Changing The Cubs Culture

Much has been made in recent years about how if the Yankees don't win the World Series their season is a failure.  Ouch.  This coming from a team that has won 26 championships.  How do I know this?  Because Yankees fans are constantly reminding me of this and the YES Network seems to enjoy doing it as well.  You would think that after 26 championships you'd be happy with a winning season, the best record in baseball and an ALCS appearance.  However, that's not how things work in Yankee Nation. 

Oddly enough, the Cubs find themselves in a similar position and they haven't won a World Series since 1908.  How do I know this?  Because White Sox fans are constantly reminding me of this and whenever the Cubs are on ESPN or FOX they always bring up our "failures." FOX especially seems to be addicted to airing the infamous "Bartman incident" from 2003.  Now, granted, the Cubs haven't been to a World Series in over a century which is embarrassing, but since 2000 they have had success in the new century.  Winning seasons in 2001, 2003-2004, 2007-2009.  Division titles in 2003, 2007-2008.  A trip to the NLCS in 2003 which we pushed to Game 7.  Great players in Sammy Sosa, Kerry Wood, Derrek Lee, Carlos Zambrano, Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, and Mark Prior.  Yet none of that matters because we haven't been to a World Series let alone win one. 

There was a time not long ago when the Cubs were perennial losers.  "Lovable losers" is what the media called them.  But if you'll recall back in the 2003 NLCS there weren't many media people talking about how "cursed" the Cubs were after they had a 3-1 lead on the Marlins.  In fact, most people were saying, "This is the year!" even after Josh Beckett shut us out and down in Game 5.  I was nervous after that, but I felt confident heading into Game 6 with Prior on the mound.  Unfortunately, in retrospect, I think that perhaps the Cubs got cocky and maybe even complacent thinking, "Well, if we lose, we got Woody on the mound tomorrow." Dusty Baker managed that game like he was going for the split decision when we needed a manager who went for the knockout.  There was no curse.  It wasn't Bartman's fault.  It was a combination of factors and the blame should go to the Cubs that year. 

I really thought that 2008 was going to be THE year.  In fact, I believe that the 2008 Cubs are the best Cubs team of my lifetime.  The fact that they got swept by the Dodgers in 3 games still makes me very angry and bitter just thinking about it.  I love the Cubs, but I think one of our problems is that we have a lack of leadership on this team.  There seems to be a "Mr. Cool" atmosphere that is more like a country club and it reminds me of the Phillies teams of the late 1970s.  From 1976-1978 Philadelphia won the division only to get eliminated in the NLCS by the Reds in '76 and Dodgers in '77 and '78.  They brought in Pete Rose for '79 because the club needed a leader and while Rose was great that year, the team flopped and it cost manager Danny Ozark his job.  They promoted Dallas Green from the farm system to be manager and the next year they won the World Series. 

In 2003 the Boston Red Sox were defeated by the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the ALCS and it cost Red Sox manager Grady Little his job.  They hired Terry Francona to replace him and brought in Curt Schilling whom I think was one of the main reasons why they won it all in 2004.  We need guys like Rose and Schilling on this team.  We need someone on this club to be the face of our franchise because right now we don't have one.  The last time this team had a face it was Sammy Sosa's.  If I was Jim Hendry, I would look at two pitchers this offseason: Roy Halladay and John Lackey.  Lackey will be eligible for free agency after the season if he decides to pursue it.  Halladay still has a year left on his contract with the Blue Jays.  I think both of those guys are leaders and if I have a preference, I'd go with Halladay.  He might cost us some top prospects in a trade, but the Cubs are in a "win now" mode and if the opportunity is there, I'd go after him. 

Here's the trade I would offer to Toronto:

OF Milton Bradley, P Carlos Zambrano, C Wellington Castillo, 2B/3B Mike Fontenot, and IF/OF Jake Fox along with cash to the Blue Jays for Roy Halladay.  Bradley gets a fresh start in Toronto where he could DH again.  Zambrano and his huge salary goes to another team where he can be the ace of a rebuilding staff.  And Halladay goes to the Cubs to become the new ace.  That gives us a pitching rotation next year of Halladay, Dempster, Lilly, Wells, and perhaps Samardzija. 

The fact is that the Cubs are no longer the lovable losers.  There is an expectation now from fans and even some in the media that the Cubs succeed.  Heck, when you've got a payroll over $100 million you better succeed! And with a new owner coming in promising to do whatever it takes to win a championship, the stakes are high and so are the expectations.  We aren't where the Yankees are yet, but I believe that our chances to win the NL Central next year are going to be better than this year once the pieces of the puzzle are put together.  I'm confident that the coveted goal of a World Series ring is much closer than we realize.  It's not going to be easy, but it never is for the Cubs.  But we can do it.