SB Nation User Blog: Not Bruce Froemming

What is your record this season?

Not Bruce Froemming — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:52:34 -0000

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.)

One of the greatest atmospheres I've ever seen for any sporting event

Not Bruce Froemming — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:06:29 -0000

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.

Jump now, folks ... more room for the rest of us

Not Bruce Froemming — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 06:31:24 -0000

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.

More jealousy of Cubs fans, this time from Houston

Not Bruce Froemming — Tue, 20 May 2008 19:27:10 -0000

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).

Live from Cincy?

Not Bruce Froemming — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 00:41:40 -0000

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?

Live from Pittsburgh

Not Bruce Froemming — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 17:10:16 -0000

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.

Well ... is it hopeless?

Not Bruce Froemming — Thu, 24 May 2007 20:56:21 -0000

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.