Cubs players and management, both on-the-field and off-field, have been saying it is not over. That we just need to start playing better, keep pitching good and get some better hitting. Well, the players and management may be saying that, but the fans know better.
Two weeks ago, on August 12, my son and I were jammed in the bleachers with all kinds of other fans. Attendance was 41,133; 99.9% of capacity. While we had started to collapse at that point, we were still only three games out of first.
But by last night’s game, we were eight games out, coming home from a terrible trip to San Diego and Los Angeles (two wins and five losses, with no hitting and too many unearned runs). And the fans showed what they thought of the Cubs’ chances. Instead of 41,000+, attendance was only 37,000. And that’s tickets sold, not butts in seats.
The bleachers really told the story. Just thirteen days ago I got to the park over an hour early to make sure I could get seats in our favorite spot in right field. Tuesday, on a beautiful evening in August, the bleachers never filled up. I realize we were playing the Nationals (the Miller Lite billboard said "Capital Taste"), but still, that shows what the fans thought. I overheard one of the long-time beer vendors tell a customer that the crowd reminded him of September 2006.
There were only two good things. Eddie Vedder (of Pearl Jam) threw out a first pitch and sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." That was nice because he is a real fan. The song he released last year, "All the Way," is great. The crowd really started to leave after he sang.
Also, as they have been doing, about 15 minutes before game time, they played the first verse of "It’s a Beautiful Day for a Ball Game". After that, Paul Friedman, the public addresser announcer, said, "The Chicago Cubs are on the air." Which makes no sense. Talking about the Chicago Cubs being "on the air" when you are at the park. But those of us of a certain age understand. For 20 years Cubs radio broadcasts would start with the first verse of "It’s a Beautiful Day for a Ball Game". And then, those words, "The Chicago Cubs are on the air" were said by my favorite all-time play-by-play announcer: Vince Lloyd. Mr. Friedman must be doing it on purpose, and I enjoy it every time I hear it – because every time I hear it, it reminds me of Vince.
Hopefully, we can do better Wednesday night.
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