You know, it really was a fun year for Cubs fans. I can't believe how fast the summer went by. Time flies when your team is winning...and the Cubs won a lot this year. What was it? 97 games...and we only got to see 161 games because they didn't need to play that game #162. Any chance they could play it now, because I'm not ready to see the season end yet...

Some random thoughts...

It seems like if the MLB can slime the Cubs in some way for the playoffs, they will. Some folks feel that there are folks who don't want the Cubs to win a World Series because of the tradition of it and the attention in brings to major league baseball.

Does anyone recall the year when the Cubs had earned the home field advantage, but was denied the benefits because Wrigley Field didn't have lights for night games back then?

Wrigley was green before its time and their team was punished for it.

This year the Cubs (who play more day games than anyone) were scheduled for three games starting after 5pm including two that would likely be played past midnight local Chicago time.

The Cubs even hired sleep consultants on how to best deal with the situation. Sadly, MLB hadn't considered the fans.

With games starting at 9pm local time (10pm for Cubs fans in Indiana) these weren't games that you could watch with your kids. Folks in hospitals and nursing homes, etc. also would miss these games as they need to be on a regular schedule.

Plus, it really is rude to host games that will be playing past midnight in a residential neighborhood. I wish the Cubs / City of Chicago / whoever would have just said NO! to the idea of late night games at Wrigley Field.

Can you imagine taking the CTA home after midnight in Chicago. Not something I'd recommend, but it is about the only choice for such a late night start for a baseball game.

It would be nice if the MLB would consider the needs of the fans over the demands of the broadcasters. Just a thought...

If last night's game had been held earlier, it would have been what? A day game for the Dodgers. More fans from across the country could've watched it. Remember, there are Cubs fans everyone and time zones do matter. My friend in Indiana had to deal with the playoff game for her team starting at 10pm. That's too late for a sports event.

Note to TBS: You don't want to air the games so late that fans will videotape the game. Make it an event that fans want to watch live....instead of making us watch it dead tired from the hour of night they're playing the game.

Suggestions for next year's playoff games should the Cubs find themselves with a playoff schedule...

1. All day games.

2. How about announcers like Rick Sutcliffe, Rick Monday, Steve Stone, Bob Brenly, Mike Krukow, Chip Caray, etc. ?

3. If the live games can't be aired on local tv, how about making them available the next day so folks without cable can
watch the games. A lot of my friends don't have cable tv or satellite service. The advertisers are missing viewers by these games being on pay-tv only. There is some thought that baseball should be on free tv anyway since baseball is exempt to antitrust legislation in the United States.

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A friend of mine is a Yankees fan. He says that he doesn't follow baseball until October.

When Cubs fans told me that THIS IS THE YEAR and they seemed to have no doubt about it, I encouraged them to enjoy the 162 games that we get and see what happens.

Considering that the Cubs now have an 8 game losing street in the post-season (3 in a row 2008, 3 in a row in 2007 and let's not talk about those last two games in 2003, okay.

I'm beginning to wonder if I should strive to practice the opposite of the Yankees fan plan and just follow baseball until October.

Naaaah!

Remember though...

There's no crying in baseball.
There's no crying in baseball.
There's no crying in baseball.
There's no crying in baseball.
There's no crying in baseball.
There's no crying in baseball.
There's no crying in baseball.
There's no crying in baseball.
There's no crying in baseball.
There's no crying in baseball.
There's no crying in baseball.
There's no crying in baseball.

I will admit that I did offer my condolences to another Cubs fan at church this morning. Our city is about 48% Cubs fans, 48% Cardinals fans and the rest a mix of Yankees, Red Sox, White Sox and Royals fans, etc. However my church has just a handful of Cubs fans.
BTW, the Cubs fan said to me, just wait til 2009...

I hope that WGN/Comcast Sports will put together a 2 hour video highlights and interview show regarding the 2008 Cubs season. They didn't win it all, but it was a fun season to be a Cubs fan.

BTW, former Cub player Tony LaRussa's birthday is October 4. I wonder if the Cardinal's manager considered the Cubs loss a birthday gift, didn't care one way or another or was secretly disappointed in his former team.

Well, I've rambled enough. Feel free to reply here if you wish.

You're also welcome to vote in the polls for Cubs fans here:

http://cubsnet.com/taxonomy/term/23

Remember, the Cubs will shine in 2009.

Diana

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