8/08/2003 08:46:00 AM by Rob

Chicago Hope

It's August 8th. The Sux are 1/2 game out of first. The Cubs are 1 1/2 games out.

When was the last time something even remotely close to his happened? To me, the last time there was a Crosstown Series buzz was 1977, when at the end of June, both teams enjoyed leads, and were the SI Coverstory. I still remember the headline..."Chi, Oh My". A whole episode of Mel Allen's "This Week in Baseball" was devoted to us.

Of course, right after that, both teams hit the flush lever.

Where's the national buzz? This is much later in the season. At this point in time, you can actually discuss postseason ball, and not be deemed completely insane. So, why isn't there more Chicago hysteria?

Personally, I blame the Wild Card, more accurately, the three division system. Making the postseason just isn't the same anymore. It is possible to make the playoffs, and if you get swept in the first round, still feel like you are far, far away from the World Series. Whereas in 1977, if you made the playoffs, you were only 3 wins away from the WS. It was a much bigger deal, then.

It was great that we swept the Padres, bad as they might be. You have to smack down the cripples first, before you can beat the big boys. Let's hope that they do more of the same to the Dodgers, a team I cannot stand, and a team with even more pronounced imbalance between their pitchers and hitters than we are.

Is the Turd in the lineup? God, I hope he is, him and McStiff. It would be so cool if Lofton or Karros spiked one of them, and they accidentally lost control of their bowels, right there on the field.

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