Day 4 - Part 2: Back to .500

So, let’s cut to the chase, it’s 2-1 Cubbies out in front. Top half of the eighth is about to start. That means Kerry Wood is coming to set up the closer. He’s due to face the meat of the ARI order. Batters 3, 4 and 5 AKA Upton, Branyan and Young, have Cubs fans nervous. I’ve come to learn that nervousness is part of being a Cubs fan. In true Cubs fashion, the first batter reaches first, on an error no doubt. As Cubs fan #1 would say, that was very Cub of him. Then Branyan singles and there’s two on, none out. Here we go, yet AGAIN! How do Cubs fans do it? This is brutal. Young basically sacrifices the two runners into scoring position. Then Wood intentionally walks some tool and the bases are drunk. We need a double play. Wood strikes out ARI tool #2 and gets ARI tool #3 to fly out to Soriano. Got out of that jam. I thought about using a word I used yesterday that rhymes with “unbathed” but I won’t jinx us today. Look at me. “Misery”, “Jinxing” and “hopelessness”. I am a full-fledged Cubs fan. I sold out, I’ll admit it. But anyone that knows me, knows I’m ‘bout it. I said I was going to be a Cubs fan, and here I am, miserable as all hell.

One out in bottom of the eighth. Ramirez is up. My immediate reaction to Ramirez is “he’s a bum”. This is a guy that I spoke with, in my broken Spanish, and his broken English, at Chavez Ravine. We shared a great 10 minute conversation during batting practice. I loved that guy, and now I’m a Cubs fan, I think he’s, well, a bum. Wouldn’t you know it, the bum doubles. Runner in scoring position and we desperately NEED this insurance run. With Marmol due to pitch, we need 12 insurance runs. One may not be enough…Then it smacks me in the face. That superman effect has kicked in. We are the fuckin’ Cubs. We don’t need shit. This bipolar fan-itude I have developed is kickin’ my ass. Up and down, Down and Up. I’m going crazy, then crazier as Soto doubles in Ramirez. We got that insurance run. Then we get another as Soriano singles in Soto. Two outs. 4-1 Cubs. I got a good feeling about this one. We leave Soriano at first and now it’s DRUMROLL time.

I can’t help but feel nervous. There’s that word again. I’m nervous that Marmol is warming up. Why wouldn’t I be? Why shouldn’t I be? And of Course, he walk the lead-off batter. He gets the next batter to ground into a fielder’s choice. One on, one out, three fingernails gone. I’m praying 4-6-3 double play, but I will take anything that either gets us the win, or gets us closer to the win. YES!!! He strikes out the next batter. One on, two outs, and I can taste this bitch! Come on Marmol, quit playing with my emotions. Wow, he gets the guy to fly out, but not before thirty brids go flying through the ball’s flight path. Sweat that one out to the last second. 2 wins, 2 losses. A game and a half back behind the Reds. WHEW!

Let me finish this off with my usual song choice of the day and a note. I will be traveling out of town to a couple NBA games these next few days. Tomorrow, I’m heading to Orlando to see the Magic take on the Bucks. Then on Wednesday, I go to see Lebron and the Heat beat down the Bucks. I will try and update the blog if I can, but if not, we’ll see you on Thursday. Looking forward to Butler-UConn tonight as well. Anyhow, I’m feelin’ bad ass. I will leave you with a bad ass song…
ADDITION - I receive a number of texts from cubs fan #1 and one of them sticks out. "Maybe they won bc I didn't watch it". Though it's a little early for superstition, I totally get it. Cubs fans must be some of the most superstitious. After 103 yrs of pain, you can't help it.