Cubs 11, Cardinals 4

OK, this game was 2 days ago. And I am a person whose slogan, at times, is “Quit dwelling on the past!” Mostly when someone is talking about something that I would rather not remember. (I do believe in no regrets, learn from but then forget about your mistakes ’cause you sure can’t change the past, etc. ... but this is quite another thing, altogether.)

However, Thursday’s Cardinals-Cubs game was everything I love about baseball.

And, I should make a note right here and right now: My earlier post, about how I had decided I was going to root for the Chicago Cubs AND the St. Louis Cardinals? That deal is now off the table. I mean, privately, I will still admit to liking to watch the Cards; I mean, if you love baseball — and I do, despite one of my friends’ attempts to make me NOT love baseball with his constant bashing of my favorite team — you have to enjoy the way the Cardinals play to win, every game.

Publicly, however, I cannot show any allegiance to the Cards.

Even if they happen to win the World Series. This year or any year soon.

Anyhoo, after hearing ALL WEEK LONG about how bad the Cubs are this season, by the time Thursday rolls around, I am not even all that excited about going to Wrigley Field — which, if I am lucky, I get to go to once about every 5 years. The Cubs are in the midst of an 8-game losing streak, but that is not what is putting a damper on my enthusiasm: It is this nonstop critiquing of every aspect of the Cubs that has me actually dreading the game and possibly having to sit through a losing effort. To the Cardinals, of all teams.

I know I am going to have to drink some beer. Early and often. (OK, so I have 2 Bud Lights. Which do not taste as good to me as the Miller Lite I’d had 2 days earlier at the Billy Goat. But that’s neither there nor here, I suppose.)

: )

We sit through a 90-minute or so rain delay, and then, just before the game, I wander down to the first level to go to the bathroom. When I come out, I see some men walking up the steps to the field-level seats — and their hands are full, and I have a feeling the usher is not going to ask to see their tickets, and I suddenly think, Hey, maybe I can sneak in along with these guys!

And I do! And when I walk up the steps, there’s Greg Maddux, throwing some warmup pitches near the Cubs’ dugout!

So I snap away, and before I know it, the game is getting ready to start. I decide to try to find a seat just a few rows from the field, but the usher asks for my ticket. I look at her, shrug, and then mosey up to the section just above the section closest to the field.

I have a perfect view, so I decide to shoot everything I can. I get a picture of David Eckstein as he reaches second on a stand-up double, followed shortly by Albert Pujols rounding third on his home run trot. (Pictured with Eckstein is his Cubs shortstop counterpart, Nomar Garciaparra; with Pujols is Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez, along with the third-base umpire.)

And suddenly I am having the time of my life because I realize I am this close to the playing field, and I am getting some great shots, and I am thinking, Hey, you know what: I used to do this, back in the good ol’ days when I was the sports editor! And you know what else: I actually miss doing this.

(Food for thought, perhaps, for another day.)

And I can’t resist taking a picture of Jim Edmonds, mainly ’cause he’s Tee-Hee’s favorite. Or perhaps Tee-Hee and I’s favorite player to discuss. Or something like that.

Eventually, of course, I get chased away from the prime real estate by another usher. And by this time, the Cubs are already trailing 2-0, but suddenly, I do not care.

I am enjoying the game.

Nothing anyone says or does can take away from my enjoyment of this game.

Of course, it helps that by the time I return to my actual seat, the Cubs have scored a run and are down by only a run, 2-1. In fact, they go on to score in every inning except the seventh (by which time my friends, with the Cards trailing 10-4, have thrown in the towel and are ready to leave the ballpark ... which I am happy to oblige, knowing that I did not want to sit through a potential Cards comeback/Cubs collapse, which would give my friends even more verbal artillery).

: )

Several of the Cubs’ runs come from Derrek Lee, who crushes 2 home runs during the game.

If I were a gambler, I would put my money on either Lee or Pujols to win the National League MVP award this season.

All in all, a great day at the ballpark. And I am very glad I went.

: )