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About the Author - jaredprebish
Jared Burke, VA
Male 38 years old
About Me:
-I'm a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, but I also bleed Blue and white (Go Penn State!!) -Aside from watching sports, I love to read and Indie Rock is my music genre of choice.
Baseball Recap #22: Chicago Cubs: 1984 vs. 2008
by 
jaredprebish
jaredprebish8/31/08
It's been a long time since I posted here, so here's something I wrote in my blog about the Chicago Cubs: 1984 vs. 2008. Hope you like it!!
This is a special recap as I think back to 1984 and how much I liked that team and how much I like this year's model.
Overall: It seems on paper, the 2008 team has a big advantage. Historically, the things the Cubs are doing this year rank up there with their best teams of all time. There seems to be no question that this year's team is headed for the playoffs and perhaps further. At times they play with a mission that this will finally be the year. There are still times when you could kill them. Obviously, I really like this team. 1984 was my first brush of how it is/was and always will be as a Cub fan. They were this close to the World Series and poor Leon Durham let a ball roll through his legs. Sure I heard the stories of 1969, but 1984 was my team, and man did it hurt. Maybe after 24 years, the 2008 team will finish the job the 1984 (or even the 2003 version) team could not.
Hunter Flops-Cubs Style
Teams:
Players:
So..Cub fans...and others...hope you enjoyed a blast from the past and enjoy the prsent. May it be fun and successful!
This is a special recap as I think back to 1984 and how much I liked that team and how much I like this year's model.
I hate to jinx this year's model of the Chicago Cubs (we Cubs fans are very sensitive about jinxes and karma), but I think this year has the makings of something special. This made me think of the 1984 Chicago Cubs, which I think is my favorite Cubs team of my lifetime. The 1984 version was the first Cubs team I thought was special (excepting perhaps the 1977 team, which was 20+ games over .500 until July, when they collapsed. I was only 7 then and not yet attuned to the Cubs futility). That team won the NL East with the CY Young winner in Rick Sutcliffe, an in-season acquisition who went 16-1 with the Cubs) and the MVP in Ryne Sandberg. It was team built with veterans (Larry Bowa, Gary Matthews, Bobby Dernier, Ron Cey) and youngsters (Leon Durham, Sandberg, and Jody Davis). Sure, as most Cubs teams eventually do, they disappointed me in the end. There was something about this team that did it for me
Sure, there was 1989. Gracie became a star. 1998 was the great home run chase and the playoff to just get in the postseason. 2003...well we'll skip that. 2007 and Lou's will. This year's team reminds me a little of that 1984 team I loved so much. They both seem to expect (and expected) to win anytime out. There was offense...good pitching and nice mix of the young and the experienced. So....I thought I'd have a little fun and compare the two teams. Let 1984 and 2008 battle it out...
First Base: Leon Durham ('84) vs. Derrick Lee ('08). Durham was a serviceable player with decent power, but will never be forgiven for his error in game 5 of the 1984 NLCS that allowed the Padres to move on to the World Series. Lee is one of the NL's best first basemen, despite an off year this season. My pick: DLee.
Second Base: Ryne Sandberg ('84) vs. Mark DeRosa ('08). No contest. Sandberg was my generation's best second baseman. DeRosa has been a great utility player this year, but 1984 was Sandberg's year. Pick: Ryno
Shortstop: Larry Bowa ('84) vs. Ryan Theriot ('08). Bowa was at the end of the road, but still a solid player at this point. His fiery temper was certainly helpful. Theriot has been a pleasant surprise this year. Tends to make a lot of mistakes, but his enthusiasm more than makes up for it. It's a tough choice, but my pick is The Riot.
Third Base: Ron Cey ('84) vs. Aramis Rameriez ('08). Cey is a family favorite (my wife is related to the Penguin). By 1984 Cey was also close to the end, but still very productive. Aramis has been a great overall third basemen, perhaps one of the most underrated. I love Cey, but my pick is ARam.
Catcher: Jody Davis ('84) vs. Giovanni Soto ('08). This one is tough because I was a Jody Davis fan back in the day, but Soto really has been remarkable in his first full season. Pick: Soto.
Left Field: Gary Matthews ('84) vs. Alfonso Soriano ('08). The Sarge was the spiritual leader of the '84 team and one of the many phormer Phillies. Sarge was perfect for this team. With Soriano, there aren't many on this team that has the raw talent. Soriano can also can carry a team, but can still be very maddening to watch. I may regret it, but I pick Sarge.
Center Field: Bob Dernier ('84) vs. Reed Johnson/Jim Edmonds ('08). Another toughie. Dernier was a speedster and Gold Glove winner in 1984. The '08 combo of Johnson/Edmonds has been surprising solid. Both have made highlight reel catches and provided decent offense down the stretch. Is two better than one? I'm leaning ever so slightly toward the Deer, Bobby Dernier.
Right Field: Keith Moreland ('84) vs. Koske Fukudome ('08). Moreland was a solid, not spectacular player. He had some some pwer, and if I recall, not the greatest defensively. Fukudome's season this year I think has been tarnished by his prolonged slump, but I'm glad he's been in Chicago this year. He's very good defensively. I'll pick Fukudome.
Pitching: Rick Sutcliffe, Scott Sanderson, Dennis Eckersley, Steve Trout ('84) vs. Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, Ted Lilly, Rich Harden ('08)
When I look at 1984 very closely, the stats weren't really that great. Aside from Sutcliffe's amazing 16-1, there isn't much else to tell. Trout was next in wins with 13, the others barely in double digits. In 2008, with one month to go, Z, Dempster and Lilly all have at least 13 wins. Then there's Harden who has been nearly unhittable since he arrived in Chicago. By far the 2008 staff is better
Bullpen: Lee Smith and Tim Stoddard vs. Kerry Wood and Carlos Marmol. I won't go any deeper into the pen, but these were/are the main guys. Imagine if Eck was in the bullpen in 1984.. This year's bullpen has been maddening at times; sparkling in others. Lee Smith was tough but also hard to watch. Had it not been for Wood's injury earlier in the summer, I'd say the 2008 hands down. But for now, 1984 barely gets the edge.
Overall: It seems on paper, the 2008 team has a big advantage. Historically, the things the Cubs are doing this year rank up there with their best teams of all time. There seems to be no question that this year's team is headed for the playoffs and perhaps further. At times they play with a mission that this will finally be the year. There are still times when you could kill them. Obviously, I really like this team. 1984 was my first brush of how it is/was and always will be as a Cub fan. They were this close to the World Series and poor Leon Durham let a ball roll through his legs. Sure I heard the stories of 1969, but 1984 was my team, and man did it hurt. Maybe after 24 years, the 2008 team will finish the job the 1984 (or even the 2003 version) team could not.
Hunter Flops-Cubs Style
Regular readers-you know how about the flops and the weekly underachievers. This week's version are flops from current and past teams.
Teams:
1. 1977. June 28th, the Cubs were 8 1/2 games up, nearly 20 games over .500. They fell apart and finished in fourth place, at 81-81
2. 1969. 90-72 is hardly flopping, except when you consider the collapse and the miracle Mets. An 8 1/2 game lead in August was gone in a month. Imagine the history if the Cubs played in the Series....
3. 1985. On the heels of the 1984 success story was the 1985 team. In June, the Cubs were on a roll and in first place. Then the entire start pitching staff went down with injuries and the Cubs stumbled to 77-85.
4. 2004. Big Dust ruined this team. No reason for this team to have not made the playoffs. Still makes me sick. This leads to two very dark years in '05 and '06.
5. Playoff Collapses in 1984 and 2003. One more win (they were up 2-0 in a five game series in 1984 and 3-1 in '03) and they're in....we all know what happened
Players:
1. Mark Prior. After being drafted second (2001??) behind Joe Mauer, Prior had one great year in 2003 before becoming injury prone. So much for the next Tom Seaver
2. Corey Patterson. Never really quite fulfilled his potential and was ultimately booed out of town.
3. Ernie Broglio. We got this bum for Lou Brock?? He once won 18 games for the Cardinals, but not much more for the Cubs.
4. La Troy Hawkins. Never quite fit in.
5. Mike Harkey. A First Round Draft pick (perhaps a top overall pick??) in the 1980's, he never really was as good as the hype (they never are!!)
So..Cub fans...and others...hope you enjoyed a blast from the past and enjoy the prsent. May it be fun and successful!
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