Funny thing, I get on Facebook tonight only to see nearly EVERY Cub fan I know ecstatic about their sweep of the Cardinals.  Sure, I’d love the shoe to be on the other foot.  However, the Cardinals have been AWFUL for a month straight; playing sub-400 baseball since taking first place in mid-August.  Now, we’re on the outside looking in, no playoffs this year.  Where are the Cubs? Yep, even further back than the Cardinals, and their season has been well over since the all-star break.

Of course, I expected these shenanigans from Cubs fans.  I mean seriously, what else do they have to cheer about?  We ARE their World Series.  I guess that’s probably what I find most disturbing; the vastly different expectations.  Honestly, I haven’t kept daily tabs on the Cardinals for at least a week; probably longer.  My heart kept telling me they could make a run, but my brain kept saying, not so fast my friend…

My point? Expectations are relative.  For example, when I realized the playoffs were not a reality; I tuned out.  I didn’t turn to the schedule hoping and praying for a sweep of our also out-of-the-playoff-hunt division rivals. Who cares?  I look forward to championships and playoff baseball.  Not meaningless games in September when you’re hovering around .500, or worse, and have no shot at making the playoffs.  I’m thinking, “gee, how can we make this thing right for next year?” or “well, it’s definitely time for some football”.  But, then again, as a Cardinal fan I have those expectations of playing for a championship EVERY year.

I guess the same can’t be said for fans of an organization which has only been to the post-season 6 times in the last 65 years, advancing past the first round only once in those 6 attempts, and has been held without a championship for over a century; and still counting.

Anyways, I know it’s just the nature of the sports rivalry beast to brag when you beat your arch rivals.  But, I also found the difference in expectations extremely interesting; and kinda sad…