Dunn Theorizes

by JD Arney on Aug 11, 2005 1:17 PM EDT in News

This cracked me up for some reason:

Dunn has a theory about why they are The Collapsible Cubs.
"Every year they fold at the end, every year," he said. "Why? I believe they get tired. It's all those day games they have to play. It's like spring training. Players like to sleep in, but they can't do it here. That takes its toll."

That's as good an explanation for why the Cubs suck as I've ever heard.

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Dunn

At least we don't have to worry about Dunn going to the Cubs as a free agent despite how well he hits there at Wrigley. The boy needs his beauty rest.

--
Reds (and Blues)

by Slyde on Aug 11, 2005 1:51 PM EDT reply actions

Dunn No

Nope. Don't agree with Mr. Dunn at all. I've lived in Chicago for 20 years and heard that same crapola for 20 years about the day baseball and all making the poor Cubs tired.

It's been a consistent lack of talent. When the Cubs built a club and had talent, they won. When they had holes that you could drive a semi through, they didn't. They gave Dusty everything he wanted in 03, and they won. They kinda fudged it all the last two years, and didn't.

Love is a burnin' thing. It makes a fiery ring. thankyouverymuch

by oldcleat on Aug 11, 2005 2:44 PM EDT reply actions

They won

Really? In 03 they won 88 games and won the division. The next year Dusty won one more game but didn't get anything for it. It seems to me that in 04 under your defintion of winning, he won as well.

When did the Cubs have talent or at least healthy talent? Over the last 20 years the cubs have been to the playoffs 3 times (compared to the reds 2), over the last 40 years the cubs have been to the playoffs 4 times (compared to the reds 8), over the last 60 years ... you get the picture. The cubs haven't been a good franchise in at least 60 years.

by Pinski on Aug 11, 2005 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions

You are correct

I errored. They did win in '04, they just didn't make the playoffs. And really, looking at the roster and all, they didn't really fudge anything. They went out and got Nomar Garciaparra, for Hamm's sake. I misspoke, I was wrong, and I apologize.

Love is a burnin' thing. It makes a fiery ring. thankyouverymuch

by oldcleat on Aug 12, 2005 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Cubs

But they sure consistently fill Wrigley Field, win or lose.

by TR on Aug 11, 2005 5:11 PM EDT reply actions

Dunn's comments MAY have a glint of truth....

The Tribune Company wants to schedule as many night games as possible. Due to an agreement with the Lakeview neighborhood, the team is somewhat stymied from doing so.
The Cubs are at a bit of a disadvantage -- as they have to keep changing their habits, sleeping schedules from homestands to roadtrips, where usually -- a nighttime schedule dominates. If you note the schedule closely, the team has tried to schedule night games coming off road trips as to try to keep the team on a consistent schedule.

(Just ask Kyle Farnsworth. He screwed up his Cubs career because he just couldn't pull himself away from the Wrigleyville bars. There are tons of stories of ol' Kyle livin' it up with the fans.)

And OldCleat is right, the talent has been poor over the years -- especially during most of the Wrigley ownership, as PK Wrigley cared more about the ball park than he did his team.

I'd like to see the team play as many as 50-60 night games, but I don't ever think that's going to be possible...so, you could speculate that day baseball is just another hurdle the Cubs have to jump -- something other teams don't have to concern therselves with. Therefore -- good ol' Wrigley Field might be actually hurting the Cubs, in the long run.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man @ Red Reporter on Aug 12, 2005 12:47 AM EDT reply actions

Kyle and day ball

And thanks to Farnsworth, Tai's Til Four on Ashland has undergone a nice facelift over the last four years. Of course, Kyle got in trouble for taking a nap in the clubhouse during a game.

The day games are too classic to take away. It's not just the ballpark. It's the whole experience of Chicago in the summer when it's understandable to miss a day of work every now again to catch an afternoon ballgame. Offices and lunchspots everywhere integrate day baseball into our dailry lives. This is why there are so many casual Cubs fans. It's just part of living here. If you take day baseball away completely, baeball no longer be a natural integration into the lives of so many Chicagoans, and you may as well take a wrecking ball to Wrigley Field.

Again, I'm not a Cubs fan. But I do wish Reds baseball were more of a part of everyone's daily (not nightly) lives like Cubs baseball is in Chicago.

Brian B

by Brian B on Aug 12, 2005 1:15 AM EDT up reply actions