Positive Post-Season Thinking

What now, Cubs fans?

I'm excited about this postseason, are you? I was jogging the other day in my neighborhood (Eastern Illinois University's campus in Charleston) and I ran into an old friend who I used to talk TONS of baseball with. I used to be an absolute fanatic, one of those guys who may have lost an arm the day before, and when asked how I'm doing, I'll first react about the Cubs' loss to the Padres.

Thankfully, I've calmed down, but this quickly got us into some Cubs talk, and though he's a Sox fan, he was quick to admit that this was the best Cubs team he's ever seen (he's 27), and I agreed (I'm 28).

So, what's that mean, though? In 2003 they were sailing through the playoffs as the N.L. Central Champs, like this year, but they only had 88 wins compared to 97 this season. And that's just win totals, this Cubs lineup is solid from top to bottom like none that I have ever seen before, and their pitching staff is just as impeccable, with three all-star calibur pitchers to (hopefully!) lead us through the playoffs.

And the leaders that the Cubs have is unlike any leadership in the past. Ryan Dempster would be the most well-spoken Cub I'd ever seen if it weren't for teammate Mark Derosa. And Carlos Zambrano, for better or for worse (I believe better), is as fired up as ever. This is a lot better leadership than Sammy Sosa, point-blank period.

And this is leadership that Lou Piniella was lacking on the 2001 Seattle Mariners team that won 116 games but was knocked out of the playoffs in the first round.

OK... so maybe this thing isn't a lock. There are a lot of hurdles for ANY playoff team, and this is the Chicago Cubs we are looking at, a team with a storied history of losing and losing some more. But, they didn't have this team or coach for any of those unsuccessful seasons, either.

Somehow this passed over my head, but not only had they not won a World Series since 1908, they also hadn't won their division in consecutive years since 1908, either, until they clinched it a few weeks ago. I'm ready for the Cubs' losing ways to be over, and I'm sure you Cubs fans out there are, too. How many people remember the Red Sox' drought of 86 years before winning it four years ago, and then again last season?