Baseball Update: An Open Letter To Cubs Fans

The Baseball Update is a look at the happenings around Major League Baseball

Instead of looking at the entire NL Central this week, I thought I would write an open letter to all the Chicago Cubs fans.

Dear Chicago Cubs fans,

Let me start by saying I feel for you. You haven't seen a World Series win by your team in over 100 years and haven't seen the team in the series since 1945. Trust me I feel for you. Since the Giants moved to San Francisco they haven't won a World Series. Sure they have been to three of them in San Francisco ,but they didn't win. They were robbed by Bobby Richardson and the Yankees in 62, robbed by an Earthquake in 89, and robbed by Dusty Baker in 02(see we do have common ground, we both hate Dusty Baker). Like yourself, I want to see my team win a World Series badly. Like you, I keep telling myself if the Phillies can win one so can we. But unlike you, I realize my team isn't going to win the Series this year.

I already see you are blaming the umpire for Carlos Zambrano's meltdown from yesterday. You might as well blame the umps for all the injuries on the team, because that is how ridiculous it sounds. The ump was in the wrong yesterday, he did blow that call. But Zambrano must keep his cool and not take out his frustrations on a poor and helpless Gatorade cooler. But sadly his tirade will be the signature moment of your season.

The Cubs season has been an entire meltdown. This was the year the Cubs were suppose to right the ship(of course we said the same thing last year). This was the year the Cubs had pitching(the same thing was said in 03). And this was the year the Cubs had all the offense they needed to compete with the Phillies and Red Sox. But sadly injuries have put the Cubs into a tailspin. Sure the Cubs are only four games behind the Cardinals for first place. But let's be realistic, there is no way the Cubs make the playoffs this year.

The Aramis Ramirez injury is just too costly to the offense. He was the glue in the middle of the order. Since he has went down with a shoulder injury, the Cubs offense has gone from one of the best in the league to one of the worst. Right now the team is 25th in the majors in team average. Hell even the Giants have a better team average. The other Cubs hitters have been exposed since his injury. Derek Lee's disappearing act hasn't help though.

Also though you are finding out the true story to Rich Harden's career. Harden is perennially injured. He can never spend the entire season without at least making one trip to the DL. Oakland A's fans found this out a long time ago.

So you can keep telling yourselves the Cubs will make the playoffs, even though they are really just feeding off of week opponents. Hell I keep telling myself the Giants will win the NL West(which isn't true because the f-ing Dodgers aren't going anywhere). But that's all right. Because we have both witnessed our teams over the years disappoint us, but we keep coming back to them. There is always next year. That is something I have told myself about the Giants, and HBO documented you telling yourselves that.

Hopefully we can keep in touch and maybe schedule a therapy session together. Until next time.

Sincerely, Keith