Excuse: attempt to lessen the blame attaching to a fault or offense; seek to defend or justify.
Assessment: the evaluation or estimation of the nature, quality, or ability of someone or something.
I think I’m going to need some help here. I’ve defined two words above in an attempt to differentiate the difference between an honest assessment and an excuse. I think these two get confused easily…and understandably so.
I’m talking about this in relation to the Cubs performance so far this year of course. It seems like when somebody gives their honest assessment of the 2017 Cubs it turns into defending them, which makes it seem like an excuse. Well what if based on your honest assessment you lessen the blame? Is that assessment equal to an excuse then?
Here are some things that are facts. The Cubs are a 500 team today. The Cubs have given up the most runs in the first inning. The Cubs best 3 hitters average wise are Montero, Lackey, and Jay. The Cubs have committed 27 errors thus far which is tied for third worst in baseball. Any questions why the Cubs are where they are thus far?
Here are some other facts. The Cubs are coming off winning the World Series for the first time in 108 years. By doing so, the Cubs broke the longest drought in professional sports history. This is the first World Series title for manager Joe Maddon. The Cubs and Indians played baseball longer than any other team last year (the Indians are 18-15). The Cubs and the Indians play in the 2 weakest divisions, based on winning percentage of the first place teams, in all of baseball. No excuses yet right?
Still, it is cialis 100mg recommended that you quit it. That’s one of the prerequisite of a generic medicine. levitra no prescription Most males may face this disorder sometimes in their lifetime and should make sure that they get through buy cialis from india the problem as well. buy viagra online Topical products for the scalp can sometimes do more harm than good. Now where you take these facts and how they factor into your assessment of the Cubs thus far and their chances going forward, that’s up to you. Again, you can’t dispute facts, well, I guess you can if you’re president. We can dispute the importance of facts when it comes to making an argument, but now we’re getting into opinion. It’s hard to keep those opinions unbiased when you’re arguing for or against something…whether you’re just trying to be honest or trying to defend your team by making excuses.
If you’re reading this, you’re reading my opinion. I get paid for this opinion…wait, I’m being told that I do not make any money on this website at this point. Regardless, I am paying for this blog, with a little money and a lot of time, so… I can say pretty much what I want.
The Cubs suck so far. Is that simple enough? I’m glad that their sucking equates to 500 baseball. It could be worse. We could be other recent playoff and world series teams: Pittsburgh 14-20, Toronto 13-21, Kansas City 12-21, and San Francisco 12-23.
I’m glad that we’re only 34 games in. Yes, we are not in 2016 any more Dorothy. We’re not out in front of everybody else, clearly the best team in baseball. We’re not all talking about run differential for the first time in our lives. That’s ok…really.
I’m glad that we did win last year. Imagine for a second that we lost game 7…ok, forget I said that. But you get what I mean? It would be painful right now…not only that we lost, but now we’re dragging. Now, it’s just pissing me off a bit.
I firmly believe that the Cubs will be fine, but I’m not making any excuses for the Cubs right now. We’re not very good. That being said, I think it’s safe to say the best baseball is ahead of us. And hey, even if it’s not, even if the Cubs finish 81-81, they still may win the division. Ok, that’s a stretch, but I don’t think it’s going to take 100 wins to make the playoffs. Maybe right in between that 81 & 100 win totals (90.5?). Maybe we’re 128 games from finding that out. Maybe the Cubs will be OK. It’d be nice to see the Cubs we know and love starting this weekend…like Friday night. I’m not driving 5 hours for nothing…
bullwinkle
things are ok. not worried about the long term. for the short term, i think moving schwarber OUT of the lead-off position was necessary. now, give him and a few others a bag of quarters and send them to the batting cages. a few of them just don’t seem comfortable at the plate. a lot of ‘guessing’ going on up there. as i type, it actually sounds like i could be talking about both sides of town!!! hit brinks up for a bunch of bags of quarters.
MK
Offense struggling, pitching cant put up zeros in the first couple innings, and the defense sucks. All facts. The Cubs are experiencing a hangover right now. We can list the facts or make excuses, but the only thing that matters is getting things turned around. Playing .500 ball right now is not good or bad. The Cubs seem to going through the motions, waiting for the hangover to subside so that they can lock in again. It is frustrating but no worries here. The talent is there. All aspects of the team should get turned around with help available, if needed, through a trade or two or via the farm. Pop some tylenol or take a shot to shake that hangover so you can get focused on playing Cubs baseball again. GO CUBS GO!!!