Maybe somebody like Dave Clapper or Chad Simpson will come over here and tell me I'm over-simplifying, but I'm laying all the blame for the Cubs being out of it on Lou Pinella. He seems to me one of those defensive types who refuses to acknowledge what he doesn't like. Like W, come to think of it. This is a very good way of making yourself stupid.
I'm referring in particular to Game One of the divisional series against the Dodgers. The Cubbies had been swept the year before--last year--and Pinella should have seen, but refused to acknowledge, how crucial a good showing in Game One was, especially given the expectations this year, with the Cubs having home field throughout the playoffs. So: fifth inning. The Cubs have a two-zip lead, and Pinella's starter, Ryan Dempster, gives up two shaky walks to load the bases. What's Pinella thinking? That there are two outs? That there's no reason to panic because he has the stronger team? Come on. Dempster's flailing. Anyone can see that. And this is the playoffs. And your players need this game.
I'm telling you, it's on Pinella. If he gets Dempster out of there, Loney--who's not Manny Ramirez after all--doesn't hit the grand slam, and the 'oh no' feeling doesn't work its way into the Cubs hitters....
4 comments:
GO PHILLIES
didn't know you were a Phils' fan....
last year i was doing some sportswriting and i wrote that what the Phils needed was a campaign for a place in the nat'l imagination. because people weren't properly excited about them, you know... they were never on TV. now it's a little better, but the networks are still praying the Dodgers win. Manny and the Dodgers vs. the Red Sox, please, please, please. That's how the network prayers go.
yeah, i was born and raised 20 minutes outside of philly. been following the phillies since i was a kid. mike schmidt and steve carlton.... the good ole days.
and yeah im surprised the phillies market isnt bigger. it isnt like philly is a small town or anything.
I haven't followed the post-season closely at all this year (being an M's fan, the regular season ending was a blessing), but... Lou struck me that way while he was here, too. Always seemed to want more than what he had.
But the real reason the Cubs lost is that the cops shot 'em down when they killed the first cougar seen in Chicago in... how long?... 100 years.
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