Back when I was doing Vine Line illustrations and the Cubs were legit-horrible... as the illustrator you're not allowed to focus on the horrible, right? Your client, Vine Line, wouldn't be happy with something funny about how bad everything is. So I'd have to do a "look over there" illustration. Like something from good Cubs history, or maybe tie the Cubs in with Mother's Day or something.
I don't mind doing that kinda stuff - been doing it on my own forEVER.
But right now the Cubs are so astonishingly awful I'm literally at this stage:
Historically bad.
Worse, it's boring.
The Cubs' tagline should be "3 Up 3 Down!"
Fingernails on a chalkboard while the watched pot never boils.
Everyone's been comparing the Cubs bats to like... there are pitching staffs with better numbers than Cub position player's.
But just look at the Cubs compared to the cream of the crop:
That's from yesterday's box scores of Cubs/Braves and Dodgers/Padres.
And btw, in a little more than 2 weeks the Dodgers will come to Wrigley.
Remember the old "beat the teams you're supposed to"?
Right now, the Cubs might only be the team you're supposed to beat.
And then there's stuff like... Joc Pederson.
Bases loaded, bottom of the 9th, a salami will win the game for the Cubs.
Strikes out.
Vs Kyle Schwarber, fresh off his Covid time out.
He hits a walkoff homer on the same night, only for the Nats.
It was just a minute ago that Pederson was the best hitter in spring ball...
You know all this I'm sure.
The Cubs won't be this bad forever.
I wasn't counting, but watching the Brewer series, did it not seem like their balls found holes while the Cubs found nothing but gloves?
In the bottom of the 7th last night, Ian Happ scorches a leadoff liner.
Only right into Ozuna's glove.
Then both Contreras and Rizzo single.
If Happ's ball falls in, at least one run woulda been produced.
It just seems like that is happening ALL game long in every game.
Whatever.
It's about time for today's game.
Maybe they'll begin to claw out.