2012 » opportunity the other boys that come in can do a pretty si

OK, time for a deeeeeep cleansing breath.As the Cubs move on to the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers, its a tense time in Section 416, because like all Cubs fans, the gang has long memories.But we dont need to tap into 2003s National League Championship Series defeat to be stressed right now. We charged into the 2015 series against the Mets high on the adrenaline of beating the hated (and, might I add, hate-worthy) Cardinals in the National League Division Series. Then the Mets pitching shut the Cubs down, Daniel Murphy was a hitting machine, and the Cubs and their fans slunk home for the offseason.In 2015, of course, we didnt enter the season with high hopes: Too many rookies, this Maddon guy might be a charlatan, its the Cubs, lets aim for .500 mediocrity, and then Theos plan will maybe kick in around the 2016 All Star Break.Well, as anyone reading this knows, the Cubs have been dominating all year. One rough patch midseason, but otherwise, the North Siders have steamrolled into the playoffs with an MLB-best record of 103-58-1 (love that tie, just to mess up standings tables). Were a mortal lock to win it all.Right?Then a little voice in the back of any Cubs fans mind says: October is a new season. 0-0 record. Anything can happen. Anything bad, especially.Teams that fight and claw their way into the postseason -- like the 2015 Cubs -- seem to have extra energy. They had to get hot to make the dance, and they stay hot once they arrive. Teams that cruise all year can be caught off guard.The Giants series, especially the out-of-this-world four-run ninth inning comeback to clinch in Game 4, hints that the Cubs might not fall into that trap. Sure, Javy Baez might stretch another double into a single standing in the box instead of respecting 90, but hell also get his pitchers some extra outs with his glove, arm and swipe tags.So moods are mixed. Me, Im practicing my disinterested Zen mindfulness.Baseball Zen koan No. 1 Q: What is the sound of one Cub losing? A: October.But how do the rest of the guys feel?McQ says: Im naming my feelings as cautiously optimistic. I have no doom-or-gloom syndrome, but theres no way Im going to start acting cocky. About the Giants clincher, I admit to having a glimmer of hope going into the ninth after multiple comebacks earlier in the year. Previously, I would have turned the TV off and gone to bed. But in the end, I did have a mixture of elation and relief that they didnt blow it. Hard to unlearn 40-plus years of disappointment.Frank makes a parallel to another long Chicago championship drought, on the ice. Chided for not being more optimistic about the 2010 Blackhawks, he recalls his mindset that year: For what its worth, I think theyre the best team in the league. I expect them to win the Cup. And thats coming from someone who usually expects nothing but failure from Chicago professional teams. And thats pretty much how I feel now about the Cubs this season. Anything can happen, and they might get beat. But theyre the best, and they should win.Of course, the Cubs have a history of shoulda, coulda, woulda ... but didnt. A season and a half of greatness takes some time to sink in, and the Big Bun stresses how the postseason isnt like the 162-game April-October slog.He says: My stress levels go way up. If the Cubs were down three runs going into the 9th during the regular season, two things would have happened: One, I wouldnt have cared because its a long season and any one game isnt going to change the whole season; and two, I would have missed the end of the game and not found out until the next day because I would have turned off the TV and gone to bed.His overall postseason mood is wait and see and live in the moment. Im not going to worry about the eighth inning when we are still in the seventh. Im not going to worry about Game 5 before Game 4 is over. I find my days far less stressful if Im not preoccupied worrying about whether or not Rizzo is going to finally realize that the postseason started last week.My take on the lack of production from the heart of the Cubs order is that such things always happen in the postseason. The other team scouts the best hitters to death and can pitch to their weaknesses effectively. So many unlikely postseason heroes are just guys the other team didnt take as seriously. The Cubs depth helps here, but its still worrisome that the guys who carried the team this far arent contributing as much.The Country Doctor feels quite a bit of apprehension. Its been a long freaking wait, and the team has been sooo good all season long. If they get to the threshold and have the door slammed in their face, itll hurt. If they win it all this year and they only come close next year, you can react with more of a meh. But being so good and still falling short will be hard to swallow.Azz has much more confidence. The whole we havent won anything yet is just BS we say because, Cubs. In our hearts, we all know were in the World Series this year. We just dont say it because, just in case -- curse.Well, I dont believe in curses. And the Cubs have won a lot this year. If we get four more wins in the next week or 10 days, then we can talk about Toronto or Cleveland.Meanwhile, Old Style has the most balanced outlook, one based in sound baseball experience.Im trying not to be too optimistic or pessimistic. Enjoy every game and root for the Cubs, which made Game 4 against the Giants outstanding. As my new favorite philosopher Javy Baez put it yesterday, Every game has 27 outs. Enjoy every pitch.Baseball Zen koan No. 2 Q: What is the sound of one Cub winning? A: 27 outs.Thats the mood in Section 416 heading into the National League Championship Series. Some apprehension, some optimism, some mixed feelings.So, lets enjoy the ride.Cheap Ravens Jerseys . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. Ray Lewis Jersey . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.cheapravensjerseysauthentic.com/ .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Cheap Baltimore Ravens Jerseys . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. Wholesale Ravens Jerseys .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up.Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan has issued Andrew Fifita a stern reminder in the wake of his contrary conduct ban that a repeat of such ill discipline could cost him a grand final spot.Fifita was issued a one-match suspension after his attack on Queensland forward Gavin Cooper in State of Origin III on Wednesday night that resulted in his sin-binning in the second half of the Blues win.The former Kangaroos representative has worked hard to avoid such issues that threatened to derail his career and Flanagan said on Sunday the ban was a reality check for Fifita.It is a timely reminder for us and a timely reminder for Andrew as well that you could miss a semi-final for something like that, you could miss the grand final if we are lucky enough to get there, Flanagan said.We have to make sure it doesnt happen down the track.Andrew has a bit of a break now and it is a chance to recalibrate, refocus and reset for him.I know Andrew is a `look after your halfback type of frontrowerr, but he probably went a little too far there and he will learn from it.dddddddddddd The emotion of Origin probably got to him.Fifitas attack on Cooper was in retaliation to the North Queensland forward throwing the ball at Blues pivot Moylan after a Maroons try.Fifita, who has been given a break from all football related duties by Flanagan this week following the ban, will miss the Sharks clash with Sydney Roosters on Monday at Allianz Stadium.Flanagan conceded it was a blow to his side as they chase their 14th successive win.However he argued last weeks win over Penrith, achieved without their Origin players was proof of the depth at Cronulla.Andrew without doubt carries a lot of metres for us and makes a lot of tackle breaks but last week you saw given the opportunity the other boys that come in can do a pretty similar job, Flanagan said. 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