If you're new to this blog or you don't know me, college has been a strange experience for me.
I'm sure that college is weird is for everyone in some way, but my path to a degree, and Lord-willing employment, has been rather unorthodox.
After graduating high school, I knew I was not ready for college. I wasn't mentally or emotionally tough enough for it. I had no idea what I wanted to do. So I took the year off, and through starting this blog, I discovered my passion for writing.
The following summer, I knew it was time to move on and to start college. I just had no idea where I wanted to go, or what I wanted in a college. At the last I applied to Carthage College and was accepted, so I enrolled. I spent two years at Carthage and realized there just wasn't enough the school could offer me as an aspiring journalist. Somehow, God led me to Valparaiso University, but that's another story.
In a recent blog I wrote, I talked about how the friendships I formed at Carthage have been essential to shaping who I am today. Last semester was a really important time because of the people I grew close to. I was shown how mighty the Body of Christ is, and how important it is.
This semester has been about as opposite from that as humanly possible. After spending two years building deep friendships with people, I was thrust in to the unknown, with people unknown.
At Carthage, I would spend more time socializing than studying. My grades took a hit as a result. On average I was spending about five or six hours outside of class with people. At Valpo, that hasn't been the case.
For the most part, guys on my floor keep their doors closed. While I have met some cool people on my sports staff, I am not in a social bubble I once was in. It isn't like I am constantly around them. Making friends takes time. And it's a slower process as a transfer student.
When you're a freshman, everyone is in the same boat. Everyone is looking to make friends. But when you're the new kid when you're 21, it's a little different. The people your age have found their groove or their niche, and the freshmen are significantly younger than you are. It's difficult to connect.
There have been people I have grabbed a meal with, or hung out with once, and since then have shown very little interest in doing anything with me again. That's kind of a discouraging feeling.
What comes as a result? Many weekends in the library studying and nights watching Netflix by myself. The funny thing is, at first that felt like torture to me. Now, I enjoy it.
The people that know me will tell you that I am outrageously extroverted. But I realized I have struggled with feeling lonely; loneliness. I felt like I always had to be around people, especially being away at school and not being in the comfort of my hometown. So I was hyper-social, hanging out with people whenever I could.
Being on my own has made me rely on God in so many new ways. If I feel lonely, instead of running to be around people to try to escape, I am forced to confront my feelings on my own. But I don't have to do it on my own. Because I serve the most awesome and amazing God.
My devotional life has grown. I spend more time with God now. I've realized that you are never alone in Christ. He is always with you. Schools may change, but he's always the same.
On top of all of that, I have been able to put a lot of time in to my studies and I am seeing the results: the best grades I have ever gotten in college.
And if I ever am in need of assistance, I have some of the greatest friends in the world. They are only a text, a call or a FaceTime away. In the economy of friendships, I am a blessed and wealthy man.
The friendships are starting to come. Last week I got meals with some great guys and even had one on my radio show.
But no matter how many friends I make, this semester has reminded me of how great God is and how much of a friend he is to us. He loved us so much that he died for us.
Overall, this has been a really good semester. I love where I am. I love my classes and I love writing for the school paper here. I love hosting a radio show. I'm happy where I am and am learning a lot about journalism and Jesus. It's been fantastic and I can't wait to see where God takes me next.
"Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
-John 15:13
Aside from all the scandals and issues that college sports has, there's one thing that has always bothered me.
The problem I have always had with college football, is that to a certain extent, there is no definitive champion. The 2003 season concluded with a split title, as the LSU Tigers and the USC Trojans each won their BCS bowl games. LSU finished first in the Associated Press (AP) Poll and USC won the Coaches' Poll.
WHAT?!
I'm sorry, WHAT?! In what other sport do two teams share a title? That isn't how sports are supposed to work. No, each season should feature one winner and a field of losers, teams that weren't quite able to measure up with the champ. That's what makes a team the best, and a team that climbs the mountain to the top should be in an exclusive club. That's what makes them the best, and the reason teams play the game is to reach that pinnacle.
This may have been a bizarre occurrence, but it isn't the only time there has been a debate over who the real champion is in college football. It happens every year.
Division I FBS Football is the only NCAA-sponsored sport that does not have an officially organized NCAA Tournament to determine its champion.
For years, there was a multitude of bowl games--some bowls more important than others--and at the end of bowl play, two polls came out that crowned the team that was believed to be the best, thus making them the national champions.
Then the BCS was put in to place, and there finally was a game called "The National Championship Game." But how it is a real National Championship if only two teams get to compete in the post-season, while 66 other teams compete in other bowl games, as mere consolation prizes? More so, how is it a real post-season if the two teams in the National Championship are voted in?
Each year, there is always the question, "what if (_______ team) had gotten to play in the National Championship Game instead?" There is always at least one team that's on the outs, and their seniors always have to leave their collegiate football careers thinking "what if?" Sometimes the team that wins is disrespected, as fans and journalists say "if they had played someone else they would have lost."
In 2014 the NCAA finally introduced "The College Football Playoff," a four-team playoff bracket picked by a committee of 8, that would decide the "champion" of college football. The reason I use quotations is because there still is no definitive champ.
TCU and Baylor played one of the most exciting games in recent history when the Golden Bears topped the Horned Frogs 61-58. The two teams led the nation in points per game, with Baylor's 48.2 and TCU's 46.5. The Big 12 may have been the second-best conference (behind the SEC of course) in college football last season, and some may argue that it was the most exciting, best exemplified by its two best teams putting up monster points in exhilarating shootouts week in and week out.
And yet, both teams were excluded from the College Football Playoff. Once again, questions of "what-if" arose from fans. There shouldn't be what-ifs in sports.
The NCAA's decision to add a playoff was a step in the right direction. But it should keep walking.
The playoff system did not eliminate the sport's biggest problem. Therefore, a bigger playoff system should be implemented.
College football's biggest fans will defend the system until their dying days. Their biggest argument is that "every game matters." I believe the NCAA can maintain the "every game matters" theme, while also enhancing the excitement of their product, and the integrity of the sport.
First things first, shorten the non-conference schedule teams have. Nobody wants to watch Oklahoma State whoop Savannah State 84-0. As exciting as the final weeks of college football are, the first few weeks are often just as boring. And while every one-in-10,000 times you get a result like Appalachian State spoiling Michigan, most of the time you don't.
Alabama, currently the committee's #3 team, played four non-conference games. Three of those games featured Middle Tennessee, Louisiana-Monroe, and Charleston Southern (an FCS school).
Why don't we shorten the non-conference schedule to 2 games. Teams can do what they want with those two games, and if they want to play another, they can pick up another game.
In place of the snoozers, you get either one or two more rounds of playoff football. Look, I think the more the merrier. People love March Madness. It's the most fun three weeks in sports of the year. I would love a 16-team playoff. But for the purists, I will compromise with eight or even six teams.
What troubles me is seeing a team in one of the five power conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, Pac-12) missing the playoffs. In no other sport, does a conference or division winner miss the playoffs. By winning your conference, you do what I believe is your job, and you should be rewarded. Who are we to decide which conference winner is more deserving than another? The best way to do it is to let them all in and slug it out with each other.
As for the other one or three teams, they can be selected by a committee, the press, the coaches', the computers, or however those BCS nerds want to determine it.
This concept doesn't make any regular season game less important, as teams need to pick up as many conference victories as they can to stay alive. The regular season will remain as exciting as it is, and there still will be some kind of debate over who the final spot(s) in the playoffs should go to.
No team should feel left out. If your team doesn't like it? Then win your conference. Control your own fate.
For the schools like Notre Dame, they will still have to show that they are worthy, or they can decide to join a conference.
Each power conference should have a conference championship game, therefore the Big 12 would need to add one.
Also, you could include the Rose Bowl in the tournament, and have the Big Ten champ and the Pac-12 champ play each other in the first round of an 8-team playoff, which would be really fun and would up the stakes of an already great tradition.
From a marketing perspective, it makes sense. Each region should have a team representing them. If Michigan is in, all of Michigan is going to watch. If Ohio State is in, all of Michigan is going watch to root against Ohio State. All parts of the country should be represented fairly, and each region should have a reason to watch.
With this system, "the debate" that the NCAA loves, that generates many conversations about their product and in turn, provides free publicity will stay alive. The fans that enjoy the debate should be able to stay happy with this. And we all get more playoff football as a result.
Everyone wins. Except, for the first time in college football, there will only be one winner.
Being a Christian in college is an even weirder time. At the age of 21, I know a dozen different couples that are either engaged or about to get engaged. When I was in high school, almost all of my youth group leaders were college students, and almost all of them were either married or engaged.
Growing up, I thought that was how my life would shape out. I believed that I would find my wife while I was in college, and then get married not long after college. I thought that anything different from the blueprint that was laid out for me would be a disappointment.
This created a great deal of pressure. Going in to college, this was near the top of my priorities. It was always on mind. I wanted to find a great Christian girl. I wanted to find my wife. Meanwhile, I was watching many of my friends enter in to God-glorifying relationships that were making them happy. There were Friday nights where I would just sit in my room by myself, while all my friends would go on dates. I wanted what they had.
I began to become impatient. I felt a lot of pressure from my parents who still bother me about this. Maybe it's because I have never dated. I don't know. It doesn't matter.
But I started getting down on myself because of this. I wondered if there was something wrong with me. But then I reminded myself that I have had opportunities to date some girls that I have declined because they weren't right for me, so that couldn't be the case.
Around this time, I had a meaningful conversation with a past youth group leader of mine. I told him about my struggles and he told me that there was nothing wrong that I was doing. I was desiring a good thing, but I was making it an idol in my life, something that was getting in the way of me seeing God.
Something he told me was, if you're expecting someone else to satisfy you, you're going to be disappointed. Among the dozen or so couples that are my age that are engaged, I feel like half of them are expecting their marriage to fulfill them. This is a recipe for disaster.
He also told me that before I can ever date someone, I need to be able to be content in my singleness. Joy comes from God, not other people. As I said, I feel like some people are setting themselves up for disappointment and marital struggles. Some aren't. That's none of my business, so I shouldn't speculate.
For some, getting married at a very young age is the right move. For others, it isn't. There isn't one blueprint of how to do it.
But I do know that I wasn't content with being single at the time. And I knew that I needed to just relax and stop stressing over it.
Last semester was a really important semester in my life. I developed a really close brotherhood with a few other Christian guys. Among the four of us, only one was in a relationship, and his girlfriend went to another school. So what came as a result? Guy time.
I never realized how important, special and great friendships can be, especially at the college age. This is a time in our lives where we are learning more about ourselves than we ever have before, and making choices that are going to play a part in forming the people that we are 30 years from now.
With these awesome guys, we were just able to relax and enjoy life together. Every day we were doing stuff together. Whether it was watching sports, playing video games, throwing each other batting practice, free-style rapping, or whatever, we were brothers. That brotherhood helped carry me through a difficult semester otherwise. These guys helped me make memories that I will never forget, and have brotherhood to a level that I have never seen before.
For the first time in college, I felt like I was content in my singleness. And I was having a lot of fun doing stuff, that if I was in a relationship, I may not have had time for.
And as I prepare to head in to the real world in a year and a half, an early, right out-of-college marriage may not be a good thing. I want to work in the field of journalism, and I don't know what kind of job I am going to have. But some jobs, like beat-writers, require nonstop traveling.I could get a job covering a baseball team, and be traveling all around the country from February to November.
Furthermore, I have discovered that I have received a temporary gift of singleness. A blessing in disguise. When I find my wife, it won't be on my timing. For a while, that deeply distraught me. Now? It's a very comforting feeling, as I know it will come on God's timing.
People have got to stop stressing so much about finding the right girl or the guy when they're in college. You came to college to learn! To learn about yourself. To learn about the field you want to go in to, and to best prepare yourself for a professional career. By entering a serious relationship you may be limiting your growth in other areas. At least I know that it would have for me.
When it's all said and done, maybe you will meet the love or your life in college. Or maybe you won't. But don't let that define your college experience. Let it be a piece of it. Don't waste your time searching for it and longing for it. Enjoy a unique time in your life where there are lots of other young people around you that are also learning.
If you are like me, and you still haven't dated, that's okay. There's nothing wrong with you.
I have some friends that I can just tell can't handle being single. They bounce from one relationship to the next because they don't want to be alone, meanwhile wasting their time in relationships that aren't going anywhere.
Don't do that. Focus on being content in your singleness. Just because you are single now doesn't mean that you won't ever find love. God has a weird way of making sure everything works out in the end.
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus"
-1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
With Tuesday night's win, my favorite team in the world is headed back to the NLCS, for the first time since 2003- when we all had our hearts broken. It is worth noting that Cubs shortstop Addison Russell was 9 years-old when 5 outs away happened. There is no rehash all of the pain that we had to endure for years after the collapse that allowed the Marlins (back when they were still the "Florida Marlins") to get to, and ultimately win the World Series. The Cubs are back, and have the best chance to win it all since then. But you cannot ignore the question: if you could take the 2015 through a time machine to show up at Wrigley in 2003, to play a best of 7 series against the 2003 team, who would win? How do the teams compare by position, and who has the edge? Let's break it down by position.
Catcher: 2003 Damian Miller vs. 2015 Miguel Montero
It is remarkable how similar these two players are to each other. Take a look at the pictures below:
That's right, both caught for one of the greatest pitchers of all-time, Randy Johnson. Both are known to "call a good game" behind the plate. Both played with the Diamondbacks before coming over to the Cubs, and both were named to the National League All-Star Team in their final seasons in Arizona (2002 and 2014, respectively). In both's first seasons with the team, the Cubs played in the NLCS. But that isn't where the similarities end.
Even their statistics are similar; they both have the same career batting average of .262, with a knack for getting on-base (Miller: .329 OBP; Montero: .343). I wonder if they were both inspired to bat .262 after both wore the number 26 in Arizona.
But if you just look at 2003 Miller vs. 2015 Montero, while Miller may have a slight defensive edge, Montero has contributed more offensively to the Cubs than Miller did in 2003.
As you can see, '03 Miller posted a career low batting average in his lone season in Chicago, while Montero gave the Cubs more offense and even hit a walk-off home run in a game I will always remember as "the Miguel Montero game." With Hector Rondon in a save situation, and a runner on third, Montero allowed a ball to get past him, which let the Brewers tie and extend the game at 2-2. In the bottom of the tenth, Miggy recovered and smacked a game-winner in to the left field bleachers.
Montero stole the show in a game that featured one of the best catches and smartest plays in baseball history by Anthony Rizzo. Can anyone pinpoint a "Damian Miller game"? Didn't think so. While Miller was a solid catcher and while he and Montero have many similarities, I gotta give the edge to Montero at catcher. EDGE: 2015 Miguel Montero
First base: 2003 Eric Karros vs. 2015 Anthony Rizzo
'03 Karros: .286 BA, .340 OBP, 12 HR, 40 RBI's, 1 SB
'15 Rizzo: .278 BA, .387 OBP, 31 HR, 101 RBI's, 17 SB
In December 2002, the Cubs made one of the most underrated trades of the millennium, in which they acquired two very underrated players. That winter, the Cubs questionably shipped away 2-time all-star catcher Todd Hundley for infielders Eric Karros and Mark Grudzielanek. A past-his-prime Hundley went on to hit a pathetic .182 for the Dodgers before hanging up the cleats, while Karros and Grudzielanek provided important, consistent bats and in many ways were the glue that held the team together.
While Karros stepped up as an important veteran leader, he was not a top-10 or top-15 player in the National League in the 2003 season. Anthony Rizzo was in 2015. Rizzo is the heart and soul of the Cubs. He is the team's identity. As a leader, he's helped the Cubs' believe that they can get to where they are now. And those stats aren't close either. Rizzo will likely receive MVP votes, and with all due respect to Karros, this isn't even a discussion. We'll stop here. EDGE: 2015 Anthony Rizzo
Going back to what we talked about in the first baseman section, in addition to Karros, the Cubs snagged a gritty second baseman from Los Angeles for next-to-nothing. Mark Grudzielanek wasn't the flashiest player. Heck, a bunch of the people reading this probably forgot about him until now. But he was consistent.
I like having a consistent second baseman. Grudzielanek was easy to trust. While Castro swings a mighty bat, I cannot say the same thing about him defensively. He makes me nervous. And while Castro has heated up at the end of the season, he is too much of a wild card. Does he have mad ability to get hot and be a beast? Absolutely. But where was that beast hiding for 2/3 of the season when Joe Maddon put him on the bench?
It's no secret that I have been very critical of Castro. But in this hypothetical 7-game series for Chicago supremacy, I would take the guy that batted .314 on the season and won a Gold Glove in his career, over the inconsistent one with high upside that is more prone to make mistakes. Sorry, Starlin.
EDGE: 2003 Mark Grudzielanek
Third Base: 2003 Aramis Ramirez vs. 2015 Kris Bryant
'03 Ramirez: .272 AB, 27 HR, 106 RBI's (with Cubs and Pirates)
'15 Bryant: .275 AB, 26 HR, 99 RBI's
After raiding from the Dodgers, general manager Jim Hendry found the location of his next heist: Pittsburgh. Through two separate trades, the Cubs were able to turn Jose Hernandez, Bobby Hill, Matt Bruback and Ray Sadler (who?) in to Kenny Lofton, Aramis Ramirez, and Randall Simon. After Corey Patterson tore his ACL, the Cubs were in need of a center fielder. Veteran Kenny Lofton was the obvious pickup, but the greatest surprise was Aramis Ramirez, who was seen at the time as more of a bonus in the trade. Ramirez turned in to a cornerstone franchise player for the Cubs, making two all-star games, winning a silver slugger, and stringing together eight 25+ home run seasons.
While Ramirez was a very good player, Kris Bryant has potential to be a great player. His ceiling is way higher.
In both of their first seasons with the Cubs, their statistics mirrored each other's, And both players fulfilled the same role for their teams. This is by far the biggest toss-up that we've had so far.
I would argue that Bryant has been more valuable to the '15 Cubs than Aramis was to the '03 team.
I would also give Bryant the edge because he is significantly faster. He has excellent wheels and is a threat to steal a base at any time, or murder a baseball.
Up until game 3 of the NLDS, Javy Baez would not have been brought up in this category. Now, with the news of Addison Russell having to miss the entirety of the NLCS, Baez is going to be a key player moving forward in the Cubs' playoff push.
While I am one of Baez's biggest supporters and he has superstar upside, I have to give the edge to Gonzo here. While he made a bad error that proved to be costly, he came alive in the playoffs, mashing 4 homers and 8 RBI's. Baez is too much of an unknown to be given the edge. EDGE: 2003 Alex Gonzalez
While Sosa was on the decline in 2003, he still hit 40 bombs. Soler is a good player with a bright future and he has been great this postseason. But again, 40 homers speaks for itself. That, and steroids and corked bats are helpful too. EDGE: 2003 Sammy Sosa
Center Field: 2003 Kenny Lofton vs. 2015 Dexter Fowler
'03 Lofton: .296 BA (.327 with Cubs), .352 OBP (.381 with Cubs), 12 HR, 46 RBI's, 30 SB, 97 R
'15 Fowler: .250 BA, .346 OBP, 17 HR, 46 RBI's, 20 SB, 102 R
In addition to being better statistically (for the most part), Lofton was a better traditional lead-off hitter/center fielder-type. Even out of his prime, he had better wheels and could cover more ground in the outfield. EDGE: 2003 Kenny Lofton
Left Field: 2003 Moises Alou vs. 2015 Kyle Schwarber
The argument here: would you rather have a 22 year-old in his rookie season with incredible pop, or a 37 year-old past his prime that is hanging on and giving all that he has left?
Moises Alou showed up to play better than any of his teammates in the '03 playoffs. The dude led national league hitters in the playoffs with a .388 batting average. He got on base like it was his job (.423)... which it was. Alou was the key, consistent, veteran presence the team needed and he might have been the team's best player.
In contrast, the sky is the limit for Schwarber. He best epitomizes what the 2015 Cubs are: a bunch of kids having fun, with nothing to lose. Just a year ago he was playing at Indiana University and had critics clamoring that the Cubs reached too high for him with the fourth overall pick of the draft.
I was undecided on this for days, ever since I first had the idea for this piece. I texted my buddy Setzke and asked him what he thought and he responded: Tough call. I'll go Schwarbs for the fear factor.
Yes. Just yes. While Alou had a great postseason performance, Schwarber has clocked three homers in just five games. Even though he could very easily slump and go 0-13 in his first three NLCS games, I like that fear factor. I like the fact that he is more likely to change the game with hi thunderous swing of the bat. And after an overexcited White Sox fan chucked a beer in the direction of Schwarber this season, I have reason to believe that he will not blow-up if Bartman made an appearance in this hypothetical series and robbed him of an out. I can't believe I'm doing this. EDGE: 2015 Kyle Schwarber
Pitching Rotation: 2003 Mark Prior, Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano & Matt Clement vs. 2015 Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks & Jason Hammel
Here's how I would rank these pitchers:
1) '15 Jake Arrieta (22-6, 1.77 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 236 K's)
2) '03 Mark Prior (18-6, 2.43 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 245 K's)
3) '03 Kerry Wood (14-11, 3.20 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 266 K's)
4) '15 Jon Lester (11-12, 3.34 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 207 K's)
It is tough to rank the pitchers after the top 4, mainly because what constitutes as a "good" ERA in 2015 is different from what a "good" ERA was twelve years ago. The game has changed, and nowadays pitching is dominating.
Arrieta has gotta be the best pitcher out of this pool after his historic '15 season. Prior and Wood were an excellent dynamic duo, followed by Lester and his stellar big-game-pitching.
Aside from those four though, the rest are a bunch of wild cards. You have no idea what you are going to get from Jason Hammel. While Carlos Zambrano had a very nice regular season, he was disastrous in the playoffs, posting a 5.40 ERA in 16.2 innings. Kyle Hendricks, who I think has a very bright career ahead of him, has been inconsistent. Clement was pretty solid for the Cubs and pitched well in his second of two playoff outings, but struggled in his first. So let's imagine these fictional seven game series' matchups:
Game 1: Arrieta vs. Prior
Game 2: Lester vs. Wood
Game 3: Zambrano vs. Hendricks
Game 4: Arrieta vs. Prior
Game 5: Clement vs. Hammel
Game 6: Lester vs. Wood
Game 7: Arrieta vs. Prior
I'm favoring Arrieta to blank the '03's three times. But let's say he has a bad outing one of those. I like Lester to split with Wood, and Hendricks to beat Zambrano. I would favor Clement against the '15's over Hammel against the '03's. Either way, that's four wins right there. That's how important Jake Arrieta is and it goes to show why having the best pitcher among the two teams can trump a deeper stuff. EDGE: 2015 Cubs Bullpen: 2003 Cubs vs. 2015 Cubs
The 2015 Cubs bullpen has totaled 32 losses on the season altogether, compared to the '03 Cubs' 22. That's a third less losses! Then consider that the '15 team won 9 more games than the '03's. The '15's bullpen accounted for a far bigger percentage of the team's losses than the '03's. EDGE: 2003 Cubs
Manager: 2003 Dusty Baker vs. 2015 Joe Maddon
The last three times that a manager came to the Cubs with previous managerial experience, the Cubs have made the playoffs. While Dusty Baker was a great players' manager, and a good clubhouse leader, he wasn't a great X's and O's guy. Not the best strategist. If you go back to game 6 and want to relive the pain, notice that he doesn't have anyone up in the pen. It takes a lifetime for someone to start warming up. But Joe Maddon on the other hand, has proved himself to be one of the best baseball minds in the game. This one isn't even close. EDGE: 2015 Joe Maddon
So for those of you keeping score at home: that is '03's 5, '15's 7. But I actually think the 2003 team might have been better.
But I also think that the 2003 Florida Marlins team was way better than the 2015 New York Mets. The Marlins were loaded. Did the Cubs choke? Yeah. They did. But I feel like people don't remember just how good that team was. Every time Pudge Rodriguez came up with runners in scoring position, he killed the Cubs. And with the pitching rotation that team had (Josh Beckett, Dontrelle Willis, AJ Burnett, Brad Penny, and Carl Pavano) coupled with their lineup of studs (Mike Lowell, Luis Castillo, Derrek Lee, Juan Pierre, Miguel Cabrera, Jeff Conine, Pudge) I don't see why they aren't one of the best teams of the millennium.
In the year 2015, I don't think there are any great teams. Which may make room for the Cubs to be the season's great team. This team hasn't scratched the surface of its potential, but I am picking them to win the NLCS this time. No Bartman. No botched double play. No missed cut-off man. No eight-run 8th. No five outs away.
2015 will be different. This is the year that the Cubs are real.
I got off the train as quickly as I could. I fast-walked out to the front of the station, awaiting to be picked up and taken back to my house. By the time I got back to my house, I had already packed up my stuff and threw it in the back of the trunk of my parents' Honda Pilot that I was going to be using for the next 24 hours. That's right, I was headed up to Carthage for a semi-weekend of surprising friends and catching up.
After a grueling five weeks of school at my new home in Valparaiso, I could not wait to return to the place that I was in a rush to get away from. As the old saying goes, "you truly don't know what you've got till it's gone."
Without a doubt, I made the right decision to transfer. I have already learned a great amount about communications, journalism, and the kind of work that I want to do in the future. I have been provided with a lot of amazing opportunities. I am currently the beat-writer for a Division I soccer team that has beheaded both the #18 and #23 teams in the nation and has a strong chance to make it to the NCAA Tournament. I get to host a weekly sports radio show. I also have gotten experience doing color commentary for Valparaiso athletic events. These kind of opportunities are not available at a DIII liberal arts school.
While I certainly have a lot looking up for me, there is one thing that has caught me by surprise, and while it hasn't crippled me, it has slowed me down. After being at Valparaiso for six weeks, I have had very little social activity. The people that know me would tell you that I am an extremely outgoing person and in some ways, I thrive off of being around other people. That's what makes being on my own so hard.
So here I am, rushing up to Kenosha, the place I so desperately wanted to run away from. I'm eager to be around people again. At times I feel like I let something amazing slip right through my fingers- the community I had around me. While I was appreciative of the friends I had when I was at Carthage, it took being at a new school in a new town for me to realize just how wealthy I was in the economy of love.
Fast forward, and it's Saturday night. I show up at a party at my friends' house. In a group of 30-40, only a select few know that I am in Kenosha. I start walking in and people start clapping and cheering, almost like they were chanting my name. I'm being met with devouring hugs. I'm being told how much I have been missed, and that "Carthage isn't the same" without me. I have a blast at the party and then over the next 24 hours I meet up with more friends and run in to more people on the streets that are giving me the same kind of love.
That night, as I crashed in my buddy Evan's dorm room, I could not sleep for the life of me. I just kept thinking about what a good thing I had going for me. I kept contrasting it to the endless hours that I have spent sitting in my dorm at Valpo watching TV and movies by myself. I started questioning my decision. Did I do the right thing in leaving? Could I somehow come back to this, even after transferring, and would that be a good decision?
I was unsuccessful in putting these thoughts to rest. It wasn't until the next morning in church, where I sat in my pew tearing up, did I start to realize something. I was called by God to go to Valparaiso. He brought me here. He told me it was time to leave. If he wanted me to go here, he clearly has something huge in store for me. I find comfort in knowing that.
But not only that. As the day progressed, I started to think about how all of this in life is just temporary- it's not eternal. Let's say that I had stayed at Carthage. Two years from now, all of the friends I had made, as well as myself, would all be going in different directions. I would have to start over someplace new anyway. Either way, I was only going to be at Carthage for a short time. Whether it was two years or four years doesn't really make a difference. It's just a location.
I need to stop putting my hope in others and in situations that I am in. Why put my hope in something that may change? Why not put it in the one thing that never changes?
This life is very short and everything can change in a heartbeat. But God stays the same. He was the same God two months ago that he is today, and will be tomorrow. All of the places where life takes us are just stops. They are temporary homes.
We will never truly be at home until the day we see Christ face-to-face and walk by his side in Heaven. And you know who else will be there? All of my friends at Carthage that love the Lord. Whether I see them next month or I don't see them again on this earth, ultimately does not matter. Would it be great to see them again? Without a doubt. But if for whatever reason it isn't in the cards, we will have an eternity in Heaven together with our amazing Savior.
Ever since this started to click for me, I've felt a little bit better. Honestly, it still is something that is on my mind, and it is difficult being here by myself. But at the same time, I am not by myself! I have Jesus with me, and that's more than enough for me.
God has put me in to a new situation and I just need to trust him. I need to stop worrying about the little things. In Matthew 6:34, we are told to not worry about tomorrow. Just focus on today.
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
So as I move forward in to this new chapter of my life, I pray that God provides meaningful friendships. But regardless of what does and does not come my way, all that matters is I try my best to serve him and one day I will here the words "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Carthage was a temporary home. New Trier High School was a temporary home. Christian Heritage Academy was a temporary home. And now Valparaiso University is my temporary home.
As the Cubs get ready to expand their roster from a 25-man to a 40-man squad, all eyes are on top prospect Javier Baez, and his expected return to the bigs. Baez is a one-of-a-kind, flashy infielder with an exceptionally high baseball IQ and a swing stronger than Samson's. While I certainly am excited to see Baez make his return, and hopefully see him stay on the big league roster in the coming years, meanwhile blossoming in to an above average second baseman, I can't help but think about another highly-touted young prospect in the Cubs' system.
Here's a quote from a 2014 ESPN the Mag piece, written by Tim Keown: "Scouting/player development VP Jason McLeod dubbed [Javier] Baez, [Kris] Bryant, [Albert] Almora and [Jorge] Soler the Core Four. If even three of them come close to fulfilling their potential, they'll represent a homegrown Cubs trio unseen since the days of Banks, Williams and Santo. Analysts who project prospects for a living rank the Core Four among baseball's top 30, with Baez and Bryant in the top 15."
Baez call-up soon? Check. Bryant tearing-up big league pitching and hitting walk-off bombs? Check. Soler hitting whistling bottle rockets in to the gap and throwing out anyone that dares to test the rocket attached to his arm? Check.
But who's the other guy? Why haven't we seen or talked about Albert Almora, much less thought about him since last spring? After all, entering 2014, he was Baseball America's #36th ranked prospect in the world. He was selected 6th overall in the 2012 MLB Draft. What's the deal?
Well, take in to account that when that piece was written, neither Addison Russell nor Kyle Schwarber were in the Cubs' organization yet. Russell was still in the A's organization and Schwarber was preparing for his junior season at Indiana University-Bloomington. Since then, both players have joined the Cubs' big league roster, and thrived, meanwhile becoming fan favorites. It kind of feels like those two have slid in to the "Core Four," with Baez and Almora sliding out. If you took a poll of every Cubs fan at a sell-out game at Wrigley, and asked them who is in the Cubs "Core Four," chances are you would get some mix of Bryant, Soler, Rizzo, Schwarber and Russell.
Almora has had his share of struggles, which many have noticed on the field. Last season, he batted a dismal .234 in 36 games with the AA Tennesse Smokies, where he started the 2014 season. His 2015 season got off to a cold start. On August 4, he was hitting just .237. Almora has been forgotten by Cubs' fans, and many others have already given up on him, calling him a "bust," or simply, "trade bait." Memories of Josh Vitters, Felix Pie, and Brett Jackson are in the back of fans' minds, and many think Almora will be an addition to that list.
While many have taken notice of his struggles on the field, not many are aware of the struggles in his personal life. His father, Albert Almora Sr., has been battling prostate cancer since 2014. This kind of a distraction might explain some of the struggles at the plate that Almora has experienced since raking .347 in the rookie league in 2012 and .329 in high A Kane County in 2013.
The next counter-argument that one might have is that his dwindling numbers in 2014 and most of 2015 suggest that he cannot battle adversity or that he isn't mentally tough enough. That's rubbish. Keep in mind that Almora is only 21 years-old. He's the same age as me! As someone that is also in my early 20s, I can say that a lot of us young adults don't know how to handle adversity. That is something that college prepares you for. It offers you a time to make mistakes and have some experience dealing with the crap life throws at you sometimes. So shouldn't young kids in MLB farm systems be granted the same amount of grace? At least until they "graduate" and turn 23? I say yes.
While Almora has made his share of mistakes at the plate, rarely does he ever make mistakes in the outfield, something that can't be said about some of the current Cubs' outfielders (not naming any names...). I recently had my eyes pop open while watching ESPN's SportsNation (a sentence I never thought I'd write) when the show featured an incredible catch he recently made. Shortly after, I looked up the clip on YouTube and it took me a solid ten minutes for me to find the catch. Why? Because he has treasure chest of web gems on YouTube. Like....
And finally, the catch I was looking for:
Even in the midst of all the hardship surrounding him and his family, Almora has shown a grittiness that doesn't come along very often. That can't be taught. Look at how hard he plays: willing to sacrifice his body and make Mickey Mantle-like catches in the outfield. Look at the range that he has, not to mention his baseball IQ. Can you name a better defensive outfielder anywhere in the Cubs' organization?
Critics will then say "he's not a hitter." I beg to differ. In an August 21 game, Almora stepped up to bat in the 12th inning, with the game tied 6-6. Watch what happens.
And what happened in a game tied 5-5 in the bottom of the 9th last season?
Still not sold on Almora? We have been talking about how he has been struggling primarily throughout this piece. But since batting .237 on August 4, he has gone on an absolute tear, batting a beastly .375, hitting safely in 24 of those 26 games. He has brought up his low batting average to a respectable .274 and a solid .326 OBP. He could eclipse a .280 BA before the season ends. He also showed great promise in big league camp at spring training, where he batted .345 and where he roomed with now all-star and rookie of the year candidate Kris Bryant. He HAS overcome adversity!
While the Cubs have been on a roll, Almora has been quietly making strides towards becoming the Cubs 2016 every day center fielder. I expect Almora to get a lot of time this coming spring, and start 2016 in AAA. If he continues to thrive, we could be seeing him some time in the early summer, similar to how Bryant and Addison Russell got called up, and soon became every day players. As Dexter Fowler and newly acquired Austin Jackson enter free agency, there should be room for Almora to elevate his game to the next level and be given a shot in center.
It may sound crazy, but Almora has the tools to be a better option than both Fowler and Jackson. While Fowler has raised his numbers since his weak first half of the season, at times he is a liability in the outfield. He either doesn't run hard enough, misjudges the distance of fly balls, or just isn't fast enough to keep up in center. Almora is fast enough, and will not make those types of mistakes. At the plate, I think Almora can at least bat .241 (what Russell is hitting right now), and have a good enough OBP for a rookie player that would make up for the loss of Fowler. But I guess we are getting ahead of ourselves.
The bottom line is that in a system that has yielded two all-stars (Bryant and Rizzo), three other stud rookies (Russell, Schwarber and Soler), there is still more to come. Javy Baez should be making his return some time this week and barring injury, Almora is primed for a big league debut next season. Why have a core four when you can have a core seven?
Entering Sunday's series finale versus the White Sox, the Cubs were attempting to extend their win streak to ten games, go 20 games over .500, and gain a game on the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central standings. All of this sounds great. However, White Sox ace Chris Sale had something else in mind.The lefty held the Cubs to just one hit and no runs, striking out 15 in only 7 innings of work. Sale was able to extinguish the Cubs' on-fire bats, and the White Sox picked up the W.
My initial reaction was sadness and bitterness. I was bummed that the streak had to end, and maybe even more bummed that it had to end at the hands of the White Sox, of all teams. But then I remembered what this season is about: growth. That helped me to appreciate the amazing stretch the Cubs have been on, winning 15 of their last 17.
After spending a week at spring training, talking to players, watching the games on TV, and doing all kinds of research I could, prior to Opening Day, I arrived at the conclusion that the Cubs would somewhere between 83 and 85 games. While many websites and magazines were calling the Cubs contenders, like this Grantland piece, and others correlated the 2015 season to that of the 2015 season in Back to the Future II, I was a little more skeptical, "realistic," as I would have called myself at the time.
This year was all about answering questions about the team for the future, finding out who will fit each position as we move in to a new era of Cubs' baseball, and giving the young players chances to grow at the Major League level. In my head, I decided that finishing above .500 would be a successful and exciting season. While the Cubs certainly have a bright future, and many stud young players, I just couldn't see them being ready yet. I couldn't see a 73-89 team flip its record backwards, and go on a deep playoff run. It just wasn't a fair expectation for such a young team, that has never been there before.
And here we are. The Cubs now own a 3.5 game lead over the Giants in the second NL Wild Card spot, while starting FOUR rookies in their lineup every day. While there is still a month and a half of baseball left to be played, the Cubs are in the mix, and have a legitimate shot to make the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
I went to Thursday's game against the Brewers, and it had a different feel from other games I have been to in recent years. Not because the Cubs launched 5 homers. Not because Wrigley Field sold out on a Thursday afternoon game against a bad team. But instead, there was something in the air. There was a hope that had been rekindled around the ballpark, and an excitement that hasn't been there in a long time. Many fans are starting to "believe" again.
Now for those of you that are reading, some of you might be stopping me right now and saying, "Oh here we go again. The last thing you want to do is believe, because they're the Cubs, and the Cubs are going to break your heart." Now, this is where it comes back to what I said earlier. This year is different. When former general manager Jim Hendry assembled the 2003, 2007 and 2008 Cubs' teams that made the playoffs, he did it through making big acquisitions. He overpaid Alfonso Soriano and Ted Lilly in free agency, he traded for Aramis Ramirez and Kenny Lofton, etc. The teams that he put together had a very tight title window. It was a "win now or bust" strategy, that proved not to work, seeing as the Cubs only got a few cracks at winning, fell short, and then got stuck with bad contracts and mediocre teams. Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have put the Cubs together in a way, that while they may look good now, they aren't even close to how good they can be.
Remember only three years ago (feels a lot longer than that) when the Cubs called up a highly-touted first baseman prospect, who put together a nice rookie campaign, then followed it up with very lackluster numbers in 2013 (.233 BA)? That player is Anthony Rizzo, and since then, he has been the second-best first baseman in the National League, and this season, is a legitimate threat to win NL MVP.
What's the moral of that story? While the Cubs look good now, and they show a lot of promise, imagine how good they are going to look in two, three, four years from now, when their young guns start to hit their prime, and some blossom in to stars. The Cubs still have Albert Almora and Javier Baez in the minors, both are some of the best prospects in baseball. Not to mention pitcher CJ Edwards. While the Cubs currently have the fourth best record in the MLB at 67-49, keep in mind that they also have the third lowest team batting average, hitting a dismal .241. Imagine what that team batting average is going to look like in a few years with some fine seasoning?
Another thing to think about is how rare it is for a team to win it all with no recent playoff experience. It's kind of like if you ask a girl out. If you've already had a girlfriend, you've been there before, and you have way more confidence than when you hadn't dated before. It's the same for sports. A lot of the time, we'll see a team show up in the playoffs, and they end up losing to a team that's been there before. So even if the Cubs lost in the playoffs, just playing playoff games would be a huge win for this team.
This season has been a bonus season for the Cubs. It's kinda like a prequel to a great movie. The prequel may be really good, but its laying the groundwork for something that's even better. And barring bad injuries, the Cubs are going to be better.
That isn't to say that they don't have a chance this year. They do. But if it's October, and you're watching the Cubs, and they lose, don't be heartbroken. Don't be mad. Because this just the start of something beautiful. Enjoy, my friends.
