Cubs Need To Quiet The Riot
I could have done without Ryan Theriot winning one World Series ring, let alone two. And the second ring is only slightly more tolerable because it didn’t happen with the Cardinals.
Theriot does seem to have knack for finding himself on the right side of a rivalry, whether it’s Cubs-Cards or Giants-Dodgers. Maybe it’s because he’s the devil or maybe he’s simply lucky?
Whatever the case, he’ll always remain a whipping boy for Cubs fans after ripping the organization once he was out the door in Chicago.
Hardly a day had passed after Theriot signed with the Cardinals before he felt the need to air his dirty laundry on St. Louis sports radio questioning the Cubs commitment to winning a championship and the team’s loyalty towards him.
“I’m finally on the right side of the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry.” -Theriot.
Neither was an accurate assessment. Although the Cubs could have spent its money more wisely after a disastrous 2006 season, it’s a stretch to say Jim Hendry wasn’t committed to winning, especially after the Cubs won back-to-back division titles with Theriot on the team in 2007-08.
And as far as loyalty, well, what do you make of the Cubs fostering Theriot for the better part of a decade, grooming him for the majors, giving him his first shot in the bigs and sticking with him while better options at his position were available?
I always speculated Theriot’s arbitration case with the Cubs in the winter of 2010 was the undoing of the relationship. The Cubs had not gone to arbitration with any of its players since 1993 when Mark Grace lost his case. Theriot lost his case as well.
Looking back it appeared when Theriot missed out the raise he was seeking he fingered Jim Hendry as disloyal despite the fact the Cubs had a young, up-and-coming shortstop named Starlin Castro who was a far better version of the weak-armed, light-hitting, bad base-running Theriot. It just took Theriot a few months before saying so.
Anyway it’s no wonder why Hendry didn’t want to overpay to keep Theriot’s services–and why Hendry traded him to the Dodgers later that summer.
The irritating part of course is Theriot has won two championships in his two seasons post-Cubs. And given the slow turnaround we’re seeing on the North Side, Theriot may find himself with a third ring before the Cubs even reach the postseason.
It doesn’t seem fair the Cubs former Southern charmer turned outcast is enjoying so much success while the Cubs are busy muddling around in a lengthy rebuilding process.
But there’s no denying Theriot has a nose for winning. He won in college at LSU and he’s won with the both the Cardinals and Giants in addition to the success he had with the Cubs. That, however, doesn’t make Theriot any more likeable or give credit to his gutless jabs at the Cubs.
Unfortunately we’re stuck watching this joker leech his way to the postseason for the next several seasons while the Cubs climb out of the mud, which won’t be any more fun than it is already.
The good news is Theriot was exposed as a fraud and ousted from Chicago before going down in Cubs lore as a member of the first world championship team in 100-plus seasons.
Of course it came at the coast of allowing Theriot to reach the top for now, but that eventual Cubs championship will be the ultimate elixir for all the heartbreak and what-could-have-been from years past, including Theriot’s rightful place as just another Cub who failed to win a ring.
