I don’t want to do this but at the same time I want to get the ugly stuff out of the way. Illinois got smoked by Kentucky, the Cubs are 0-2 and the domestic opening day is here this week. It would be nice to see the Cubs win 90+ games and maybe a playoff game for the first time in 9 years but I don’t want to beg. I just want to watch some decent baseball and to get there I want to marinate in the worst pain I’ve ever felt.
Even if Illinois no-showed March again.
Even if Tom Ricketts can’t/won’t/refuses to spend money.
Even if Craig Counsell is a bitch and Kyle Tucker only plays one season for the Cubs.
Even under the worst case present day scenarios, nothing comes even remotely close to this 8th inning and that’s the spiring I want to start this week. 22 years later and the sun’s still rising. Who knew.
My bigger point would be to enjoy the Cubs season for reasons other than the wins and losses. It’s harder the closer you pay attention, but for me it’s the peace that comes with sitting for 9 innings. Especially because me wife actively encourages me to watch them and cheer for them and tire myself out over a couple hours every day. It’s not so much an escape as it is a privilege because that time belongs to me. If I want to drink 10 beers and smoke a pack of cigs – that’s on the table. Although frequency of that will lead to some frowns and follow up questions. It’s not a frat house here guys. We’re running a fuckin business.
Even so it’s nice to just sit and watch a baseball game and turn your brain off. The more you can separate yourself from wins and losses, the easier that is to accomplish and I want to emphasize that a lot this season. Unlikely, absolutely. Unrealistic, even more so. But I’m going to try starting this week and the rest of you filthy animals are welcome to join me.
Some other programming notes:
- Last week was rough. Two 5ams sandwiched around a Trey Anastasio concert coming off a big 38th birth celebration right into March Madness? That’s a tall order. I survived and now we’re back with momentum.
- I want to dig into Justin Steele starting the next opening day and more specifically whether that qualifies as being the “opening day” starter for purposes of salary arbitration
- I’m excited for today’s 3 Shots blog
- I hope you guys had a good weekend
- Feel free to throw me some MILF suggestions on twitter or of course an email Carl@CarlsBlogs.com
- A lot of people keep asking me so I’ll address it briefly – I’m not changing my handles from @barstoolcarl at least for the next calendar year. I don’t have a good enough reason to put on paper other than to say I simply don’t want to do that. Big whoop
- There’s a new scent available for the spring heading into Mothers Day at SterkFamilyFarms.com… by all means please go get yourself some tallow balm and let’s have a really swell day