And That Is That

The Dow is down almost 700 points as I write this, but not all of the news is grim.

The 2008 season has mercifully come to a close for our beloved Cincinnati Reds!!

I could go on and on about the 2008 season, but I won’t. You’ve heard it all before, and there’s nothing I can write that will change what happened.

Believe me, I tried.

I have no interest in covering the postseason. This is a site about the Cincinnati Reds, and unless the Cincinnati Reds are in the playoffs (stop laughing), then I have no business talking about teams I don’t know anything about/don’t care about.

As it is I barely have any business writing about the Reds.

If the Reds were in the playoffs, I guarantee that I’d do something really big to the site.  Like a banner that said, “PLAYOFFS” or something.  Believe me, whatever I did, it would be super cool.

Just like every season since 1995 (with the lone exception of 1999 – when 99 wins meant you didn’t make the playoffs), this was another season to forget for the Reds.  That late-season “surge” the Reds went on in September – the one that everyone but me got excited about – well, it ended with the Reds losing the last five games of the season against teams that had as much as little to play for as the Reds did.

Defying all logic and common sense, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named finished out the season in a Cincinnati Reds uniform.  I’d like to say that Sunday was the last time we’d see that clown on our team, but we should all trust that burning sensation in our stomach (the one that feels like a post-Skyline-lunch burning) – because He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named will probably be at the Reds spring training camp in 2009.

I hope I’m wrong.  But I never am (just ask my wife).

There are too many problems with this team to even attempt solutions for the future, so I’ll see what plays out in the off-season, then I’ll pick it apart and find anything and everything wrong with it.

Chris Sabo’s Goggles would like to thank his legions of loyal readers (Mom, Dad…) for regularly visiting this site and making it what it is today:

A sub-par fan site about a crappy baseball team stuck in a 13-year postseason slump.

This site started off as an experiment following some prodding by a Cubs fan/friend, and I’m glad I did it.  As horrifying as this season was, I had a great time venting my frustrations on this silly little site of mine.

It saved me a fortune in therapy bills, so thanks.

Before I go I need to address a little matter some people call, “Chris Sabo’s Goggles Pre-Season Predictions.”  If any of you made bets based off of my predictions then you have my heart-felt condolences.  Let this be a lesson to you.

NL Central Predictions
Chicago Cubs		91-71
Cincinnati Reds		89-73
St. Louis Cardinals		86-76
Milwaukee Brewers		80-82
Pittsburgh Pirates		67-95
Houston Astros		66-96

But things don’t always go as planned.

Final NL Central Standings
Chicago Cubs		97-64
Milwaukee Brewers		90-72
Houston Astros		86-75
St. Louis Cardinals		86-76
Cincinnati Reds		74-88
Pittsburgh Pirates		67-95

For what it’s worth I did guess the Cardinals’ and Pirates records exactly, but that doesn’t mean a thing when I predict a second place finish (and a Wild Card berth) for the Reds and they finish in fifth place, 23.5 games out of first place.

That is just inexcusable.

I can’t promise that this will be my last post of the year (sorry, guys), but I will pop in when something big happens.  Like the signing of Neifi Perez and Mark Prior.  Otherwise, you’ll just have to wait until pitchers and catchers report to get your fill of uninformed baseball nonsense.

So, yes, Chris Sabo’s Goggles will be back next year to cover the continuing struggles of the Cincinnati Reds.  Barring any financial crisis or economic depression, of course.  But what are the chances of something like that happening?

No, really – what are the chances?

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If you enjoy my unique brand of humor stupidity, then you might want to check out my other site:

The Last Dog & Pony Show

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live my life, then you’re a loser. But if you’ve ever wondered what I have to say about getting laid off from three (3) jobs, or my obsession with the girl from the Mercury commercials, or what it’s like to have a lumbar fusion surgery, then the Last Dog & Pony Show is for you.

It also helps if you like profanity, because I use a lot of profanity.

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If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for things you’d like to see on Chris Sabo’s Goggles in the future, feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail.  Death threats should be posted in the comments section of the site for all to see.

Until the next meaningless Cincinnati Reds player-acquisition…

Love,

Chris Sabo’s Goggles