The 9th inning WIN always does it to me

It was Wednesday, June 17th. Soriano, a $17m/year player has a batting average of .225. We’re not even close to first place. The Brewers swept the White Sox when they played them, and here we are, already having lost a game 4-1 against the miserable South-siders at home none the less, both teams desperately needing wins. I take it with a grain of salt. Last year the Cubs were in first place nearly the entire season, and look what de-railed in the end? (And trust me who wants to go down that memory lane again?) So do I get angry that we haven’t been hitting like we should, or that we’ve been ridden with injuries in May or that perhaps our star player shouldn’t be first in the batting order with a batting average under .300? Should I compare it to Jeter, whose current batting average isn’t that great either and his price tag is even higher than Soriano’s? I don’t know what to think. All I know is that I’m **********. (MLB will block out swear words so insert here). 

To make it worse, the usual anti-Cub fans post comments to my facebook page about how I should be used to this madness by now. Whatever. The Cubs are like Chicago weather. You never ever know what you are going to get, and that is an under-statement. So I consult with my friends back in Chicago, what the hell is going on? Is it good that we aren’t so cocky this season and so ahead at this point in the season so we don’t repeat last year? I’ve never been stunted like this with the Cubs. I’m ********** but I have no idea what to think about the road ahead.

Then, when all else fails - it happens. June 18th, last game in the series against the White Sox at home. The Cubs do this once or twice per season, sometimes more if we’re lucky. Any die-hard fan can relate. It’s this beautiful, 9th inning, 2 outs, 2 strikes against your team moment, when an RBI or HR occurs that defines moments in baseball where you truly understand why you love the game, why you love your team. Soriano hits an RBI to center field to get Reed Johnson home in the 9th inning against our biggest rival White Sox to win the game 6-5. And instantly my faith is restored. It’s the magical moments we forget about, the experiences and games where the Cubs bring you unbelievable happiness – when anything is possible.

I know our standings. (Yes Brewers fans back in WIS, I am fully aware of where you stand in the Central Division, you do NOT have to remind me). I know it’s only June…well middle of June. And I know anything, and everything can change in baseball, with one injury, with one series..anything. I’m still taking this season game by game, series by series. And I will continue to take the abuse from the LA natives, and numerous anti-Cubs fans who just don’t understand believing in a team no matter what. They can piss me off, but I will always believe in them. GO CUBS!