The Ultimate Chicago Cubs "What If" — A Chicago Sports Stuff/Strat-O-Matic Simulation
How would our lives be different if Steve Bartman didn't do that Steve Bartman thing?
THE CHICAGO CUBS aren’t great at winning stuff.
I know, they have three World Series trophies in their back pocket, and yes, they boast eight division titles, and that sounds all fine and good until you consider the franchise is 155 years old.
After you do the math, you’ll be all like, “You’re right, Alan. The Chicago Cubs aren’t great at winning stuff.”
That said, you have to give the North Siders their props: Taking home a mere trio of ‘chips in a century-and-a-half is impressive work. It takes a high level of skill to consistently deliver their trademark brand of heartbreak.
It also takes a high level of crap luck.
Witness October 14, 2003:
It’s Game Six of the NLCS.
The Cubs host the Florida Marlins.
Chicago is up 3-2 in the series, one win away from their first World Series appearance since 1945.
It’s the top of the eighth, and Chicago holds a 3-0 lead.
Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo pops a foul ball down the third base line.
Cubs left fielder Moises Alou drifts over to make what should’ve been a routine grab — but when a fan by the name of Steve Bartman leans over the wall to snatch up the ball, the umpire (correctly) calls fan interference, and all hell breaks loose.
After Alou has a meltdown for the ages, security escorts Bartman from the stadium, as livid fans pelt him with food, game programs, and various Wrigley Field detritus.
A battalion of Cubs relievers allow a whole heap of runs, and Florida walks away with an epic 8-3 comeback victory.
The following day, the Cubs are blasted in Game Seven by a score of 9-6, lose the series, and collectively head to Cancun.
See? Crap luck.
Bartman — who spent years as a Chicago pariah — has since been (correctly) let off the hook, and was even given a 2016 World Series ring by the Cubs brass.
So we’ve forgiven. But we haven’t forgotten.
Which is why Chicago fans, both casual and hardcore, will appreciate this week’s Chicago Sports Stuff / Strat-O-Matic simulation:
What would’ve happened if Bartman didn’t happen?
Would the Cubs have won the fateful Game Six against Florida and headed to New York for a meeting with the 101-win Yankees? Or would the Marlins have still managed improbable Games Six and Seven dubs?
We’ll find out, as Strat-O-Matic picks up the 2003 Chicago/Florida NLCS from the moment that Steve Bartman changed everything.
All game descriptions courtesy of Strat-O-Matic.
NLCS, GAME SIX
FLORIDA MARLINS vs. CHICAGO CUBS
With Bartman out of the equation, Moises Alou puts away the foul fly for the second out of the eighth, after which Mark Prior fans Ivan Rodriguez to end the inning.
The Cubbies get an insurance marker in the bottom of the eighth on a double by Paul Bako, then ace reliever Kyle Farnsworth bangs out a 1-2-3 ninth to send Chicago to the World Series for the first time since 1945.
Final Score
Chicago - 4
Florida - 0
(Chicago wins series 4-2)
WORLD SERIES, GAME ONE
CHICAGO CUBS vs. NEW YORK YANKEES
After the Cubs take the lead on an 11th-inning leadoff home run by Kenny Lofton, the Yanks tie it on Alfonso Soriano single, after which Nick Johnson smacks a Dave Veres hanger off the infamous Yankee Stadium right field porch to win it for the hosts.
Final Score (11 innings)
New York - 8
Chicago - 5
(New York leads series 1-0)
WORLD SERIES, GAME TWO
CHICAGO CUBS vs. NEW YORK YANKEES
Aramis Ramirez’s two-run home run breaks a scoreless tie in the sixth, while Carlos Zambrano dominates, permitting just three hits and striking out eight over eight innings, lifting the Cubs to the equalizing win.
Final Score
Chicago - 3
New York - 0
(Series tied 1-1)
WORLD SERIES, GAME THREE
NEW YORK YANKEES vs. CHICAGO CUBS
Two first-inning runs on a double by Mark Grudzielanek and sacrifice fly by Alou hold up, as Mark Prior, Mike Remlinger and Joe Borowski (second save) limit the visitors to four hits and a single score.
Final Score
Chicago - 2
New York - 1
(Chicago leads series 2-1)
WORLD SERIES, GAME FOUR
NEW YORK YANKEES vs. CHICAGO CUBS
This time it’s the Yanks who take the nail-biter, going ahead 4-2 in the seventh on a two-run moon-shot by Jason Giambi, his first dinger of the series,. Mariano Rivera, as he is wont to do, locks down the W with a two-out save, knotting up the proceedings at two.
Final Score
New York - 4
Chicago - 3
(Series tied 2-2)
WORLD SERIES, GAME FIVE
NEW YORK YANKEES vs. CHICAGO CUBS
A second-inning three-run round-tripper by Karim Garcia gives David Wells an early three-run lead. The possibly hungover lefty goes seven innings, allowing just four hits and a run, walking none, with Nelson and Rivera tossing perfect frames to close it out and put the Cubbies on the brink.
Derek Jeter has three hits and Hideki Matsui another two for the victors.
Final Score
New York - 5
Chicago - 1
(New York leads series 3-2)
WORLD SERIES, GAME SIX
CHICAGO CUBS vs. NEW YORK YANKEES
The Cubs, trailing, 3-0, score in the seventh on a single by Ramirez, then creep to within a run on Eric Karros’s RBI single with two outs in the ninth. But future all-time saves leader Rivera puts out the fire, giving the Yankees their 27th championship.
The Cubs would have to wait another 13 years for their third ring. Because, Cubs.
Final Score
New York - 3
Chicago - 2
(New York wins series 4-2)
LEADERS
Chicago:
Sammy Sosa .370, 2 RBI
Aramis Ramirez .286, HR, 3 RBI
Mark Grudzielanek .296, 4 runs, 3 RBI
Carlos Zambrano 1-1, 1.98 ERA
Kerry Wood 0-1, 3.86
Mark Prior 1-0, 1.17 ERA
New York:
Derek Jeter .273, 3 runs
Aaron Boone, .263, 2 HR, 3 RBI
Jason Giambi .200, 2 HR, 3 RBI
Andy Pettitte 1-1, 1.29
David Wells, 1-0, 2.08
Mariano Rivera 2 saves, 3.00 ERA