Worse than when Casey choked.

I like the drama of a baseball pennant race. Especially if it involves my favorite team. The Chicago Cubs. For a baseball fan, it can be an exhilerating happy occurence. Or downright sad. Like the Mighty Casey striking out in his last at-bat. No joy in Mudville. Well, it's getting so there could be no joy in Chicago at mid-season. The Cubs could be sent reeling by the despised St. Louis Cardinals. The Cubs were the pre-season favorite to win the National League Central Division. But they've been a big disappointment. Under-achievers, to say the least. But this weekend they have a chance to make amends. They came in 3 1/2 games out of first place. With a 4-game set against the Cardinals. In the Cubs home park, no less. If the Cubs would sweep the series, they'd be in first place by half a game. And with momentum. Under a worst-case scenario for a Cubs fan, St. Louis would sweep, and hold a 7 1/2 game bulge over the Cubs. Difficult, but not impossible to make up. It would be a huge psychological blow for the already not-so-confident Cubs. That's the problem. The Cubs need to regain their swagger. Which they've lacked all season. They've played like beat dogs. With tails between their legs. Yes, they already lost the first game, 8-3, on Friday afternoon. Of course, diehard Cubs fans wish for the Cubs to win today and twice in a doubleheader on Sunday. That would put the Cubs only a game and a half out. And with momentum. Having rallied with their proverbial backs to the wall. Liked trapped rats -- er, I mean Cubs. But then again, the Cubs could lose all four games. And the situation to a Cubs fan would seem worse than when Mighty Casey choked. --Jim Broede
http://mightycasey.org/