Filed: September 20th, 2008
It took 153 regular season games, more ups and downs than we'll ever know, a new center fielder, a Freaky Friday switch of Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood, a little luck, and, well... a lot of heart. But the Chicago Cubs are your 2008 NL Central Division champs, beating the Cardinals 5-4 Saturday to seal the deal. Yes; at home, and against the Cardinals. Life is beautiful.
Alot of people are going to talk about the fact that it's been 100 years since the Cubs won back-to-back titles of any kind, with the 1906-08 Cubs winning consecutive World Series. Even more will talk about how it's been that long since a championship. I don't care, and you shouldn't either. Say what you will about the Cubs as loveable losers, and being snake-bitten or goat-cursed, but the fact is that they've endured many, many years of bad ownership. The Wrigley family was awful for decades, and the Tribune Company was something of a joke, especially in the 90's. But somewhere inside The Tower, the lights went on years ago. This is the Cubs third playoff appearance in five years; fourth in 10. I think we can take down the loveable losers banner. Let's move past the days of old, and concentrate on the only number left that matters: 11.
That's what it takes to bring a title to this town, end some of the nonsense and media drivel, and finally allow the ghosts of old to die, and find their peace in eternal sleep. This team is good enough to do it, they've got an extra week to prepare, and in the meantime let's all take a moment to cheer them on. Cubbie Nation will be there for the playoffs, until the money runs out, or the Cubs do. Check back from time to time, and maybe we can cheer on the Cubs together. And keep each other off the ledge when required.
And as for the game itself yesterday, congratulations to Ted Lilly, who picked up his career-high 16th win with seven good innings of work. His obligatory home run surrendered almost cost him, this time a three-run shot to Troy Glaus -- who I liked a lot better when he was 0-30 against the Cubs this year -- in the sixth inning. In reality though, this was mostly a giveaway game, with Cardinals left fielder Brian Barton butchering a couple of plays that lead to all of the Cubs run. Lilly was effective though, and I'll always remember him for giving Cubs fans this clincher at home.
Onward we go. The new magic number is 11. Get ready.