While R sits at the beach…

August 9th, 2006 | Posted by PostmanE

…I got this e-mail forwarded to us from a White Sox fan, dripping with smarm:

This morning on Comcast there was a poll asking if the Cubs were still on the wild card race. Sixty-six percent of respondents said yes. The Cubs are 9.5 games out behind 11 teams. Is that a joke? Sixty-six percent of Cubs fans are hopeless dreamers.

Ahem…66%?!? I’m among the least-jaded Cubs fans around, but that’s a whole lot of people smokin’ some of that fine Dusty Baker rock. Remember, a few days ago, he said:

Asked whether he ever glanced at the wild-card standings and thought about whether the Cubs would be in contention if they simply had tread water in May and June, Baker replied: ‘We played the best we could at that time. You can’t time it when guys get hot. I look at it like we’re still in it right now. I just haven’t commented on it. But we still have action now.’

Let’s not forget, of course, that the e-mail that sparked this little discussion was sent by some White Sox lovers, probably a bit stressed about the fact that they have a really, really good baseball team that might not even make the playoffs this year. Which, to me, would be unbelievably tragic. (Go Twins.)

But let’s also think rationally here: the Cubs do not have “action,” Dusty. They do not have the beginnings of action. If they won 10 in a row, miracle of all miracles, I would still say be hesitant to say they had “action.” To be honest, I don’t even know what “action” means.

Also, to the 66% of you that voted in that Comcast Poll - come on. It’s great to have a little faith, the Cubs are playing well of late, everyone’s feeling good, it’s one big collective pat on the back, sure. Compared to May and June, anything would feel good right now. But don’t let it cloud your judgment. This Cubs team doesn’t have what it needs to have to get into the playoffs this year. It will not make a push; all thoughts to the contrary are futile, silly, and clinically unhealthy.