A Look at the 2009 MLB Season - "Berra & Gerhig: Together, They Got Baseball Right"

Yogi Berra was no Einstein but the man coined more one-liner's in his day as a ball player for the Yankees than any other bag-runner to-date.

"Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical."

His agility, cat-like reflexes behind the plate, and strength with a bat made up for his lack of book smarts. The only logic hidden behind his now infamous coined phrases was that he meant every word said. Baseball is a physical game that takes a quick mind to win games. So forget that Yogi may have said it's ninety percent mental and fifty percent physical -- he got it right in theory.

Berra appeared in 14 World Series, won 10, and played for a Yankees squad during the team's most consistent winning period in major league history.

Does History Seal a Team's Fate?

I wonder what mental games consumer ball players during their time on a given team. If you're drafted to the Kansas City Royals or Washington Nationals are you going to come into work everyday with a chip on your shoulder? If you work for the Yankees or Red Sox will you don your team's logo wherever you go with immense pride? Before 2004, how did it feel to be a Red Sox player? And how about those Cubs, what's it feel like to go into work knowing your team hasn't won for over 100 years? You know that your fans, as die-hard as they are, want nothing more than a World Series win. But what those fans also know is they should expect the best while assuming the worst is going to happen.

Milton Bradley's: The Cub's Newest (Scape)Goat

Milton Bradley is an example of the mental game of baseball taking it's toll on a player's psyche.

It's important to remember -- these ball players aren't playing the game for the sole purpose of making the fans happy. They have lives too.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley has had a season-long struggle with his teammates, coaching staff, and Cubbie faithful. Bradley was suspended by General Manager Jim Hendry for the rest of the season following Sunday night's extra-inning 6-3 win over N.L. Central rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals, for detrimental conduct toward the Cubs organization.

To a fan or reporter, it may be easy to call Bradley's behavior over the past season a result of a mental-game he enforced upon himself while playing a team notorious for losing. Remember Steve Bartman from Game 5 of 2003 NLCS? Every Cubs fan pointed fingers, called him the scapegoat, and blamed him for the Cubs collapse that season. Bradley has turned into the 2009 goat.

"Milton Bradley is not being subjected to racism. He's experiencing fanism," Tim Terchek of Wilmette, Ill. said in The Chicago Tribune online." Fanisim occurs when an overpaid pro plays badly and then cops a poor attitude, he continued. "Boos, in this case, are not racial taunts. They're an expression of extreme disappointment over the behavior of a bad performer."

A team that remains notorious for losing can't be easy to play for, no matter how much potential for post-season glory they might have. Look at this years Mets squad. The Nationals are bad but the Mets are the paupers to the Yankees prince-like prestige in the Empire state.

Oh How the Mighty Have Fallen ... To the Disabled List

"The Nationals have a brighter future than the Mets," New York Post Reporter, Kevin Kernan reported Sunday after a 3-2 Nationals win over the Mets. "It doesn't get any worse than that."

Washington has the worst record in baseball at 51-97. As dismal as that number is, Nationals fans have a future to look forward to -- the appeal of having a team on the road to recovery for eager free agents and young draft picks. Every member of the 2009 Mets starting line-up saw at least one stint on the disabled list.

What happens to a player when their teammates drop like flies? The once optimistic future cultivated during day dreams while spring train turn into a harsh reality -- there will be no ring on my finger for the foreseeable future.

A Match-Up for the Ages

The teams that do stand a chance for October glory are the defending World Champion Philadelphia Phillies and the 2009 American League Champion New York Yankees.

There hasn’t been a World Series this exciting since the Red Sox ended their drought during the 2004 season.

Think about it: This is the first season of baseball being played in the New Yankee Stadium. The Yankees haven’t won a World Series in yet this century and now must battle to the end against the defending world champions with the hope of doing their city proud while honoring Babe Ruth’s memory in the new house that Jeter appears to be building.

Both teams have the pitching (the best example is Game 1 – Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia we’re wonderful). Both have a superstar line-up of hitters. It just doesn’t get any better.

The Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth

This season, the Empire State witnessed yet another historical baseball moment-in-the-making. Derek Jeter became the all-time hits leader as a member of the Yankees (2,722), passing Lou Gerhig on September 11, 2009.

The record may have been broken but the memory of Gerhig lives on in the depths of baseball fan’s hearts ranging from all walks of the MLB division spectrum.

Gehrig knew he was lucky. He played along side some of the best sluggers, aces, and managers the game has ever known. Hell – his number “4” was the first to be retired in MLB history.

But on July 4, 1939, Gerhig opened up his heart to every person standing on the field, sitting in the dugout, or staring in awe from their seats:

"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.”

If every player looked at the game the way Gerhig did, the game would be better for all involved. Individual players would play with an inspired mindset. Entire teams would have the confidence of the 1929 World Champion Yankees. The game would be -- dare I say it -- fun again! Fans could tip their hats at the men who sport their uniforms with pride for the sake of the game and not for personal monetary gain. All it takes is one player. I dare someone to step-up to the plate, assume a strong and steady stance, and take baseball into its future by citing its past.

Cool, Calm, & Collected: Cliff Lee Makes Baseball Look Easy

The biggest losers of Monday night's World Series Game 1 were, despite popular belief, not the New York Yankees.

In what is sure to be the lowest scoring game in the series due to a power-pitching match-up between the phenomenal Cliff Lee and dominant C.C. Sabathia, the biggest losers of Game 1 were the Cleveland Indians.

No other pitcher in baseball history has posted a lower ERA than Cliff Lee. The Phillies Ace has a 0.54 ERA in 33 1/3 innings during the post season, beating the previous all-time record-holder/World Series opponent, Mariano Rivera, who posted as low as a 0.77 ERA.

The Tribe can only shake their heads and stare at their feet while baring the grunt of the heart wrenching mental defeat that goes along with trading two previous team members to the teams representing all of baseball in the 2009 World Series.

It must not be forgotten that despite Chase Utley's record-setting homeruns, Sabathia pitched a good game. His Yanks on the other hand did not produce any runs until the bottom of the 9th, leaving the big man to fend for himself on the mound.

Game 1 will be remembered for years to come not because of who the Indians let get away, but for how effortless Lee made World Series pitching look in what ESPN.com Senior Reporter Jayson Stark calls "the city where October legends are born."

The guy didn't even break a sweat. He just went out there and played baseball -- that's what the post-season is all about.

At Least The Cubs Are Dependable

It's official -- the Chicago Cubs have RSVP'd to post-season play. They will not be attending.

Let the expected mumbling and grumbling of the entire North Side commence. Good thing I'm not there, I wouldn't be able to handle the whining.

Look at this way: at least the Cubs are dependable. You know what they're going to do. It's been boiled down to a science.

1. Pick up a semi-big name of a free agent during the off-season and propose that this is the exact change needed to make it all the way this year.
2. Report to spring training refreshed because this means a new season is under way. That means you know reassure your fans and your players that the clean slate is upon us.
3. After a spring training full of mixed results, Opening Day comes and goes -- sometimes it's a win, sometimes it's a loss, either way it's not that bad because there are still 161 games left to play.
4. April's slow. It always is.
5. May has a decent slew of wins but also injuries.
6. June/July = More injuries, some wins, the All-Star Break ... at this point, if wins to losses isn't above .500 then the rest of the season ain't gonna be pretty.
7. August is the last chance to prove the Cubs can hack it. September is always a weak month, no matter what. If the Cubs can't get anything done in August, it's time to pack up the bags and call it quits.
8. Play-offs or no play-offs ... the choke comes. And that's that. The cycle starts again.
   

I'm okay with the fact that the Cubs haven't won a World Series since 1908. I love the team that much. They're always around when you need them. Even in the off-season. They're here all year.

There is no other story in baseball history like the Cubs. The Redsox claim they "understand our woes". They're lying. They don't. They could never understand what it's like to wear a Cubs uniform or be a Cubs fan. Not a chance. Let me tell you why.

It's not all about the World Series drought or the Curse. It's not about wins and loses. It's not about holding grudges against our biggest enemies on the field. It's about the love of all things Cubs baseball.

The Cubs are ours. We've been through everything together. It's just like having the same best friend since you were 4-years-old. You grew up together. You know each others faults but understand that you're working on fixing them, because at the end of the day -- you're still just human. We've studied our "family" history as if it were a religion. The in's and out's of every step our people have ever taken have been documented, analyzed, and reviewed to attempt and prevent history repeating itself. But like the rest of the people surrounding us, history does continue to repeat itself and we live with that.

And ... why do we live with that? Because we love the Cubs.

I mean, hell. It could be worse. We could be the Nationals.

Fall: It Feels Good

Summer lovin' had me a blast, spring fling was as good as it seemed, and I'll admit that there's something magical about a Winter Wonderland -- but there's nothing like the first day of day of fall to pull these heart strings.

September 21 is the first day of fall. My favorite season.

Fall has a distinct smell. It's crisp and brisk, bitter but gentle, and refreshing. Sweater weather is in full-swing and it's time to pull those sophisticated jackets out of storage.

The 9 to 5 crowd switches from iced coffee to sizzling lattes.

Sandals and shades go back in the closet while boots and cute little penny-loafers make their triumphant return.

A National past-time known as The Fall Classic brings together all baseball fans for the final stretch of October stress and triumph.

Those who don't fancy that American tradition turn to yet another -- Football.

No matter your personal preferences, fall is the end of care-free summer days, which leaves quite a few folks down in the dumps. Don't fret! Fall isn't that bad.

Cozy up with your favorite blanket, rent a movie, make some hot apple cider (with hint of caramel), and relax. Let the steam from your mug cling to each pore on your face while you catch a whiff of apple and cinnamon. That's fall at its finest.

Think about it this way: Something special happens in fall. I'm sure most people would not agree with that statement but I'll attempt to explain it to you.

Have you ever seen Gilmore Girls? If not, don't worry. I'll clarify this pop culture concept.

The first snow of the year is special to the show's main character, Lorelei. She is convinced that something big will happen each time the first flake hits solid ground. Thanks to some witty writing "something big" does happen, but that doesn't mean it can't translate into real life.

Lorelei has her snow. I have the entire fall.

Fall feels right. It's my security blanket. It wraps me in a comfortable state until that first snow flake invades the airspace above the jungle made of concrete and steal.

Even if the Cubs lose yet another chance at a World Series, I find solace in the fact that fall comes and stays just long enough for me to feel like I'm home -- no matter how far I happen to be from Chicago.

So ... here's to fall! Here's to something big! It's coming ... I can feel it.

Forget Potential: Why Greed Could Save The Cubs

The Cubs biggest problem is holding on to the past. Case and point -- Carlos Zambrano.


Zambrano receiving the Sears Player of the Month award, August 2005. Photo By R.H. Levitin

Cubs fans and Cubs management alike have trouble determining when a players time on the team should come to a close. It might be easier to let the past go than to hold on when a 100 year World Series deficit looms over the North Sider's weary heads.

The Cubs beat the Brewers 13-7 Tuesday night but not before removing alleged ace, Zambrano.

There is now talk about the Tribune hoping that Zambrano will waive his no-trade clause, according to Chicago Tribune reporter Patrick Sullivan. And the right-hander wanted nothing to do with the discussion after last night's 5th inning collapse resulting in 39 pitches and his removal from the game.

"I don't care," he said. "If the Cubs want to trade me, it's because they don't like me anymore. I have to move on. What else can I do? I just move on."

Zambrano added he doesn't want to waive his no-trade rights, then left, saying: "That's enough."

Here's the problem -- the Cubs want to win. There are 19 games left and the prospect of the 3-peat playoff stint dwindle with the Colorado Rockies 5.5 games ahead of baseball's lovable losers.

What the Cubs need is a change. They can't hold on to their favorite players with a death grip anymore. They're going to have to learn to let them go when the time has come. This is the lesson that needs to be taken away from the 2009 season -- if a player doesn't live up to his potential it's time to trade him. End of story.

It's the same story every year. "This is the year! The Cubs show great potential! Great rotation, power-hitting line-up, a bullpen with blossoming talent -- potential is the name of the game and the Cubs are ready to play it!"

To hell with potential.

Listen up Jim Hendry -- if you want to win, going all-in on players with potential won't get you a ring. Fans are hungry and yet you continue to screw up even the best player investments. Consider yourself lucky that the fans' tolerance for embarrassment is high. Chicago Tribune reporter Steve Rosenberg claims that the Cubs are the luckiest team in any sport. The proof is all there -- even with the biggest championship drought in the Major Leagues, every game is sold-out.

Does winning even matter anymore? You bet it does. But why do the Cubs keep owning up their lovable loser nickname? Because they overuse talent with potential and set their expectations sky-high.

Remember Mark Prior? Fans, teammates, and management alike were all praying on bended knee for his 2003 season to play on a repeated loop for years to come. That didn't happen and now Prior's career is officially over (although most would say his career ended circa 2005 before being traded to the San Diego Padres for a few year run on their disabled list).

Prior had potential. The Cubs (cough cough, Dusty Baker, cough cough) ran his career into the ground by pushing his pitch count and abusing his once healthy arm, leaving the team without their 2003 All-Star of an ace.

Face it, the Cubs use up their talent until there's nothing left of them. And they wonder why they've been shut out in post season play since game 5 of the 2003 NLCS.

Greed is the best chance for the Cubs survival during October baseball. Spend the money. Cut the costs on players that prove to be a waste of capital. If the Yankees can do it, anyone can.

Cubs On Track To Win Third Straight NL Central Title

It's the most wonderful time of the year -- and no, I'm not talking about Christmas.

Baseball is in full swing and the back-to-back National League Central champions are out to defend their title for a third year.

The 2009 Chicago Cubs have a long season ahead but the line-up to get it done. Forget faith, this year's team has to focus on staying healthy, strong, and hanging that "W" flag atop the center field score board after games.

There is a hard truth to stomach though. It's been 101 years since the Chicago north siders won the World Series. But that's not the hot topic of conversation inside the clubhouse.

"I feel bad for the organization to have gone a long time without winning," Soriano said, "but we're not responsible. We're not the reason. We're in a new era now. Whatever happened in the past 80, 90, 100 years ago, we're not responsible.

Soriano is right. This year's team, last year's team, and any team from 1909 to the present has nothing to do the Cubs World Series drought. It's easy to scapegoat the team for an entire century's worth of failure, but there's no point in doing it now.

The Cubs have produced results despite their 0-6 playoff stint with veteran manager Lou Pinella. What the Cubs have to do now is prove themselves on the field and not to their fans.

If they focus on the game and not the media, this year's team has a solid chance at 3-peat as NL Central champs and a shot at post-season glory.

The Cubs open the season in Houston against the Astros tonight for a 3-game series and have their home opener at Wrigley Field on the 13th against the Colorado Rockies.

R.H. Levitin Presents ... A Preview of the 2009 Major League Baseball Season

Spring starts soon and that means just one thing -- baseball season is almost here!

We're now in the transitional period between the cold of Winter and heat of Summer with the longest Spring Training session in Major League Baseball History underway.

There's more to the game than chilled beer, peanuts, power-hitters, and pitchers. Here's a few treats to look forward to during the 2009 season, courtesy of this blog's resident baseball fanatic and publisher, R.H. Levitin ...

1. The Red Sox are coming to D.C. for inter-league play. This will be the best match-up since Cubs-Red Sox at Wrigley Field in 2005 when Greg Maddux knocked a homer into the cages below the bleachers in left-center field helping the Cubs solidify a giant lead and eventual win. Why? Red Sox fans will at least bring their rowdy A-Game, illuminating Nationals Park with obscenities, sing-a-longs, and the energy that should be present at any and every baseball game played. Maybe Nationals fans will take a few pointers on how to cheer on their home team. It couldn't hurt.
2. The Cubs have a chance to end their post-season drought and notch a few tallies in the old "Win" column. There might even be a division title waiting for them but -- after two consecutive clinches, a third one might anger fans more ... that is unless they end that post-season drought.
3. The Yankees will continue to spin star-player A-Rod a web of positive publicity after confirmation surfaced of his drug use during his time with the Rangers.
4. The Dodgers may or may not have Manny in the line-up (we'll know tomorrow), it all depends on the slugger's inflated ego either taking a break and taking the field and, of course, money.
5. The Phillies are the reigning champions of baseball? Am I still the only person confused by this? We'll see how they fair with those rings on their hands -- continued greatness is expected by the Phillie "PHaith"ful but prominence may not be what 2009 has in store for the team.
6. Ken Griffey, Jr. is back where he started. For all of us who remember the final scenes of 1994's Little Big League, the image of a cocky young player by the name of Junior is etched into our minds. The 39-year-old veteran re-signed with the Mariners earlier this month. Welcome back, Junior. It'll be nice to see you play in the uniform that made you a name in this game again.
   

A lot can and will happen until October rears its pretty little head. At least we get to watch the ups and downs of America's greatest past-time while we're at it.

Photo Compliments of R.H. Levitin's personal photo collection. Photo by Darienne Myers, August 2008.

"Rays" the Roof?

To try and pick the outcome of this year's World Series is much harder than trying to pick the potential winner of the presidential election. Obama's been up in the polls for close to a month now, while the Tampa Bay Rays just scooped up their first shot at an actual World Series win. Who could've seen this coming?

As a Cubs fan, I have to say that I saw this coming awhile back. It was around July when I found myself hoping for a Cubs vs. Rays series. It seemed appealing. But it also made for a good old fashion story line -- two underdogs seek post-season baseball success but only one can be the winner. Both have a good historical back story and an interesting fan base (one being devout and one full of band-wagon jumpers). It's too bad I was only 50% correct.

The 2008 World Series match-up is against two eastern division teams. The Phillies fought the entire season down to the wire to get there and the Rays were on top most of the season until giving baseball fans a nice nail-biter this past week. I'm sure Red Sox fans are devastated, but they'll live. They have two Worlds Series in just the past four years. They should at least be thankful for that.

So, who's going to win this year? Part of me wants to say the Rays just because I called them at least going to the series a long time ago. They're an American League team so that keeps my National League alliances strong with the Cubs. I'd rather not "cheat" on my team with another National League team. Sorry Phillies, I have to say it, let's "Rays" the roof and see Tampa Bay take home that ring for the first time in franchise history.

100 Years and Waiting

***UPDATE: For more information on this year's intense line-up of teams in the MLB post-season check out the following link*** http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080930&content_id=3577624&vkey=ps2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

***For more on the Chicago cross-town rivalry in this year's post-season check out the following article put out by the Chicago Tribune today***
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/chi-crosstown-seriesoct01,0,5772269.story

I've learned some of the hardest life lessons by being a Cubs fan.

People usually laugh at me when I say that, but it's true. I have spent 21 years watching, agonizing, sitting, smiling, transitioning from Pepsi to Old Style, plan hot dog to Chicago style ... I like to think I've done a lot. And, although my time as a Cubs fan is perhaps a lot shorter than most North Siders (or transplanted North Siders scattered around the country/world), I like to think I have some credibility when I go to say, "CHICAGO'S GONNA WIN TODAY!"

Today is October 1, 2008. This officially marks the first back to back playoff appearance by the Chicago Cubs franchise since the last time they won the fall classic ... 100 years ago.

Now, two Cubs managers will go down in history for taking the team to the playoff's in consecutive years -- Frank Chance (1906, 1907, and 1908) and Lou Pinella (2007, 2008).

Sweet Lou, this is where I tip my metaphorical hat to you. On behalf of all Cubs fans I would first of all like to say "Thanks." Second, "Please keep history repeating itself. Because, if you do, we're on track for the greatest lesson anybody has ever learned and I think it'd do a lot for the people of this country."

See, I'm not trying to sound corny here. I'm just being honest. I mean, let's take a moment to imagine the possibilities here.

Since the Yankees last World Series win in 2000, each year has been a surprise when it comes to who wins the ring at the end of the season. The Marlins fried the Cubs in '03. The White Sox took their first series home since the Black Sox scandal in '05. St. Louis rose to the occasion in '06. Heck, the Red Sox even won 2 in less than 4 years. So, all I'm saying is that the Cubs have it coming. And this time, they deserve greatness.

It's been said that this year's team has a swagger. I can't speak from that much experience since I only went to one home game at Wrigley Field this year (where Rich Harden, Carlos Marol, and Kerry Wood put on QUITE the pitching spectacle), but they definitely have a spring in their step. They're confident. And that, I like.

But, it's not just about winning. It's about the game. It's about what it does to people. It's about fall. It's about how there's one October. These are important things that people forget.

Baseball is America's past-time and the Cubs are their "Lovable Losers". Thanks to the Cubs I've learned how to deal with heartache. I've shed tears over games and haven't been ashamed. I've seen friends and families united even after a losing seasons. But no matter what, no matter how good or how bad the Cubs are doing, everyone comes together to celebrate them.

Due to the team's long streak of losses and historical collapses, each and every Chicagoan that calls themselves a Cubs fan has this funny sense of pride that I've never seen anyone else (not even a Red Sox fan) emulate.

It's something inside us. A flicker. A flame. It ignites us when spring training starts and stays lit long past the last days of October. In a way, it's eternal. The season may end but the spirit never leaves. And that to me is Cubs baseball.

It's a feeling. And a damn good one at that.

So, even though I can't be in Chicago just a 15 minute walk from what I consider to be the greatest spot in America (Wrigley Field) to watch my Cubbies take on the infamous Joe Torre and his Dodgers, I'll be there in spirit rooting from my couch.

Welcome to next year baseball fans, get ready for the Cubs.