Final Exam
With the season coming to a close, we asked Len & Bob for some final thoughts.
The best sign I saw this year said....
LEN: The other night a young Cub fan had a "Hit it here" sign, but he had it up while the other team was batting. Kind of sums up the season I guess.
BOB: I mine the other night, too. "This Year Was Next Year Last Year - Oh Well Get'em Next Year".
The National League MVP is ....
BOB: I have to go with Ryan Howard. Given the fact that the Phillies had the fire sale and were headed in the wrong direction and how he carried them this second half, he's my choice.
LEN: Ryan Howard
I can't believe my partner said .....
LEN: That ugly game in Minnesota during which the Cubs kept making defensive mistakes, he blurts out, "Uncle!" I can't say I was thinking "I can't believe my partner said it," but it was just a moment of complete frustration and really summed up how every Cub fan was feeling at that moment. It was the perfect word to use.
BOB: Nothing. I made a crack about "Boog Alou" and he was silent. We were talking about the three Alou brothers all playing in the same outfield for the Giants and I mentioned that their 4th brother "Boog" was on the bench that day and it went right over Len's head.
In 2007, the Cubs will ......
BOB: (long pause) Be on the field and compete. Seriously, if they can get the right guys healthy and add the right people, it really could be an exciting year.
LEN: Be a lot better than they were this year. I'm not saying they're going to the playoffs, but this year, every thing that could go wrong did.
Carlos Zambrano is ....
BOB: A horse. Nothing else needs to be said. He's a ballplayer and a horse.
LEN: Next year's NL Cy Young Award winner.
If I have to sing a song at the Len & Bob Bash, it will be .....
LEN: "Can't Hardly Wait" by the Replacements.
BOB: Something really simple like "Summertime Blues", "Wild Thing", or "Sweet Home Chicago". Man, I hope not.
My favorite play of the season was .....
BOB: It happened the other night when Henry Blanco got the knock to win the game here. I'm a big fan of Hank White and it was great that we had a very rare on-field celebration thanks to Henry's hit.
LEN: I have two moments: the top of the 1st in Cincinnati on Opening Day when Juan Pierre tripled to start the season and then Todd Walker doubled him home. Then later in the frame, Matt Murton hit a 3-run HR. I thought at that moment, "Wow, maybe this offense is going to score a bunch of runs this year." And the best one had to be Ryan O'Malley's performance in Houston. When he hugged his parents after the game, I could feel the tears starting to well up.
The first thing I'm going to do when the season ends is .....
LEN: Hang out with my wife, son and 2 dogs at home and kick my feet up.
BOB: Make you guys buy me dinner, then get some fishing done in Arizona.
The World Series will be won by .....
BOB: The first team to win four games. I mean it is anybody's year. I guess you have to favor the two New York teams, but I won't be surprised no matter who wins it.
LEN: I'll pull for anyone but the Yankees and Cardinals.
Cub fans are ......
LEN: The most patient, passionate, knowledgeable fans on the planet.
They've been put through so much heartbreak, I can totally feel and understand their frustration right now. Believe me, I get it.
BOB: The best. What else can you say about the best fans in sports who come out here wearing their blue every day?
My favorite 7th inning guest this year was ......
BOB: Visually, Danica Patrick. As far as enjoyment, he was a guest, but didn't sing the stretch - Meat Loaf. I had a great time talking to him.
LEN: Probably Jeff Garlin. He was all over the map, but he was funny, a super nice guy and a huge Cubs fan. Also, Joe Mantegna was great.
I never once imagined that .....
LEN: The Cubs would be 30 games under .500.
BOB: That Derrek Lee would ever get injured. He's always played 162 games so we were all stunned when he went down and the rest is history.
The biggest strides this year were made by .....
BOB: Definitely Rich Hill.
LEN: Rich Hill and Matt Murton in the 2nd half.
The Cubs biggest need is .....
LEN: 2 or 3 more starting pitchers.
BOB: The same as every team in baseball - pitching. I'm a firm believer that you can never have enough pitching and the Cubs need to get some more.
Hang in there Cub fans, because....
LEN: What other choice do we have? The great thing about sports is that anything can happen and you have to believe that someday it will finally click for this team. The great thing about Cub fans is that they care so much. No matter how good or bad the team is, they're always there. That's what makes them the best fans in the world.
BOB: Spring training is coming!!!