanor, and truly had an MVP-quality year in 2005. Although he isn't exactly lighting 'em up in Baltimore.

He'll be out 10-12 weeks, apparently. Just heard him when I was in Milwaukee last weekend, and he sounds as good as ever.

Hope his recovery is glitch-free and swift. No word on who will join former Cubs radio guy Cory Provus in the booth while Uecker is convalescing. (I also didn't realize he was 75 years old. Thought he was a bit younger than that.)

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/92205884.html

Now that the season's over, we can compare our personal records: What the Cubs' record was in games you witnessed in person.

I was very lucky this year (or, perhaps, unlucky, depending how you look at it). I had to burn extra vacation time I had accumulated, so I went to more games than I usually would.

I went to 20 games this year, and my record was much like the Cubs' overall one: 11-9. The breakdown:

4-0 in Washington

2-0 in Pittsburgh

4-3 in Milwaukee

1-1 in Cincinnati

0-1 in St. Louis

0-1 in Philadelphia

... and 0-3 in Detroit (ouch).

Last year I made it to 15 games and was 10-5, including 4-0 in that "Milwaukee Massacre" series at the end of July.

Sounds like they're all atwitter (but not on Twitter, alas) about whether the baseballs were too slick in last night's Cardinals-Reds game. Plus whether Bronson Arroyo pine-tarred the balls he was using

Read all about it, courtesy of Hall-of-Famer Hal McCoy in the Dayton Daily news. (Also one of Hal's last stories for the paper; he's retiring, not entirely by his own choice, at season's end.) It all reminds me of the epic, five-game Cubs-Cards series in September 2003 at Wrigley, when Dusty and TLR were at each other's throats.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/cincinnatireds/entries/2009/10/01/cardsreds_some_spicy_controver.html

It's long been my assertion that current Cubs fans citing the 100-year lack of a title as the reason for their angst is bullshit. Unless you have been a fan for that entire time, you have no more right to gripe than a Nationals/Expos fan, or a Mariners fan, or a Rangers fan.

But it seems the all-out bloodlust for winning a World Series is turning Cubs fans into an ugly, ugly bunch. A bunch that says players must be perfect in each and every game, from Game 1 to Game 162. That the ebbs and flows of a normal season must not apply (remember the crapfit Cubs fans had when Lou rested a lot of the regulars in the Giants' game when Lincecum pitched?). That nobody but nobody can have a down year, and that if they do, they must be DFA'd, put on waivers or summarily executed, whichever is more expedient.

And it appears to be affecting proven, skilled players to the point that they don't want to play here.

All the stuff about Bradley and the racist comments from the bleachers (after Jacque Jones, LaTroy Hawkins and Dusty Baker relayed the same stories, and with other stories regarding Soriano and Patterson being relayed from other observers). Now Zambrano talking about wanting to be traded (even if it's supposed to be in jest). The constant bitching on this board and on talk radio, etc., even when the Cubs win. The unbelievable nitpicking that goes on with every analysis of every one of Lou's twitches.

Don't tell me it's the same way in other cities. It isn't. I don't think things are this bad in New York and in Boston right now. Maybe Mets fans are bitching, but they've had epic, late-season collapses the last two seasons, and this season they're well under .500 (injuries haven't helped them, by a long shot).

I want the Cubs to win a World Series in the worst possible way. But I don't want to sell my soul in the process. I still want to enjoy a baseball season. I still want to appreciate the nuances of the game and still know that it often doesn't turn out how you expect. (Was the Tigers' fanbase this unruly during their less-than-expected season last year?)

Not to excuse the way this team has played, or the disappointment this seaon has been thus far. Not at all. But if Cubs fans were too docile in the old days (and I think they were), I think they might have gone too far in the other direction.

Say what you will about him. And I reserve the right to change my mind if circumstances see fit.

But was I the only guy impressed with his bunt single Wednesday night?

A guy in his position, particularly coming off an injury, probably never would attempt a bunt single in that situation. When was the last time you saw that from someone like MB? (Zambrano doesn't count.)

Maybe he's right. He doesn't play baseball, he feels it.

Anyway, MB just bought a bunch of bonus time from me.

We're not even 10 percent of the way into the season and I'm already reading posts about people accepting the "fact" that the Cubs might not make it into the postseason. I simply can't accept that. It flies in the face of logic and common sense.

Is anybody else sharing this feeling that this team could be done? If you are, I think you must have just started following baseball. But what do I know.

A little birdie told me the Daily Herald is not sending its Cubs and White Sox beat writers to road games this season.

Bruce, if you're out there, can you confirm or deny?

If true, this would be truly awful news. Not just for Bruce, but for anybody who relies on the Daily Herald for coverage of either pro team. Although I'd imagine there are a lot more Cubs fans than White Sox fans in Herald City.

Just curious to see how many of y'all were able to get tickets to the Cubs' games this season at Miller Park. It seems like the various pre-sale lotteries the Brewers had helped those games get sold out quickly (at least the ones in April and May). I wonder how many Cubs fans were able to get through.

Myself, I got tickets for five games, so I can't complain. But had a buddy not tipped me off to the pre-sales, I very well could have been shut out.

How have the Cubs played in the games you've seen them in person?

My record this year is much better than usual -- 7-3.

1-2 in Cincinnati (saw Dempster's hard-luck loss and Lieber's bombing)

2-1 in Toronto (Burnett outduels Gallagher, Cubs roll in the last two games)

4-0 in Milwaukee (Enough said).

Still have three more games in Cincy, plus I might pick up a game in August at Wrigley and maybe one game in St. Louis in September. (And who knows, maybe back at Miller Park for that last series.)

The game Monday night was unbelievable, and had the Cubs lost, I would have said exactly the same thing. Games very often don't live up to the hype -- it's possible this game actually exceeded it.

Miller Park was absolutely electric -- more of a postseason feel than Arizona had last season in an actual postseason game. The game was full of drama -- back and forth, missed and made plays, good calls and bad, it was a tour de force, literally from the first pitch to the last. I can't remember the last time I felt so worn out after watching a game. I'm not sure I can take three more days of this, but if the Cubs come out on top, it'll have been worth it.

Although there were a ton of Cubs fans in attendance, as usual, I think Brewers fans made up the majority of the crowd. When Braun homered in the sixth, it became so loud I literally could not hear what my buddy was saying, and he was standing right next to me. One of the loudest crowds I've ever heard. Of course, he who is loud last is loud best ... or something like that.

Contrary to what I've heard and seen from previous Miller Park visits, the Brewers fans I encountered were great. We were talking to the guys in back of us for most of the game -- they were knowledgable, gave credit to the Cubs where it was due (and we did the same for the Brewers). Saw a lot of good-natured jabbing back and forth, but nothing ugly. Sometimes Brewers fans can have a huge chip on their collective shoulders, but it wasn't in evidence Monday night.

Listened to WTMJ-AM this morning, and virtually all the callers agreed it was a great game and great atmosphere. I'm sure that will only intensify as the series progresses. If you can find a ticket and a way to get up here any of the next three days, do it. Even if the Cubs lose, I think you'll agree it was worth it.

I have become convinced the majority of Cubs fans who aren't at Wrigley Field strictly for the party have become chronic ledge-jumpers and bedwetters who freak out at even the slightest glitch. There must be more manic-depressives among Cubs fans than any other team in baseball.

Just look at some of the posts around here tonight. They make me ashamed to be a Cubs fan. The doom and gloom is unbelievable. And why? Because they've lost three of the first four games they've played since the All-Star break. So what? Those four games are more representative of the season than the first 95 have been? Do you seriously  believe that?

I wonder sometimes if some of you have watched a 162-game season from start to finish. I also wonder if you've watched any other teams play. You do realize other teams, even the very best ones, go through these stretches, too. The White Sox have lost three of their last four -- all at home. The Red Sox's home/road records almost mirror the Cubs' -- they've lost 10 of their last 12 on the road. I don't know (or really care) how their fans are reacting to that, but I would hope they're more mature  and level-headed than what I've seen around here recently.

I am not advocating sunshine and balloons no matter what. But perspective and realistic expectations certainly aren't too much to ask. If the Cubs' woes go on for, say, another week  or so, then it might be time to become somewhat concerned. But now is not the time for that. Fundamentally, this team has showed it's too good to play like this for too extended of a period. And, for the most part, that's been true.

I've often said if Cubs culture is ever to change, this paranoia, just-released-from-a-concentration-camp attitude among a not-insignificant part of its fan base must go away. If anything, it now seems worse than ever. The same idiots who wanted to get rid of Soriano a few months ago now think he's the savior. Lee and Ramirez apparently are now worthless. And because Fukudome has a slump means suddenly that Cubs batters are impatient?

You know, a lot of other fans of other teams can't stand Cubs fans. They think they're ignorant about baseball and only interested in partying at Wrigley. I've always stuck up for them, because I know too many good Cubs fans to think otherwise. But around here lately, it's apparent I might have to concede a few points to the Cub-fan haters.

This thread from the Houston Chronicle:

http://blogs.chron.com/baseballblog/archives/2008/05/houston_must_st.html#comments

I really don't get it. Does this stem from there being more Cubs fans in their park than Astros fans?

I've always found Yankees and Red Sox fans to be the most belligerent. Most Cardinals fans I don't have a problem with. But I don't get the antipathy toward Cubs fans on the road.

All that said, I do have a problem with Wrigley Field beer fans (you know who they are).

I was sorely tempted to make the 4-5 hour drive today, but a late night last night, AAA lineup today and likelihood of going to the NLDS games last week kept me from doing so. Now, seeing how Cubs fans basically overran Cincinnati, I kinda wish I had gone.

Anybody down there who's reading this have any reports? What is the atmosphere like in town, at the ballpark? Cubs fans all over the place? I'm sure the local baseball fans aren't too pleased, but the local hotel/bar/restaurant people must be head over heels.

For those who celebrated at the Westin last night (the Cubs hotel in Cincy), how was that?

I arrived here yesterday afternoon for the three-game series. It's not my first baseball visit to Pittsburgh -- I was here for the 2005 two-gamer in which the Cubs won twice (and Jose Mesa blew two saves) in about a 15-hour span. But the 'Burgh always is a great place to visit.

Some thoughts on the game, and other things:

-- The Cubs didn't play well last night, but they also didn't have any luck. I guess I should have suspected the worst after the Pirates' lead-off double, which traveled about 100 feet. Hill probably should have allowed only three runs last night, take away the bleeders and the error.

Conversely, although Gorzelanny pitched very well, the Cubs hit some shots off him, but they were "atom" balls -- right at him. And at a few others. It also looked like Soto's foul in the eighth was a grand slam off the bat.

-- PNC Park fails to disappoint. We had seats right behind the plate, about 25 rows up, for $27. The dollar value is outstanding. So is the view. Never would you think the Pittsburgh skyline could look so pretty. Plus the ballpark itself is a gem. Not a bad seat. But it looks like the concessions have taken a hit since I was last here. (What, no more pierogis?)

-- There is a collection of four-five bars across the street (including a branch of Hi-Tops), but the thing I found bizarre is that, minutes after the game, none of them appeared to be all that crowded. And what crowds there were were mostly Cubs fans. (Guess the 'Burghers had to get home to see the high school football results on TV.)

-- Speaking of Cubs fans, there are a lot of them here. The crowd was about 24,500, and I'd say a good 35 percent were in Cubbie Blue. Probably 50-60 percent of my flight (which was full) were Cubs fans, too. Pittsburgh usually doesn't have the Cubs-fan army that places like Cincinnati and Milwaukee have, but that's not the case this weekend.

-- Primanti Brothers. Darned good sandwich. Go to the one in the Strip District, it's open 24 hours a day (and, conveniently, it's about three blocks from our hotel).

-- Tonight is Roberto Clemente figurine night, so they're expecting a very large crowd. The weather, however, might not cooperate. Right now it's overcast and drizzling off and on. Supposedly it'll be OK by game time. It's not stopping the Pitt football game going on next door at Heinz Field, which we can see from our hotel. Last time I checked, Pitt was beating Grambling 21-0 with five minutes left in the first quarter. Don't think we'll be making it there today ...

Anyway, onward, and Go Cubs.

Longtime lurker here, but this is my first diary.

I've been a Cubs fan since 1969 -- should have sued my mother for child abuse for sticking my toddler self in front of the TV every afternoon that year. :) I posed this question in Al's wrapup thread: Is there any amount of money, or any group of individuals, that can give Cubs fans what they've been (literally) dying for -- a World Series title? Or is there really something to this "curse" and its mentality. Will nothing short of changing the nickname and razing Wrigley be effective?

In other words -- are the Cubs permanently hopeless?

I've never believed in any of that. But so far, the events of this season make me wonder.