Gregg, Cubs Blow Season

As a young whippersnapper I loved listening to the West Coast games in bed.

I’d tuck my portable radio beside the pillow and will my tired body through inning after inning.

There was something special about staying up late on a school night, in particular, that made it worthwhile–win or lose.

More often than not, however, I’d drift asleep before the end of the game, only to check the final score first thing in the morning.

This evening, unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. I was there to the end, another blown save by Kevin Gregg.

The reality of the Cubs reaching the postseason is bleak: 6 games back of St. Louis with seven short weeks to go.

An unfavorable scenario for even a club capable of winning on the road and scoring runs with men on base–neither of which the Cubs do with regularity.

Sure, it’s fair to blame Gregg, too. He’s blown more leads in the last three weeks than the Washington Generals, but there’s still not a better option on the roster to close games.

Although making a move for the Mets’ Billy Wagner seems justifiable, it also feels too late in the game to make a difference.

We can deny it all we want, but watching the Padres dance off the field appeared to signal the unofficial ending to a very disappointing season.

I think Wednesday night I’ll afford myself the extra two hours of sleep…bedside radio turned off.