What Happened to the Chicago Cubs?
Inability to Overcome Flaws Led to Stunning Playoff Loss
Oct 6, 2008
All you heard throughout the 2008 season was that this was going to be the year that the Cubs would finally win the World Series. Chicago won 97 games, a National League best, but they ran into a hot team in the Dodgers, who swept them out in three straight.
Last Title was 1908
The Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908 and have not even been participants in a "Fall Classic" since 1945. There have been some close calls along the way but something always seems to stymie Chicago’s attempt to end the frustration.
Curse of the Billy Goat
From 1876-1945, the Cubs were one of the most successful franchises in baseball, winning 16 National League Pennants and 2 World Series championship.
On October 6th, 1945, game 4 of the Series between the Cubs and Detroit Tigers was scheduled for Wrigley Field.
William Sianis, who was the owner of the "Billy Goat Tavern" and a huge Cubs fan, bought two tickets for the game, one for him and one for his pet goat, who he thought would bring some luck to the team. When the goat was refused entry into the ballpark, Sianis reportedly claimed, "The Cubs will never win a World Series so long as the goat is not allowed in Wrigley Field". The Cubs went on to lose that Series and have not been there since.
Cubs Couldn’t Score Runs
Curses or no curses, the bottom line is that the Cubs couldn’t score against the Dodger pitching staff.
The Cubs led the league in scoring with 855 runs and 636 walks. In the National League Divisional Series, they scored 6 runs and drew 6 walks while going 5 for 28 with runners in scoring position.
Consider the case of Derrek Lee. The Cubs’ third place hitter in the lineup, batted .545 in the series and did not drive in a run. Leadoff batter Alfonso Soriano was awful in the playoffs again as he was 1 for 14 and did not score a run.
Lack Of Balance Throughout the Lineup
Chicago’s "Achilles heel" with their lineup was a severe lack of left-handed hitting.
Kosuke Fukodome started off fast but struggled in the second half of the season and right into the playoffs where he was 1 for 10. Jim Edmonds was picked up during the season but he was a shell of his former self and went 2 for 10.
Mike Fontenot was 2 for 6 but is not consistent enough to be a regular player. Same for Daryle Ward and Felix Pie, both left handed swingers.
Offense Doesn’t Deserve All the Blame
A lack of offense was not the only factor that doomed the Cubs.
Pitcher Ryan Dempster, who was nearly unbeatable at home, picked the wrong time to have his worst outing at Wrigley Field. Carlos Zambrano was fatigued, not totally healthy, and was victimized by poor defense behind him in game two, while Rich Harden could not last into the fifth inning in game 3.
The bullpen gave up six runs but never had a lead to work with.
Wait ‘Till Next Year
The Cubs need to make changes for next season. Manager Lou Piniella is back but his club will once again battle history as well as the rest of the National League.
