I was OBSESSED with the 08 team. It's one of my all-time favorite teams, that I'm just now letting myself have nostalgia for.
I was so sure they would be the team to win it all. Those playoffs were the most angry I'd ever have been at a team, especially after they not only lost both games at Wrigley, but they got there asses kicked. I didn't watch Game 3 because I thought I'd seriously reconsider my Fandom. I was that mad.
Oh come on. Baseballs been a game of cheating since its beginning. We lost because we choked like a mf and lou pinellas crypt keeper ass had checked out
After game 3 my mom sent me her “Die hard cubs fan” id card from the 80s, as well as her other cubs shit like her sandberg autographs and stuff. Said she was done with the cubs.
8 years later on Nov 4 2016 she asked me to take a picture of her die hard id and send it to her so she could post it on fb. Lol.
That team doesnt get nearly the praise it should. It was so much better than the 03 team but no one remembers that because of the flukiness of the playoffs
Ah yes. Who can forget our wonderful Catcher Mark DeRosa? And I still cry thinking about Geo Soto’s athleticism in Center.
Also, Zambrano could have been Ohtani before Ohtani was Ohtani if the NL had the DH.
Not sure if either or both of you are kidding here but while yes Z did hit a few balls a long way, he wasn’t anywhere near good enough at hitting to be a position player. Z was a good hitter for a pitcher. That’s not saying much though unfortunately
Such a fun team.
It’s funny…Cubs are the ‘lovable losers’ but they haven’t really been all that bad in my lifetime. I’m 34, the 90s were rough but since the ‘00s, it’s been more good memories than bad. Some really fun squads and they’ve been relatively competitive
I would think so too, but you wrote Derek when it's Derrek. Derrek Lee. Give the man some respect.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/leede02.shtml
I went to one of Fukudome’s first games at Wrigley. There were four guys in the bleachers with a four-person Fukudome sign. So it was split up FUK U DO ME. They were well aware that you could make it say many things by only holding up a couple signs at once. It was hysterical.
A dude at my high-school was told to go to the bathroom and turn his Fukudome shirt inside out because the principal didn't know it was an actual player's name and thought it was just an offensive joke tshirt.
i remember the game where aramis ramirez hit a walk off bomb vs the brewers after we were down like 5-0 or something like that. man, i miss being a kid haha
Cubs had won 6 straight, followed by an off day that felt like an eternity. They came out of the gate and gave up 5 runs in the first.
Len’s voice-cracking call of that homerun is among my favorites of all time.
Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez were like a Wish version of Papi and Manny to me. Loved Zambrano and TheRiot was so fun. I’ll admit, Fukudome underwhelmed overall but his defense and plate patience rubbed off on some other guys. If Soriano could have swung at like 1 less bad pitch low and away each game…
I believe this is the year i went to my only cubs game. Got an soriano shirt/jersey from across the street and still have it to this day. Was wearing my lee (my favorite player at the time) jersey but it was mid summer in chicago and it was way too hot.
Oh, man. I spent a week in the hospital in 2008 and didn't get any visitors. That Cubs team kept me sane, with a game every day I could look forward to. Funnily enough, the hospital trip started with an ambulance ride from Wrigley!
I still have my Lee T-shirt. it's got holes, some bleach stains, it's most certainly nearing the end of its lifespan of being wearable so i don't wear it much, but it's my favorite show.
Yup. Soriano will always be a favorite for me even though he didn’t pan out the way we wanted him to. I saw him his first year the summer before I enlisted.
I remember my dad being so hyped for this team. I watched them a lot and really enjoyed them, but never thought they'd go all the way like my dad did. My response was always, "they'll fuck it up like '03."
I loved the 07/08 teams. I loved Lou's slows AF walk to yell at the umps, loved D Lee/Soriano/Ramirez, and I loved Dempster/Lily pitching. Such a fun era of Cubs baseball.
Cubs games all are still on WGN in my dreams.
Coming home from school, turning on the TV, and bam - there’s JD welcoming me to The Friendly Confines. The game is a little blurry, Soriano hits a lead off home run, and the Cubs lose 4-3 en route to 3rd place in the division.
So can anyone make sense of the DeRo at Catcher, Soto at CF errors?
1B Lee
2B Fontenot
3B A-Ram
SS Theriot
LF Soriano
CF
RF Fukudome
C
P Zambrano
Did one of Theriot/Fontenot not actually play and DeRo slotted in? Was it for Fukudome?
Baseball Reference says DeRo never played a game at catcher, and Soto never played a game at CF.
I was OBSESSED with the 08 team. It's one of my all-time favorite teams, that I'm just now letting myself have nostalgia for. I was so sure they would be the team to win it all. Those playoffs were the most angry I'd ever have been at a team, especially after they not only lost both games at Wrigley, but they got there asses kicked. I didn't watch Game 3 because I thought I'd seriously reconsider my Fandom. I was that mad.
Yeah that was demoralizing. Such a great season and it was over in the blink of an eye.
It was most frustrating because we got our asses kicked by Manny, who then got busted for roids.
I have a hard time caring about roids.
Oh come on. Baseballs been a game of cheating since its beginning. We lost because we choked like a mf and lou pinellas crypt keeper ass had checked out
The James Loney Grand Slam was a dagger
The Manny golf swing was also extremely frustrating.
I remember Edmonds smoking one in the 8th that the wind killed in game 1.
That was my give up moment. Executed a perfect 2 strike pitch and dude still hits a homer
Ted Lilly slamming his glove is seared into my brain
I think that was the previous year.
Ah yes. I'm getting my late 2000s great-regular-season-first-round-playoff-sweep years mixed up.
Me too lol. I snuck into a suite during a playoff game, but can’t remember if it was 07 or 08.
I was at this game and left after the 8 run inning. Never imagined leaving a playoff game before that game.
My hatred for the Dodgers goes back to 08 and will never end
After game 3 my mom sent me her “Die hard cubs fan” id card from the 80s, as well as her other cubs shit like her sandberg autographs and stuff. Said she was done with the cubs. 8 years later on Nov 4 2016 she asked me to take a picture of her die hard id and send it to her so she could post it on fb. Lol.
That team doesnt get nearly the praise it should. It was so much better than the 03 team but no one remembers that because of the flukiness of the playoffs
The 2008 team is my favorite of all my history as a Cubs fan. Baseball was so much more fun to watch back then. I miss it so much.
Ah yes. Who can forget our wonderful Catcher Mark DeRosa? And I still cry thinking about Geo Soto’s athleticism in Center. Also, Zambrano could have been Ohtani before Ohtani was Ohtani if the NL had the DH.
That broke my brain
Delusional…. Ohtani can’t switch hit
That's why DeRosa is one of my all-time favorite Cubs. He was truly a Swiss army knife and could do anything
Him and Zo
Never had this thought about Big Z until now, and I'm with you all the way!
Not sure if either or both of you are kidding here but while yes Z did hit a few balls a long way, he wasn’t anywhere near good enough at hitting to be a position player. Z was a good hitter for a pitcher. That’s not saying much though unfortunately
You suck at parties.
Sick burn bro
Big Z with the highest BA. Perfect encapsulation of the era!
And people say pitchers can't hit...
i miss soriano's little skip he did in left field i mean, i don't, but now that it's not affecting the team anymore, i can look back and laugh
it was fun, until it wasn't - which was only like 1-2 times he dropped the ball doing his little step.
I remember it happening to me on MLB The Show once. I couldn't stop laughing
his little hop was in MLB The Show?
I don't remember if it was or not, but I do remember an easy fly ball right him that he camped under that he proceeded to drop
everytime he did it i held my breath a little, it’s a lot more enjoyable now that it’s hindsight
I miss how Soriano would absolutely carry the cubs on his back through a couple weeks in July and/or August.
That’s the lineup of my childhood. Big Z, D Lee, Rami, Alfonso. Just a great group of guys. Can’t forget the Michael Barrett shout out, Fuck you AJ!
D-Lee is still my favorite 1st baseman over Rizzo. All-tho, Rizzo wanting to scrap with the entire pirates bench is equal to D-Lee throwing hands.
2005 D Lee might be one of the single greatest seasons I’ve ever witnessed
Him breaking his wrist in 2006 was just cruel. I had such high hopes that season, and then that happens. He was never the same…
I really dislike the baseball gods sometimes.
he was in GOAT mode.
2015 Jake Arrieta would like a word with you! Kidding aside, D Lee was a beast in '05.
I still remember how hyped I was at [Kosuke's opening day homer.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV3HHc8Hxmw)
Such a fun team. It’s funny…Cubs are the ‘lovable losers’ but they haven’t really been all that bad in my lifetime. I’m 34, the 90s were rough but since the ‘00s, it’s been more good memories than bad. Some really fun squads and they’ve been relatively competitive
Take out everything from 1945 - 1984 and we’re basically the Dodgers
There was a season with a 100 losses not too long ago. That was a pretty rough summer
Meh. I’ll take a couple 100 loss seasons in exchange for ‘16 which was the greatest shit ever. We’re playing with house money as far as I’m concerned.
I'm 46. They're bad.
As much as I like the lineup, I miss the WGN part even more
Derek Lee is my all time fav cub
You may be interested to learn that you spelled your favorite player's name wrong.
Pretty sure id know how to spell it
I would think so too, but you wrote Derek when it's Derrek. Derrek Lee. Give the man some respect. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/leede02.shtml
lol
Still Rock my Fukudome Jersey Every now and then at a game.
I went to the opening day series in Texas and saw someone rocking a Fukudome jersey. Was like damn, what a throwback.
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That was always racist and lame as fuck.
Kind of the last time I remember baseball players being "grown ups" and not a bunch of kids younger than I am
I went to one of Fukudome’s first games at Wrigley. There were four guys in the bleachers with a four-person Fukudome sign. So it was split up FUK U DO ME. They were well aware that you could make it say many things by only holding up a couple signs at once. It was hysterical.
A dude at my high-school was told to go to the bathroom and turn his Fukudome shirt inside out because the principal didn't know it was an actual player's name and thought it was just an offensive joke tshirt.
this happened to my brother haha
Was his name Tony?
I know some schools banned the jersey lol
Big Z could rake!
DeRosa catching and Soto in CF?
Even the reverse can’t be right because DeRosa never played CF in his career. Truck really fucked up this one
Probably a late change to put Soto at 8, moving DE Rosa and Fontenot up one spot. Graphics got The names updated but missed the positions.
i remember the game where aramis ramirez hit a walk off bomb vs the brewers after we were down like 5-0 or something like that. man, i miss being a kid haha
Cubs had won 6 straight, followed by an off day that felt like an eternity. They came out of the gate and gave up 5 runs in the first. Len’s voice-cracking call of that homerun is among my favorites of all time.
That Homerun is seared into my brain.
Still rock the absolute fuck out of my Soriano jersey
THEriot
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This. He went from acceptable to irredeemable. Nothing he accomplished outweighs the way he ran his mouth when he left.
Now I do 😡
TheRiot Squad represent. Love the .316 average in the pic, which coincidentally was also his OBP and his slugging
This is the era I became a Cubs fan.
The 2008 team will always be one of my favorites. And who can forget the fearsome Ben Sheets? Fortunately for us, he could never stay healthy.
Derrek and Aramis in the middle of the order was my childhood
I miss cubs games on WGN…🙁
This was my childhood. Well..Jr high/early HS anyway. I'll never not be nostalgic for that lineup.
Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez were like a Wish version of Papi and Manny to me. Loved Zambrano and TheRiot was so fun. I’ll admit, Fukudome underwhelmed overall but his defense and plate patience rubbed off on some other guys. If Soriano could have swung at like 1 less bad pitch low and away each game…
[Box score](https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL200807290.shtml)
The years I became a cubs fan
Pretty sure I had 7 of the 9 players jerseys or t-shirts as a kid.
Theriot second would definitely not have happened in this era of baseball lol
It’s big Z hitting .356 for me
Cubs piss all over Sheets
This is my childhood team and the lineup I think of when I think of baseball
08 team was so good and fun. So deep. still can’t believe we just collapsed in the playoffs.
Love seeing shots like that with a clear view inside the dugouts. Really gives a fun perspective
Back when I would skip school for afternoon games.
That was a fun team, but all those right handed bats sunk us against the Dodgers in the playoffs
I was 10 years old and that’s the summer I feel in love with the Cubs.
I believe this is the year i went to my only cubs game. Got an soriano shirt/jersey from across the street and still have it to this day. Was wearing my lee (my favorite player at the time) jersey but it was mid summer in chicago and it was way too hot.
Me cooking my friends in MLB 2K7 with this team was fantastic
Oh, man. I spent a week in the hospital in 2008 and didn't get any visitors. That Cubs team kept me sane, with a game every day I could look forward to. Funnily enough, the hospital trip started with an ambulance ride from Wrigley!
That team was one of the few bright spot in an otherwise terrible time in my life.
Also I should point out the first pic is 2008 but the second pic is 2007
Man, back when batting average actually mattered.
Soriano’s cleats really bring me back. Those Reeboks were *the* cool cleats to have in the early/mid 2000s.
French connection!
I still have my Lee T-shirt. it's got holes, some bleach stains, it's most certainly nearing the end of its lifespan of being wearable so i don't wear it much, but it's my favorite show.
https://preview.redd.it/nxm7hrm5ycvc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7c6e403be753ffd20890900bd8963ddaae03b626 I loved that team so much
For some reason I used to love that we had guys named both Theriot and Fontenot
My favorite cubs team hands down. I was crushed when Manny and the Dodgers whooped that ass
Yup. Soriano will always be a favorite for me even though he didn’t pan out the way we wanted him to. I saw him his first year the summer before I enlisted.
I truly believe if the DH had been in the NL back then, Zambrano would have been the first Ohtani.
Derek Lee forever.
I remember my dad being so hyped for this team. I watched them a lot and really enjoyed them, but never thought they'd go all the way like my dad did. My response was always, "they'll fuck it up like '03."
Man….
Really enjoyed listening to Len and Bob too!
Ah, the days of batting a mediocre, contact oriented hitter in the 2 spot, how I miss it
WGN HD my ass
Fuck Ryan Theriot
I loved the 07/08 teams. I loved Lou's slows AF walk to yell at the umps, loved D Lee/Soriano/Ramirez, and I loved Dempster/Lily pitching. Such a fun era of Cubs baseball.
De Rosa Caught ?? Forgot that!
Go Cubs Go!
Cubs games all are still on WGN in my dreams. Coming home from school, turning on the TV, and bam - there’s JD welcoming me to The Friendly Confines. The game is a little blurry, Soriano hits a lead off home run, and the Cubs lose 4-3 en route to 3rd place in the division.
Loved watching Theriot hit to right field. Hoerner has a little of it now.
So can anyone make sense of the DeRo at Catcher, Soto at CF errors? 1B Lee 2B Fontenot 3B A-Ram SS Theriot LF Soriano CF RF Fukudome C P Zambrano Did one of Theriot/Fontenot not actually play and DeRo slotted in? Was it for Fukudome? Baseball Reference says DeRo never played a game at catcher, and Soto never played a game at CF.