Jenya
10-16-2003, 08:20 AM
Cubs Can't Blame Curses
Florida Simply Had The Better Squad
By Richard Griffin The Toronto Star (http://www.thestar.com/)
Thursday October 16, 2003
CHICAGO—Marlins win! Marlins win! Chad Fox and Andy Fox, two Marlin players, were delighted with the result. Unfortunately, the most important Fox of all, baseball's World Series producing TV partners, was devastated. Those were four words they did not want to hear.
What would have been a dream for television, the long-suffering Cubs vs. the equally cursed Red Sox or the evil empire Yankees is suddenly gone following last night's 9-6 Marlins win in Game 7 of the NLCS.
The Marlins came to town as long shots and defeated Mark Prior and Kerry Wood back-to-back. They deserved it. But will anyone outside of south Florida and the northeast care about this Fall Classic?
"We didn't lose the pennant, the Marlins won it fair and square," said Cubs manager Dusty Baker. "We had our two best going in these games and they beat us. I expect those two guys to be better next year from the experience."
In the end, it wasn't the goat, the ghosts or any interfering fan that made the difference for the Cubs losing to the underdog Marlins. It was a catcher nobody wanted, Pudge Rodriguez, who set an LCS record for RBIs and was named MVP of the series.
It was 20-year-old rookie Miguel Cabrera with a three-run homer to get the Fish going in the first, playing in right field, a position he had manned for the first time in Game 4.
It was 23-year-old sensation Josh Beckett returning to the mound on just two days' rest to log four key innings of relief before handing the game over to the closer. He allowed three hits and one run in 13 innings in the series.
It was centre fielder Juan Pierre who was largely silent as the leadoff hitter through four games, but became the straw that stirred the Marlins' tropical drink at Wrigley Field.
It was the managing-by-the-seat-of-his-pants Jack McKeon, the senior citizen skipper who kept insisting his team felt no pressure and proved it with his calm demeanour and unscientific, but effective strategies.
"This is probably the biggest moment of my professional career," the 72-year old manager said. "It really hasn't sunk in yet. We were the better club in this series, because we won it. I had a bunch of fighting warriors who outplayed them."
Every decision worked. Like sliding Cabrera into the cleanup spot and moving him to right. Like taking Juan Encarnacion out of the lineup. Like putting third baseman Mike Lowell back into the mix. Like bringing Beckett out of the pen at exactly the right moment in the deciding game.
The city with broad shoulders was stunned as the final flyball settled into Jeff Conine's glove in left, shaking with uncontrollable tears. It's been 58 years and counting. Meanwhile, the Florida Marlins are back in the World Series after a lengthy (?) absence of six years.
Think about it. There are kids in south Florida who are 11 years old that don't remember 1997, when Livan Hernandez and Moises Alou led the Fish to a World Series championship in their fifth year of existence. "Alou was a Marlin?" they ask, eyes bulging in amazement.
Despite the Wrigley devastation, when Baker emerged from the dugout and crossed the field for a post-game interview, they gave him a tremendous ovation.
You have to feel for these fans. To put it in perspective, they've waited 59 more years for a winner than Maple Leafs fans have.
"It's always painful to lose," Baker said. "We should be proud of our guys for how far they've come in a short time. You have to tip your hat to the Marlins. They may have been better and more well-rounded — this year."
The faithful lingered for a long time in the stand, in the bleachers, in the bars on the famous four streets. Bums for at least one more year. Loyal to the end, they stayed, refusing to believe, refusing to go home. The Marlins and their 11 years of whiny tradition had done them in.
Wait until next year? Maybe not. Sometimes you get only one kick at the can.
Greek priest Papa Spiros, left, prays as Cubs fan Chris Daviantes stands behind him with arms raised last night. But for the Cubs, there would be no help from above.
JOHN GRESS/REUTERS
Florida Simply Had The Better Squad
By Richard Griffin The Toronto Star (http://www.thestar.com/)
Thursday October 16, 2003
CHICAGO—Marlins win! Marlins win! Chad Fox and Andy Fox, two Marlin players, were delighted with the result. Unfortunately, the most important Fox of all, baseball's World Series producing TV partners, was devastated. Those were four words they did not want to hear.
What would have been a dream for television, the long-suffering Cubs vs. the equally cursed Red Sox or the evil empire Yankees is suddenly gone following last night's 9-6 Marlins win in Game 7 of the NLCS.
The Marlins came to town as long shots and defeated Mark Prior and Kerry Wood back-to-back. They deserved it. But will anyone outside of south Florida and the northeast care about this Fall Classic?
"We didn't lose the pennant, the Marlins won it fair and square," said Cubs manager Dusty Baker. "We had our two best going in these games and they beat us. I expect those two guys to be better next year from the experience."
In the end, it wasn't the goat, the ghosts or any interfering fan that made the difference for the Cubs losing to the underdog Marlins. It was a catcher nobody wanted, Pudge Rodriguez, who set an LCS record for RBIs and was named MVP of the series.
It was 20-year-old rookie Miguel Cabrera with a three-run homer to get the Fish going in the first, playing in right field, a position he had manned for the first time in Game 4.
It was 23-year-old sensation Josh Beckett returning to the mound on just two days' rest to log four key innings of relief before handing the game over to the closer. He allowed three hits and one run in 13 innings in the series.
It was centre fielder Juan Pierre who was largely silent as the leadoff hitter through four games, but became the straw that stirred the Marlins' tropical drink at Wrigley Field.
It was the managing-by-the-seat-of-his-pants Jack McKeon, the senior citizen skipper who kept insisting his team felt no pressure and proved it with his calm demeanour and unscientific, but effective strategies.
"This is probably the biggest moment of my professional career," the 72-year old manager said. "It really hasn't sunk in yet. We were the better club in this series, because we won it. I had a bunch of fighting warriors who outplayed them."
Every decision worked. Like sliding Cabrera into the cleanup spot and moving him to right. Like taking Juan Encarnacion out of the lineup. Like putting third baseman Mike Lowell back into the mix. Like bringing Beckett out of the pen at exactly the right moment in the deciding game.
The city with broad shoulders was stunned as the final flyball settled into Jeff Conine's glove in left, shaking with uncontrollable tears. It's been 58 years and counting. Meanwhile, the Florida Marlins are back in the World Series after a lengthy (?) absence of six years.
Think about it. There are kids in south Florida who are 11 years old that don't remember 1997, when Livan Hernandez and Moises Alou led the Fish to a World Series championship in their fifth year of existence. "Alou was a Marlin?" they ask, eyes bulging in amazement.
Despite the Wrigley devastation, when Baker emerged from the dugout and crossed the field for a post-game interview, they gave him a tremendous ovation.
You have to feel for these fans. To put it in perspective, they've waited 59 more years for a winner than Maple Leafs fans have.
"It's always painful to lose," Baker said. "We should be proud of our guys for how far they've come in a short time. You have to tip your hat to the Marlins. They may have been better and more well-rounded — this year."
The faithful lingered for a long time in the stand, in the bleachers, in the bars on the famous four streets. Bums for at least one more year. Loyal to the end, they stayed, refusing to believe, refusing to go home. The Marlins and their 11 years of whiny tradition had done them in.
Wait until next year? Maybe not. Sometimes you get only one kick at the can.
Greek priest Papa Spiros, left, prays as Cubs fan Chris Daviantes stands behind him with arms raised last night. But for the Cubs, there would be no help from above.
JOHN GRESS/REUTERS