Sorry, but I don't buy the 'clubhouse chemistry' lines. Here's the thing: winning creates chemistry and losers use chemistry as an excuse. For proof, look at two recent World Series Champs: the 2001 DBacks and the 2004 Red Sox.
The DBacks had Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, Eruiel Durazo, Mark Grace, and Matt Williams. In 2001, we never heard jack about egos and who were cancers. However, starting in 2002, we start hearing about how Durazo is a 'me' guy who doesn't help the team. Grace has a history of problems with the Cubs (the DBacks always put him on a pedestal), Matt Williams was run out of the team with the media ripping him up, Schilling is well known, and this off-season all you heard about was how miserable Randy made the rest of the team.
The 2004 Red Sox had Curt, Manny, and Pedro. Manny and Pedro need to introductions on their assholish ways.
To sum up the Cubs' demise, I'll quote a fan from another message board:
Quote:
the sad thing is that, if the cubs would give jason dubois the same number of at bats in rf that they are bound to give burntiz now, dubois would give them higher obp and as many homers, if not more, as burnitz--and he'll cost them only $300k. this is a signing that reeks of desperation, to fool everyone (the fans, dusty, hendry) that the cubbies know what the hell they are doing.
the cubbies, for the amount of pure talent that they have had on that team over the last couple of years, should've been the two time defending champs right now. instead, they're the two times chokers. a lot of that has to do, imo, with the fact that baker is a crappy manager who a) destroys the young pitchers; b) can't rule in his clubhouse; and c) can't maximize a lineup to save his life.
in 2003, he rode prior and wood so hard that they both succumbed to injuries in 04. in 04, he rode zambrano and clement just as hard. i fully expect both of them to be coming down with injuries this year. in 03, he killed borowski. last year, he killed hawkins (yes, hawkins owners, sell high). at least wood and prior missed enough time last year that they might actually be healthy this coming year.
but the cubbies will suck anyhow; stl is going to run them into the ground again.
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That totally sums up my feelings on the Cubs. Blame Dusty. If you don't believe it that Dusty ruins pitchers look at the Giants after he left.