Sports Blog
Check out the sports blog, where the State News sports staff will discuss everything from Spartan to professional athletics on a daily basis.
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Recent posts
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Early men's hoops awards
With my term coming to an end as an MSU men’s basketball beat reporter since the spring, I can’t help but still feel connected to the team.
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Appreciating the great camera work
So after the blizzard that struck during the attempted second half of Sunday’s field hockey game, I have an extra appreciation for what our camera people do.
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Fantasy football, week 11
Well, it looks like I struggled with last week’s picks as Greg Camarillo had four catches and Willis McGahee busted out from his slump. Oh well, I went 1-1, so I’m back at it again.
It's good to be a Cubs fan
Being around a desk full of die-hard Tigers fans, I have a hard time spreading my love of the Cubs. Now, I feel as though it is time to spread the joy to the rest of the Cubs fans at MSU.
As of Wednesday, the Cubs are 8-2 in their last 10 games, including a sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Yes, the cellar dwellers of the National League Central Pirates. It may not mean much, but it was how they did it, a straight rout 12-3 on Monday, a come-from-behind in late innings 14-9 on Tuesday and a shutout 2-0 win on Wednesday. It’s a wonderful sight to see that no matter what the situation, the Cubs can win.
The team has a vibe around them that there hasn’t been in the past few winning seasons they had.
In 2001, when they were 88-74, they didn’t even win their division. In 2003, again 88-74, they made an amazing run to within three outs of the World Series, where they haven’t been since 1945, then collapsed, the season tainted by Sammy’s corked bat and a man named Bartman. Not to mention they were in a race for the division until the last day of the season. 2004, they failed to make the playoffs despite winning more games than 2003, 89-73. They made the playoffs for the second time in the decade in 2007 by winning the division again, late in the year, while showing inconsistencies the whole year.
This year, however, there has been no lack of consistency. The pitching staff has been stellar, including the bullpen that has been shaky this entire decade. The lineup has been as solid as a National League team could ever be, while scoring more runs then every other team in the majors except Texas, despite only hitting the seventh-most homers, with Aramis Ramirez hitting a team-high 23. A team made up of former 40 homers-in-a-year guys: Ramirez, Derrek Lee, Alfonso Soriano and Jim Edmonds, and the most they have is 23? For once, the Cubs are relying on small ball. They lead the majors with a .282 batting average, despite their number three hitter, former batting champ Lee, and hot starting rookie Kosuke Fukudome slumping since the All-Star break.
It’s just the feeling around the 83-50 team that has me excited. Never before have I seen the Cubs play with so much enjoyment — they finally all gel perfectly. There is no Carlos Zambrano-Michael Barrett fight in the dugout, no clubhouse distraction like Sosa.
Losing since 1908 seems like it could damage a lot of people’s pschye, but not this team. There will be no billy goats, black cats, or headphone-wearing fans this year, knock on wood.
Comments
Mike K
08/29/08 @ 1:59am
I will say, I have watched a lot of baseball this year and the Cubs have been one of the most impressive teams all year, but I do have a few concerns about potential playoff matchups. If Arizona wins the NL West, I would not want to go up against their 1-2-3 punch (Webb, Haren, and Johnson) in a best of five series. Added to that is the fact that no matter the year, some sleeper lies in wait out there and will find its stroke during the postseason. I’m not sure the Mets have the pitching for a long run, but I didn’t think Colorado did either. Milwaukee is a tough match too, although the Cubs seem to have their number. No matter what happens, they will be the favorites in the NL and this Tigers fan is hoping they have a good run.
Red Cedar PM
08/29/08 @ 7:12am
Arizona is tough – but I don’t see anyone beating us in the playoffs when we have home field advantage and can throw up Z, Dempster, and Harden. I am more worried about facing the Rays or the Angels in the series (if we make it there). Either way this is the first time in a long time of my 20 years being a die-hard Cubs fan that I have been very excited about September and October. Go Cubs, Go!
M R E
09/02/08 @ 9:17pm
It’s good to hear from an avid Cubs fan. Keep up the good work.
Go Cubs.