Now that we ’re into the second half of the MLB season , it ’s time to take stock in Chicago ’s baseball landscape . With such big shakeup in the buff mind of Cubs and Sox late , it ’s worth address how these fanbases are dealing with their respective success and mediocrity , particularly since the conversation around both teams this time of twelvemonth was , “ Wow , we ’re both out of it ALREADY ? ”
What ifthisis the year for the Cubs ? What if the Sox get hot again like they did to kick off the time of year ? What if you do n’t have a strong enough Kyle Hendricks take to offer at the office tank ? Let ’s canvass the forward-looking lover of both club in 2016 and offer some dos and don’ts .
Cubs fans
State of the fanbase : Speaking frankly , Cubs fans are like that modest dog your aunt had growing up : equal parts aggressive , excited , and terrified of every little interference . Forever waitress for the other shoe to drop , the mod Cubs fan – and not the Blackhawks sports fan disguised as Cubs loyalist until hockey starts back – is cautiously optimistic , never once wanting to in reality say “ this is the twelvemonth ” because of a late - sit mystical power that apparently causes the Cubs to lose if anyone articulate anything remotely plus ( Can you guess ? “ Wow , Heyward is hitting today … SWEET JAMMING JESUS , they ’re lose now , NOOOO ! ) .
Side bank bill : laddie fans are bad than Sox lover in that they ’d REALLY like you to know that they ’ve been fans their entire lives .
How to root for the Cubs now that anything short of a World Series is a disappointment
Do : decent recognize the greatness of Jake Arrieta . Coming off one of the undecomposed time of year in story , # 49 is following up with another no - hitter and a double - digit wins . All ’s well and estimable , but then dude had to go in the lead and pose cigarette nekkid in this year’sESPN the Magazine ’s Body issuing . Killer on the cumulation AND easy posing only in his bat and ball ? That ’s a guy right there .
Don’t : Ignore what ’s happening off the diamond . Yes , it ’s a full-grown honor that every Cubs player / ballboy / DJ who plays the walkup music made the All - leading team this yr , but this team is the first that I can call in since the Sammy Sosa era that ’s really … nerveless ? Be it Joe Maddon ’s away plot “ clothes code , ” the “ Try Not To Suck ” slogan ( and the T - shirts that benefit charity ) , and even the fact that Jorge Soler ’s walk - up music is Future ’s “ Wicked ” all make this squad one to get behind .
Do : Pick a favorite infielder . do by it like a boy band . You ’ve got the frontman Anthony Rizzo , the baby - confront Addison Russell , Javy “ the mysterious one ” Baez , and Ben “ I ’m the Joey Fatone in this scenario , are n’t I ? ” Zobrist . Hell , why stop there ? Jason Heyward ? Dexter Fowler ? “ The San Diego Delight ” Kris Bryant ? You ca n’t really lose here .
Jon Durr/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images
Don’t : bury to talk bang to Cardinals lover . This is n’t anything new , but I ca n’t accentuate its importance enough . hat the Cardinals is as entire to the Cubs experience as swinge “ Go cub Go ” after a win or buying a racially insensitive T - shirt from a vender in front of Wrigley . ( persist swish , guy who still owns that “ Pujols mow my lawn ” shirt ! ) If you ’re going to fake being a Cubs lifer , you need to HATE St. Louis . We give Nelly his props , but that ’s where it cease .
Do : Enjoy the ride . The Cubs are toy historic - levels of orchis correctly now , with all aspect of the game firing on all cylinders . It can be very loose to need to get nostalgic about how this team stack up to Cubs teams of the past tense , but …
Don’t : bury to rest in the second . While the ineptitude of the Cubs arrangement is long and consistent , I truly consider that right now is presently the best fourth dimension to be a fan of the North Side ever . Do n’t believe me ? Ask the traditionalist if the following names ring a bell : Rod Beck . Antonio Alfonseca . Todd Hollandsworth . LaTroy Hawkins . Milton Bradley . They ’re hollo , are n’t they ? HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY , YOU JERK .
Flickr/Phil Roeder
For the bandwagoners out there , yes , this year is different . No , the whole Marty McFly thing did n’t work out . But outside of the the common “ lovable loser gets good ” story , this squad is the best roster the Cubs have had in X , and all sign point to the NL waft win at sheer bad - case scenario and the end of the farseeing drought in MLB postseason history as the best - vitrine . The metre is now . That auditory sensation you just hear was every Cubs fan study this pick apart on wood all at once .
White Sox fans
body politic of the fanbase : If you ask any long - term Sox devotee what they expected from this season , you ’d get an equal mix of letdown and second-rater . Then the team started playing light out and everyone started walking around like Ric Flair was batting in the four hole . After a bunch of C - student personnel moves , some triple play , and a string of losses , everything is back to normal at the Cell . The name of the biz : managing your expectations . discharge White Sox manager Robin Ventura seems to be the go - to answer to anything . Bullpen blows a lead ? Fire Ventura . Nachos got too much morose cream ? Fire Ventura . Your daughter calling you Kelly when your name is Tommy ? FIRE VENTURA .
Side note : You will never see more questionable tattoo in your life sentence than at a Sox game . I once insure a guy who had “ Return of the Mack ” tattooed on his bicep in Olde English . This was in 2015 .
How to root for the White Sox without wanting to tear your hair out
Do : Your inquiry . Short of the bighearted name like Jose Abreu , you should be able-bodied to collapse wise about the other name on the roster for vocalize like a legit supporter . Todd Frazier : his name sound like an ‘ 80s packer , and he hits as heavily as one . James Shields has finally bug out to um … not be as terrible ?
Don’t : Assume anything about the AL Central yet . The naval division the Sox playact in is an infrangible crap shooting at this point , with every team ( that does not repose in Minneapolis ) within seven games of the top spot . In the yesteryear , the Central has gone down to the wire aka the very last day of the time of year . Sox fans know better than anyone : it ai n’t over until it ’s over .
Do : Enjoy the seat . OK , so it ’s not a existent secret that tickets for Sox game are n’t hard to come by . Who care ? The intellectual nourishment is pleasant-tasting , the sunshine is shining , and the beer is cold .
Jake Arrieta|Dylan Buell /Getty Images Sport/Getty Images
Don’t : Argue Chris Sale over Jake Arrieta every chance you get . Is there some “ dominant Chicago pitchers must wear down # 49 ” rule on the leger somewhere ? Sale is doing it big this time of year with more wins than Jake Arrieta and an All - Star start nod . He could be in blood line for his first Cy Young nod this season if he keeps up the footstep .
Do : Start paying attention to Tim Anderson . The youthful short is the newest name to get laid on the South Side . Keep an eye on him . If he wins the AL Rookie of the yr nod , he ’ll be the third player in a wrangle to get ahead the award from a Chicago baseball game squad ( Jose Abreu in 2014 and Kris Bryant last twelvemonth ) .
Don’t : Worry about what the Cubs are doing . There ’s a long - stand narrative that Sox fans are more concerned about the Cubs futility than their own Sox - cess . It ’s dead on target . The Cubs are always going to be the Peyton to the Sox ’s Eli , and who cares ? As a topic of fact , here are three things that are infinitely better about being a Sox devotee than a Cubs lover .
Mike McGinnis/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images
It ’s the ultimate argument - grampus . Major League Baseball ’s ultimate plunder has n’t been see on the North Side since the invention of the bandeau ( No , seriously ! ) , and Sox fans would do themselves a service to remember that and be contented to support their own squad without worrying what the Cubs are up to . ( It also stool the Sox ’s playoff drouth since 2008 comfortable to stomach … right ? No ? )
irrespective of what side you find yourself on , realize that the state of Chicago baseball is good than a lot of other markets could even woolgather of . ( I have a friend who ’s a longtime Atlanta Braves fan and he looks like he could snap at any instant , # PrayForBarvesFans ) Whether you ’re a longtime sports fan of the Sox or Cubs , remember : just a month or two until the Bears break our collective hearts again !
Sign up herefor our daily Chicago email and be the first to get all the solid food / deglutition / fun in Ithiel Town .
