Yeah, now imagine this times 800. I was in attendance for yesterday’s kind of amazing 3-2 come from behind Cubs win. It was the type of game that they never should have won. Jim Edmonds, he of the .205 batting average and two homers this season, hit a dramatic ninth inning dinger to send the game into extras. Once it got there, Kerry Wood, who constantly teeters from fan favorite to goat, came in and pitched two scoreless innings. In the 11th, Reed Johnson got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and the game was over.
You could argue that none of those things should have happened: Edmonds flat out sucks, Wood is practically one blown save away from losing his job, and all Johnson had to do was stand in there and take a pitch on the leg. It was the sort of game that only special teams can win. The Sox won games like that seemingly everyday during the summer of 2005.
Listen: the Cubs are going to the World Series. That’s not going to be a popular opinion around these parts, but I really feel it’s the truth. I’m not saying I want it to happen either, so don’t go there. But yeah, the Cubs are awesome and it just feels like this is their time.
With that being said, what is stopping the White Sox from getting there as well? With injuries to Jake Westbrook and Jeremy Bonderman, and the general sucktitude of Dontrelle Willis, I feel pretty comfortable saying the Sox are going to win the AL Central. It’s the first time I’ve been confident about this all season, and I suppose it comes at a rather strange time since the Sox just got swept in Detroit. But both the Indians and Tigers have very real problems. It sounds strange to say, but the White Sox kind of don’t. The starting pitching has been great, the bullpen phenomenal, and the veteran sluggers are finally starting to come around. It wasn’t like Thome, Swisher, and Konerko would all hit under .210 anyways. Those guys are studs. It’s ridiculous that the Sox are still in first place with below replacement level contributions from all those guys. But now they’re coming around. Yeah, I’ve got a pretty good feeling about this White Sox crew.
Looking around the AL, no team really scares me. The Red Sox are probably the best team, but there is no way in hell they are going to the World Series three times in five years. It just won’t happen. So here it is: this might be the best chance in our lifetime to see a White Sox-Cubs World Series. And I think it’s going to happen.
You cannot overstate how crazy that series would get. It would be especially insane this year with the Cubs whole 100-year anniversary championship drought thing going on. Sox fans and Cubs fans hate each other already. This would just push it to dangerous new levels.
I was talking to a friend of mine who is a Cubs fan and I told him that if the White Sox beat the Cubs in the World Series, that would pretty much be the most demoralizing thing ever to happen to a franchise in the history of sports. I mean, Cubs fans would have no comeback at all for pompous White Sox fans. "Well at least we fill up our stadium!" wouldn't really work, now would it. The Cubs would theoretically go 100+ years without a title, and during that time the Sox would win twice, one of which coming over them. I mean, that's it, right? No more stupid Cubs-Sox discussions that idiots thrive on. Maybe then it can just be about baseball.
When I explained that to the kid, it was almost like he didn’t even process the thought of it. He babbled something about how if the Cubs won, they could finally have a comeback to asshole Sox fans. Hey man, whatever. All I know is that if the White Sox took out the Cubs in the World Series this year, that sweet party vibe Wrigleyville has would be gone forever.
One thing is clear: a Sox-Cubs World Series would be absolute mayhem. I think the city would literally shut down for the entirety of it. It’s the type of thing that would force high schools to cancel Friday night football games.
Downtown, there would be riots, looting, and all kinds of other cool stuff.
God, the entire thing would just be so awesome. With the way things are going for both clubs right now, why not?
After all, I'd like an HD TV. Let's loot.
***
As always, the required reading for the day is my post at the Sun-Times' The Fantasy Factor. Seriously, I can't imagine North Dakota is even remotely cool.
|
Comments
Oh yeah man, I'm sure Wrigleyville would survive. But just walking through the neighborhood, everyone seems so..happy? I can't sense that continuing if they go to the World Series and lose, especially to the Sox.
Also, I think most reasonable Sox fans would admit that the Cubs are probably a better team right now. The Cubs are really, really good. If they the Chicago Series happened, I think the Cubs would be favored big time. I don't want this post to seem like I'm saying "The Sox are gonna kick the Cubs ass in the World Series". Who knows? I just think that the Series is certainly a possibility, and it would be the greatest thing ever if it actually happened.
And yeah, the bullpen is going to start allowing more homers. They've been too good to continue at such a pace.
Dude we just got swept by the fucking tigers....I'd rather get swpet by the Cubs than those bitches in Detroit
Ricky- I know you don't pay any attention to what is going on in the North Side, but Wood has absolutely dominated in the last month. In his last ten outings (10.2 INN) he has gone 8/8 in saves, has not allowed a run and has struck out 19. He's leading the league in saves as well with 18...he had a rough April, so what? Research a little before you write, Mariotti.
Ok so that sentence should be "Wood WAS practically one blown save from losing his job". Is that ok? Cause things got a little heavy there for a second. I believe I remember you saying that the job would go to Marmol next time Wood slipped up.
Regardless of how well Wood has played, there is a 0% chance the Cub fanbase would just blindly trust him in the playoffs. Especially after 2003.
I don't know about that. No matter what, Woody is our guy. He is loved by Cubs fan (even if it doesn't make sense). He is the Urlacher of Chicago baseball. Well, before Urlacher became a douche.
Side note: Is it just me or when it appears the Sox are about to flunder the Schedule Gods give them a gift...after the Tampa series here came the Royals and then now, here come the Rockies and Pirates... before you respond, yes I do realize the Cubs have had a joke schedule till this point of the year.
I really do pray for a Red Line Series...I would be drunk for atleast two weeks straight...
Cubs vs Sox series= me dropping all fall semester classes at State and moving to Chicago to have myself some good 'ol fashion fag drags
Hot Rod, well said sir. When I first clicked on TUP from Deadspin, I assumed that you were going to bash my boys and claim the the White Sox would demolish the Northsiders in four games. But I was hugely wrong. Nice post, bud.
On a side note: Dubs is a douche.
If there was a Cubs-Sox world series, ESPN would still find a way to give more coverage to the Red Sox and Joba Chamberlain's bowel movments. This WS has to happen only to spite Jay Mariotti when Ozzie makes his 2nd WS in 4 seasons, and to see every Cubs fan who hates Alfonso Soriano jump back on his bandwagon.
When the Sox won in '05 I rubbed it in one of my friends face whos a Cubs fan. His shitty comeback was "it had the lowest viewers of any world series." God Cubs fans are retarded.
I'm so broke I can't wait to loot. im gonna steal me a tv and a new kid
I had the same kind of feeling for the Sox. I think that when they were swept by an division foe, and I didn't feel the slightest bit disturbed, that's when I knew this season is different. Even after losing three straight, they still lead by five and a half games, tied for most in the majors. I have strong feelings that the pitching staff will fall off a bit and allow a few more home runs. But even if they do, does it really matter? Would it mean we have a three game lead instead of five and a half? Everyone else sucks so much.
That said, I don't think the rest of the AL is scared. Your point that no one looks like a clear favorite works both ways. Sure, the Rays and Angels don't keep me up at night, but I doubt they have any worse chance than us. Either way, it's a much better place than I thought we would be in June.
Also, it seems more than extreme to say that the vibe of an entire neighborhood would be affected by seven (or fewer) baseball games. I think they'd live through it. Not that I wouldn't want to see what happens if your scenario plays out.