SB Nation User Blog: graceunderpressure

I'm Over It (Already)!

graceunderpressure — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:28:12 -0000

Well, this didn't take me long. Last night, I was sitting at home watching the debate and wishing I was watching a game 5, when it hit me that I'm ready again for a new season of loving my Cubs. This I thought came pretty quick, but afterall this postseason wasn't about heartbreak like 03, this was just an embarrassment. An with any embarrassment you realize that people only care for a short while then it is back to life as normal. Anyway, I'm already ready again. I don't know why this is, but when you feel passion it is a hard train to stop or slow down. All of the questions about, "will we care as much?" and "will the regular season mean anything?" now seem to be in their proper perspective. I can only answer for me, and the answer is of course I will care and of course the regular season will mean something! I know I will get myself all worked up all over again. Afterall, that is the beauty of this sport. It is a crazy crazy ride, and at the end of the day, I love it. Having said that, I worry about next year. I think these last two postseason failures will take their toll. I think we have some major issues that will likley run their course, specifically the guy at the top of the lineup. You can love this team and really dislike certain players. Trust me, I've done it before (Oh Henry). In the end, IF the pitching stays healthy and the back end of the bullpen stays consistent, we'll all probably be back again this time next year. Either way, I'll be along for the ride.

What Is At Stake?

graceunderpressure — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:43:12 -0000

Well, we are all now truly embarrassed to be Cubs fans this morning. However there is one more game to play (and likely just one more based on how this team is going right now). However, I believe there is a few things worth fighting for, mostly pride, but also the liklihood of any kind of sucess for the next few seasons. So here is what I think is at stake. If this team hands game three over to the Dodgers on Saturday night, I predict a long long dry spell (not sniffing the playoffs kind of dry spell. The 1990's kind of dry spell. This team will go down as another big time choke team. Lou's legacy will be completely tarnished. Key players will be ostracised and ridiculed for this performance we are witnessing. Team cancers will grow exponentionaly. No one, especailly not us fans, will have any confidence in this group of guys, especially when it matters most. Basically, this team and this group of guys will become the equivalent of a lame duck president. I don't think this is ledge jumping negativity. I think this is reality. The only thing that can change this from occurring is three straight victories. Do I have any confidence in this occurring? Actually for whatever freaking reason, I kind of believe it is possible. I think the only reason I'm still hoping against hope is that I don't want to see back to back division championships become a joke to the entire sports world. That is what is at stake.

The Secret

graceunderpressure — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:10:04 -0000

Has anyone read this book? Well it is really nothing new, but the underlying premise is that we can create the world around to resemble our thought process through energy put off by our thought process. So for instance, if you fear failure you are more likely to fail, because you are constantly tapping into negative energy by thinking about and fearing scenarios with which you could fail. Although I don't believe in this to a tee, I've been doing some soul searching today. I keep asking myself, "why do I keep doing this to myself?", "when will the insanity end?", "can I go through this again?", "should we really be talking about his beard?". Anyway, I keep thinking that for as long as I've been a Cubs fan I have feared the meltdown, and not just in the playoffs, hell for the big portion of my adult life we didn't even sniff the playoffs. I always fear the series against the Cardinals, I always fear opening day, and I ALWAYS fear the ninth inning when the Cubs have a lead. It is always the same question of fear, "what is going to go wrong?" Well I know I'm not alone, because is appears close to 40,000 people had the same sentiment last night. Now I'm not blaming US the fans, no fans care more or are more loyal. But I do think we collectively (EVEN THE POSITIVE POLICE ON HERE) fear the meltdown. So I'm for one going to truly try to believe tonight. I'm going to try to spin my nervous anxiety into sweet anticipation. I'm going to view mini failures as opportunities for the next time to succeed. I'm going to for once in my life as a Cub fan truly believe that it is possible. I won't fail at this, just as the Cubs won't fail tonight!

I'm A Tool (A Story of Personal Growth)

graceunderpressure — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:02:01 -0000

As I was watching Big Z meltdown in the third inning (throwing a bigger tantrum than my 22 month old son is capable of) I began thinking of all the reasons he is now #1 on my S@#t List. Then it hit me like a ton of S@#t. I reviewed this season and all the ups and downs (mostly ups) and realized, there have been a lot of guys in the dog house for brief periods throughout the year. And they all have sorted things out just fine. First it was Soriano (he's Soriano, but he's working out just fine). Then there was Lilly (his bad start to the year seems like it never happened). Then there was Marmol's crazy week (did that even happen?) Then there was D Lee (he has been really productive recently). And now there is Big Z. You know, with the exception of Fukodome, all of these guys turned it around and are producing. I guess this is my way of saying that I believe in the course of a long season, things happen, players struggle, players catch fire, and I'm a tool for getting myself worked up thinking they have permanantly gone in the tank. As long as no one goes in the tank during the playoffs I will be fine.

BAN THE CUBS TONIGHT!!!

graceunderpressure — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:05:58 -0000

Ok, this is not about ledge jumping, or jumping off the bandwagon. This is about taking a break, spending time with the ones we love, reminding ourselves of the other things in life that we lose sight of. It is a long season and lately it has been nothing short of unbearable. For our sanity and possibly a change of luck. Do something different tonight. Check the final score before you go to bed and if they won, pump that fist in the air, and if they lost, well you saved yourself the agony of seeing it happen. Good Luck. I'm suggesting this out of love, because we all know how much this hurts.

Top Ten Reasons Big Z wasn't available for his MRI

graceunderpressure — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:57:38 -0000

Since we have a day off, and nothing of any positive value to discuss around here, why don't we have some fun. Lou reportedly was unsure why an MRI wasn't completed with Big Z, stating that Big Z "wasn't available". Now why could that be? I'm not sure, but I think we all have a few ideas. I'll start it, but I need some help.

Reason # 10: He was out searching for D Lee's power stroke.