A Real Nice, Six Month Long First Step

The Cubs have clinched their division. It is exciting for an excitable Cubs fan like myself. Now to look back on what Uncle Lou has been exhorting most of the year so as to look ahead: it's a long season, don't let individual games stir you up too much, go out to play good fundamental baseball, and field the team that gives you the best chance to win regardless of players' salary, feelings, or any other distraction. The Cubs have busted their asses and busted them well for six months. A wonderful accomplishment to play consistently well for that length of time while constantly dodging and dealing with the Cubbie Curse talk and the whole 100 years thing. Well done and a great season. So far.

The real games begin next week. After this long and arduous season, it's time play for the real prize. Next week, the individual games matter a whole lot. They're the whole purpose behind the season so far. I get the feeling that the culture of Chicago Cubs baseball is changing. That the culture is concerned about winning baseball and less concerned about image. I hope I'm right. It's been a terrific team year; solid defense all around, excellent pitching and no true individual superstar (personally, I'm perfectly happy with six everyday position players hitting between .280 and .303 and three frequently used bench players hitting at the same clip with six players hitting between 19 and 30 home runs only; better the team bat well as a whole rather than rely on a couple of guys). On-base percentage is way up thanks to the Cubs suddenly enjoying the benefits of walks this year. Baserunning boners seem to be much further down. There's an assured feeling to the team, whether its "Cubbie Swagger" that Lou talks about or just playing better, smarter baseball.

All of that has been terrific this whole year. Now it has to continue. Just making it to the playoffs isn't good enough any more. The players believe that and so do the fans. Now the real season is about to begin.

I suggest reading a better-phrased and more professional take on this same subject from one of my favorite blogs.

Go Cubs. Really.