Dempster thinks Cubs will end drought, take World Series - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

fearofpopvol1 · 02-13-2008, 09:27 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3244658

MESA, Ariz. -- Ryan Dempster plans to move from closer to starter for the Chicago Cubs this season. On the first day of spring training, he took on another role: prognosticator.

"I think we are going to win the World Series. I really do," Dempster said.

That's a bold prediction before the start of a season that marks the 100th anniversary of the Cubs' last World Series winner.

"Funny when people make predictions or they say things and people are like, 'How could you say that?'" Dempster said Wednesday, as pitchers and catchers reported to camp.

How?

"Like you believe it, you really do," Dempster added. "Enough of all the ... you know the curse this, the curse that, the goat this, the black cat, the 100 years, whatever it is. We're a better team than we were last year, I truly believe. And last year we made it to the playoffs."

The Cubs did make it to the postseason last season after a slow start, winning the NL Central before being swept in three games by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round.

A year ago in spring training, it was Carlos Zambrano guaranteeing the Cubs would win the World Series.

Dempster made no guarantees, but he's convinced the centurylong drought will end.

"I wouldn't show up here and work as hard as I did and everybody work as hard as they did to not believe that," he added.

Reminded that Zambrano's prediction fell short, Dempster didn't back down.

"And we were close, maybe we need some more guys saying it," he said. "You see these teams and they come together, they battle together and they endure through everything and they start believing that they are that good."

Manager Lou Piniella didn't seem fazed by Dempster's prediction before the season even gets under way. The Cubs added outfielder Kosuke Fukudome from Japan and veteran right-hander Jon Lieber in the offseason and have been trying to make a trade for Orioles' second baseman Brian Roberts.

"I like our team. I really do," Piniella said as he got ready to start his second season in Chicago. "We know the players a lot better, the players know the staff a lot better and that's a big advantage for us. But at the same time, that's a bold prediction. We just got to get it done on the field."

The 100-year wait between championships seems mind-boggling and it's a subject that will certainly follow the Cubs all season. Piniella plans to address it next week when the full squad gets together for the first time.

"Don't put that pressure on you, you worry about this year's team," Piniella said he would tell his squad. "Don't think about 100 years, think about this year here. And that's all you can do. ... You can't do anymore than that."

The Cubs haven't won the World Series since 1908 and their last appearance came in 1945 when -- legend has it -- local bar owner William Sianis put a hex on the team because his goat was barred from Game 4.

In 1969, a sizable lead against the Mets disappeared late, and a black cat that ran across the field at Shea Stadium was assigned some of the blame.

The Cubs were five outs away from winning the 2003 NLCS when they become unglued as Florida rallied to a victory in Game 6 remembered most for a fan's interference on a foul ball. The Marlins went on to win Game 7 and then the World Series.

General manager Jim Hendry said he's certainly not dwelling on the drought. He's got enough to keep him busy. He'd like to make another move before the season starts if it's available.

"I still have some bad thoughts when I wake up in the middle of the night early about the series in '03. You try to move forward," Hendry said.

"Not one time in my five years have we ever set in my office ... and said, 'Oh gee, we haven't won this thing in 100 years.' It's tough enough to get through the yearly grind. I knew in '03 how special it would be if we had finished it off. I really don't dwell on the past, I really don't."

Hendry said he feels for the team's long-suffering fans.

"You'd like to do it one time for them at least," he said.

Notes
Piniella said the Cubs will probably settle on a closer about three-quarters of the way through spring training. Bob Howry, Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood are the top candidates and there is an outside chance Dempster could move back. The only other real question marks: Who will play center field with Felix Pie and Sam Fuld in the running? Also, how the back of the rotation will round out with the arrival of Lieber and the switch of Dempster.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

Chip R · 02-13-2008, 09:33 PM

Oh those crazy Cubs. It's nice to have a dream.

OnBaseMachine · 02-13-2008, 09:34 PM

Dempster has always been known as a funny guy - this just further proves that.

paintmered · 02-13-2008, 09:35 PM

No Ryan, it wasn't a black cat. It was a goat. Get your curses straight.

dougdirt · 02-13-2008, 09:41 PM

Good. I would really hope that players think they are going to win it all in the middle of February.

M2 · 02-13-2008, 10:27 PM

Yep, all the Cubs need to do is upgrade their closer and they'll be fine.

WMR · 02-13-2008, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M2

Yep, all the Cubs need to do is upgrade their closer and they'll be fine.

Bwahahahahaahahahahahahahah dat's funny

you made me LOL

Good ole Dumpster. He's the perfect personification of the lovable loser Cubby.

gO sCruBZ!!!

Patrick Bateman · 02-13-2008, 10:29 PM

Does anyone else think that moving Dempster back to the rotation is an enourmously poor idea?

*BaseClogger* · 02-13-2008, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austin Kearns

Does anyone else think that moving Dempster back to the rotation is an enourmously poor idea?

Reminds one of Danny Graves doesn't it?

reds44 · 02-13-2008, 11:30 PM

Anything that causes Ryan Dempster to pitch more innings is a bad idea.

cincyinco · 02-13-2008, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reds44

Anything that causes Ryan Dempster to pitch more innings is a bad idea.

On the flip side, thats great news for the rest of the NL.

:

sonny · 02-14-2008, 01:15 AM

Well, 100 years of rebuilding should culminate into a world championship, right?

...right?

jmcclain19 · 02-14-2008, 01:49 AM

The Cubs World Series plans are based on a solid foundation of day dreams, sunshine & candy corn.

Good luck with that fellas.

redsrule2500 · 02-14-2008, 03:30 AM

It's shocking they don't do better than they do....with their insanely large fanbase and bank.

RedsBaron · 02-14-2008, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paintmered

No Ryan, it wasn't a black cat. It was a goat. Get your curses straight.

Paint, while a goat is supposedly linked to one curse, there was also an incident in the 1969 season when a black cat wandered onto the field and walked in front of the Cubs dugout (I think that Ron Santo was in the on-deck circle). 1969 was of course the season the Cubs blew a huge lead and lost the NL East to the Mets.

02-13-2008, 09:27 PM	#1
fearofpopvol1 Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 8,634	Dempster thinks Cubs will end drought, take World Series http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3244658 MESA, Ariz. -- Ryan Dempster plans to move from closer to starter for the Chicago Cubs this season. On the first day of spring training, he took on another role: prognosticator. "I think we are going to win the World Series. I really do," Dempster said. That's a bold prediction before the start of a season that marks the 100th anniversary of the Cubs' last World Series winner. "Funny when people make predictions or they say things and people are like, 'How could you say that?'" Dempster said Wednesday, as pitchers and catchers reported to camp. How? "Like you believe it, you really do," Dempster added. "Enough of all the ... you know the curse this, the curse that, the goat this, the black cat, the 100 years, whatever it is. We're a better team than we were last year, I truly believe. And last year we made it to the playoffs." The Cubs did make it to the postseason last season after a slow start, winning the NL Central before being swept in three games by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round. A year ago in spring training, it was Carlos Zambrano guaranteeing the Cubs would win the World Series. Dempster made no guarantees, but he's convinced the centurylong drought will end. "I wouldn't show up here and work as hard as I did and everybody work as hard as they did to not believe that," he added. Reminded that Zambrano's prediction fell short, Dempster didn't back down. "And we were close, maybe we need some more guys saying it," he said. "You see these teams and they come together, they battle together and they endure through everything and they start believing that they are that good." Manager Lou Piniella didn't seem fazed by Dempster's prediction before the season even gets under way. The Cubs added outfielder Kosuke Fukudome from Japan and veteran right-hander Jon Lieber in the offseason and have been trying to make a trade for Orioles' second baseman Brian Roberts. "I like our team. I really do," Piniella said as he got ready to start his second season in Chicago. "We know the players a lot better, the players know the staff a lot better and that's a big advantage for us. But at the same time, that's a bold prediction. We just got to get it done on the field." The 100-year wait between championships seems mind-boggling and it's a subject that will certainly follow the Cubs all season. Piniella plans to address it next week when the full squad gets together for the first time. "Don't put that pressure on you, you worry about this year's team," Piniella said he would tell his squad. "Don't think about 100 years, think about this year here. And that's all you can do. ... You can't do anymore than that." The Cubs haven't won the World Series since 1908 and their last appearance came in 1945 when -- legend has it -- local bar owner William Sianis put a hex on the team because his goat was barred from Game 4. In 1969, a sizable lead against the Mets disappeared late, and a black cat that ran across the field at Shea Stadium was assigned some of the blame. The Cubs were five outs away from winning the 2003 NLCS when they become unglued as Florida rallied to a victory in Game 6 remembered most for a fan's interference on a foul ball. The Marlins went on to win Game 7 and then the World Series. General manager Jim Hendry said he's certainly not dwelling on the drought. He's got enough to keep him busy. He'd like to make another move before the season starts if it's available. "I still have some bad thoughts when I wake up in the middle of the night early about the series in '03. You try to move forward," Hendry said. "Not one time in my five years have we ever set in my office ... and said, 'Oh gee, we haven't won this thing in 100 years.' It's tough enough to get through the yearly grind. I knew in '03 how special it would be if we had finished it off. I really don't dwell on the past, I really don't." Hendry said he feels for the team's long-suffering fans. "You'd like to do it one time for them at least," he said. Notes Piniella said the Cubs will probably settle on a closer about three-quarters of the way through spring training. Bob Howry, Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood are the top candidates and there is an outside chance Dempster could move back. The only other real question marks: Who will play center field with Felix Pie and Sam Fuld in the running? Also, how the back of the rotation will round out with the arrival of Lieber and the switch of Dempster. Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

02-13-2008, 09:33 PM	#2
Chip R Rally Onion! Join Date: May 2000 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 33,225	Re: Dempster thinks Cubs will end drought, take World Series Oh those crazy Cubs. It's nice to have a dream. __________________ The Rally Onion wants 150 fans before Opening Day. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rally-...24872650873160

02-13-2008, 09:34 PM	#3
OnBaseMachine Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 34,660	Re: Dempster thinks Cubs will end drought, take World Series Dempster has always been known as a funny guy - this just further proves that.

02-13-2008, 09:35 PM	#4
paintmered SERP Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 7,007	Re: Dempster thinks Cubs will end drought, take World Series No Ryan, it wasn't a black cat. It was a goat. Get your curses straight. __________________ What if this wasn't a rhetorical question? All models are wrong. Some of them are useful.

02-13-2008, 09:41 PM	#5
dougdirt The Boss Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 30,756	Re: Dempster thinks Cubs will end drought, take World Series Good. I would really hope that players think they are going to win it all in the middle of February. __________________ www.redsminorleagues.com

02-13-2008, 10:27 PM	#6
M2 Posting in Dynarama Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Boston Posts: 26,668	Re: Dempster thinks Cubs will end drought, take World Series Yep, all the Cubs need to do is upgrade their closer and they'll be fine. __________________ Baseball isn't a magic trick ... it doesn't get spoiled if you figure out how it works. - gonelong I'm witchcrafting everybody.

02-13-2008, 10:29 PM	#8
Patrick Bateman One and a half men Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 5,461	Re: Dempster thinks Cubs will end drought, take World Series Does anyone else think that moving Dempster back to the rotation is an enourmously poor idea?

02-14-2008, 01:15 AM	#12
sonny You're being very UnDude. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,575	Re: Dempster thinks Cubs will end drought, take World Series Well, 100 years of rebuilding should culminate into a world championship, right? ...right? __________________ Witty signature.

02-14-2008, 01:49 AM	#13
jmcclain19 Smells Like Teen Spirit Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Phoenix Posts: 6,486	Re: Dempster thinks Cubs will end drought, take World Series The Cubs World Series plans are based on a solid foundation of day dreams, sunshine & candy corn. Good luck with that fellas.

02-14-2008, 03:30 AM	#14
redsrule2500 Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 3,114	Re: Dempster thinks Cubs will end drought, take World Series It's shocking they don't do better than they do....with their insanely large fanbase and bank. __________________ redsrule2500 Go Reds! Baseball Bliss “I’m a normal guy blessed with the ability to hit a baseball.” - Sean Casey

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode