Cubs Talk - Scott’s Blog

Being a lifelong Cub fan, I, too, remember that fateful October night. Only five outs away from the first World Series on the North side in 58 years…oh God, I can still hear the screams.

Sure the Bartman foul ball is the most widely publicized reason for the Cubs collapse in the 2003 NLCS, but the fact of the matter is that it was only a foul ball. As my friend, Scott, mentioned in his blog, Alex Gonzalez clearly misplayed what would have been an inning-ending double play.

However, between the Bartman and Gonzo happenings, a more significant occurrence took place. A key player, or should I say, former player and then manager of our beloved Cubs, Dusty Baker, failed to come out of the dugout to calm down a noticeably shaken up Mark Prior and Cub defense. Had he regrouped our team and refocused his players, the Cubs could have contended for baseball’s most coveted title. Do you remember the phrase, “in Dusty, we trusty”? Well I, and millions of Cub fans, “trusty-ed” him to manage our team to the Promised Land, only to see him act as nothing more than a spectator. He, more than anyone, deserves the blame for the Cubs demise in 2003.

Personally, I have forgiven Steve Bartman. Cub fans should as well. I believe that the Cub organization, the city of Chicago and Chicago sports press corps should help dismiss this injustice done unto him with a heartfelt and long overdue public apology.

The past cannot be changed nor should is be re-lived. And until the past can be left in the past, the Cubs will be doomed to disappointment. So let’s forgive and forget.