Maybe they’re confident. Maybe they’re in denial. Or maybe Cubs fans are just numb after 99 seasons of mostly futility.
As the Cubs were slipping, inning by inning, into a sweep at the hands of the last-place Florida Marlins on Thursday, most Cubs fans RedEye spoke with were upbeat that the team would clinch the playoffs.
In and around Wrigleyville bars during Thursday’s televised game, RedEye asked fans: “Are you freaking out?”
“Oh, we’re going [to the playoffs]. I think this is the best chance we’ve had since all the teams I’ve been watching, and that’s since ’69. But if not, we’ve been here before — too many times.”
Lorenzo “Buckeye” Smith, 49, Old Town
“No. The magic number is 3, with (at the time) four games to go. You have a better chance of being bit by a dinosaur [than the Cubs not making the playoffs].”
Jimmy Lavin, 38, Wrigleyville
“It’s the Cubs: We’re prepared for them to lose. If they win, that’s just wonderful.”
Frank Castori, 42, Northbrook
“No way. I have total faith. Why? Alfonso Soriano, Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez.”
Jordan Gottlieb, 24, Lakeview
“We got it in the bag. I’ve been confident all year. You’re not a true Cubs fan if you don’t believe in them.”
James Gorman, 26, Lincoln Park
“I’m a Cubs fan; I’m waiting for disappointment. But all we’ve got to do is win one; San Diego isn’t going to let Milwaukee win. Once they clinch, it’s going to be crazy.”
Quinton Fox, 41, South Side
“I’m confident that they’re going to make it, but I’ll be a lot more calm when they clinch it. I’d rather they do it sooner rather than later, just so that the players can rest.”
Peter Mers, 23, Wrigleyville
“I’m very concerned. It’s coming right down to the wire. [Wednesday] night, for the first time, I was rooting for the Cardinals.”
Ken Sawica, 29, Lakeview
“I’m 90 percent confident. We got our hopes up last time, and they let us down. But being a Cubs fan, I always have to believe.”
Justin Vragel, 27, Wrigleyville
“To come out to watch the game when I feel like crap [with the flu] — yeah, I really want the Cubs to win.”
Mary Frances Brady, 30, Noble Square
“I’m not freaking out. I have faith. … OK, I’m lying. I’m freaking out a little bit. But I can’t let myself think like that. As little faith I have in the Cubs, I have less faith in Milwaukee.”
Marcus Inouye, 32, Wicker Park
“I’m keeping calm. I don’t really want to talk about it so to not jinx it.”
Kristy Holt, 27, Lakeview
“I wouldn’t say I’m freaking out, but I’m concerned. … If you can’t even beat the Marlins, the last-place team in the [National League], then something’s wrong.”
Lincoln Howard, 32, Wrigleyville
Absolutely. Everyone expects them to flop at the end. They have the talent to do it, they just have to get it together.”
Lee Ann Lassiter, 22, Wrigleyville
Things are going to be fine. I believe that they can do it, but I’m not going to bet my life on it. I call myself a pessimistic optimist, which means I’m a Cubs fan.”
Darius Dennis, 23, Wrigleyville
