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Nothing brings out hope quite like the start of the baseball season. Even for fans of the Chicago Cubs and White Sox, who you would think should know better. After all, the Sox won the World Series in 2005, so their fans should still be satisfied with that. And the Cubs won in ’08 (OK, so it was 1908), so their fans should be aware winning a World Series is not necessarily going to occur in their lifetime — even if they live to be 100.
Of course, the Cubs are boosted by the thought/wishful thinking that news president of baseball operations Theo Epstein will do for the Cubs what he did for the Boston Red Sox. Which was to have been in a management capacity — in this case, general manager — when the team ended a World Series title drought. In the Red Sox’ case, they ended an 86-year void with their World Series triumph in 2004.
Bottom line: It helps if you can be slightly irrational — maybe more than slightly — when it comes to rooting for your team, regardless of the team.
The Cubs and White Sox are in slightly similar situations. Both teams have new managers: Dale Sveum with the Cubs, Robin Ventura with the Sox. Both teams are expected to have losing seasons — oddsmakers in Las Vegas have the over/under for Sox victories at 74.5 and for Cubs victories at 74.
Here’s one Vegas view on the 2012 over/under for MLB team:
A photo of a debout White Sox fan or one of new manager Robin Ventura? This call sure was easy.
Arizona: 86
Atlanta: 87.5
Baltimore: 69.5
Boston: 89.5
Chicago Cubs: 74.5
Chicago White Sox: 74
Cincinnati: 86.5
Cleveland: 86.5
Colorado: 82
Detroit: 92.5
Florida: 84.5
Houston: 64
Kansas City: 80.5
Los Angeles Angels: 92.5
Los Angeles Dodgers: 81
Milwaukee: 83.5
Minnesota: 75
New York Mets: 70.5
New York Yankees: 93.5
Oakland: 71
Philadelphia: 92.5
Pittsburgh: 73
San Diego: 73.5
San Francisco: 87.5
Seattle: 72
St. Louis: 82.5
Tampa Bay: 87
Texas: 91.5
Toronto: 80
Washington: 82.5
If the mathematical analysis department at elliottharris.com is calculating correctly (and that certainly is a big “if”), the numbers indicate the White Sox will finish last in the American League Central and the Cubs can be thankful Pittsburgh and Houston are in the National League Central so that the Cubs can finish behind only Cincinnati, Milwaukee and St. Louis.
Despite the numbers, there is still enthusiasm. Go figure. Maybe the reason for that is baseball is so unpredictable. How else can you explain the Cardinals defeating the Rangers to win the 2011 World Series after St. Louis was lucky to make it to the postseason? And then the Cards beat the NL favorite Phillies? And then the division champ Brewers? It just goes to show you never know.
So, because of that and other seasons past, we will doubt the doubters about the Sox finishing last (although no guarantees about the Cubs winning the World Series).
And we will provide a couple of videos from SoxFest that may inspire those feeling a little unsure about being upbeat this season:
And before we go, we should take note of MLB’s Opening Night (continental U.S. variety — because Oakland and Seattle opened the season last week in Japan). The defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Miami Marlins 4-1 in the Marlins’ debut of their new stadium and new manager Ozzie Guillen, formerly with the White Sox.
Baseball dancers/cheerleaders always are welcome here.
Then again, it may not. Whatever. It is Guillen’s task to hype interest in the team and/or stadium. Oh, and to manage Miami to a postseason berth if he has the time.
Among Guillen’s starting pitchers is former Cubs right-hander Carlos Zambrano, who observed: “Wrigley [Field] has tradition,and people would go there, even if we were in last place. This is a new experience for me, and it’s going to be great for the players.”
Especially if you like fish — to view, not necessarily to eat. Two 450-gallon fish tanks reside behind home plate and can be viewed from the pitcher’s mound.
“That’s a unique thing,” the occasionally volatile Zambrano said. “I think fish tanks help people relax.”
Sound a little fishy? Tanks, but no thanks.
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