10/09/2003 09:41:00 AM by Rob

Ain't skeered

You know what worries me today?

Yep, even in the afterglow of that vicious beating the Cubs laid on the Fish last night, I got issues.

When we were beating the Braves, there they were, all hangdog faced. The weight of 12 years of mostly playoff futility pushing down on them. They didn't have a chance of hitting Prior or Wood. They were beaten before the game even started. It was kind of nice to see the Cubs lord their manhood over someone, a 101-win team, like the Braves.

But last night, even after the 500-foot blasts, after the 12 runs, even after their reliever literally threw a pitch into his own dugout, there was no dejection in the Fish Bowl. No hanging heads, no defeat. Ozzie Guillen was holding up a catchers mitt, as if he wanted another one, same place. They were still laughing, joking. I dunno what the hell Jack McKeown brings to the table, but these guys get it. They are fortunate, and they know it. They are good, and they know it. The Fish are not going to die easy.

That having been said, they couldn't touch Prior last night. And do NOT count me amongst the people griping about leaving him in there into the 8th inning, even with a 10 run lead. Look, this is the Cubs. This is the best pitcher we have ever had. We are closer to the World Series than we have been in years. We can't let up. When you have your foot on someone's throat, don't let them breathe. I know the odds of blowing a lead that large, even with Veres, Guthrie and Alfucksucka is remote. But this is the Cubs, and IF it happened, it would spin us into another 95 year vortex of despair!

Dusty, I believe, is the first manager we have ever had that thinks more than just one minute to the next. He sees the big picture, and I guess compared to the 133-pitch games he has subjected Prior to lately, last night must have been like getting out of school early for Markie.

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