Chicago Cubs Baseball

Whether baseball is a microcosm of life or visa versa is one of those questions I’ve wrestled with since joining the ranks of Cubdom many years ago. I still haven’t discovered the answer, but I suspect I’ll probably find out sooner than I like.

One thing I am certain of, like life, Chicago Cubs baseball has its surprises. Sometimes it’s like a walk-off home run, and at others its like Cub left fielder Alfonso Soriano tracking down a fly ball - the effort is there, but the mechanics fail.

I believe it’s that correlation between everyday living and Cubs baseball that is at the core of its loyal following. We all understand the “bad day.” We just haven’t had the misfortune of having a 100-year history of them.

After all, one doesn’t earn the nickname “lovable losers” over night. It takes years of practice.

And cynicism.

But these 2008 Chicago Cubs seem to be undoing their past - Cubdom’s angst- one game at a time. And in no one way.

Ten days and nine wins ago, the Cubs had just dropped their second extra-inning loss in a row to Pittsburgh. The defeat dropped Chicago’s road record to 10-13 and following a seven-game homestand the Cubs would be on the road again for 23 of their next 32 games.

It’s a scenario, I’m sure, that caught the attention of Central Division opponents as well as some of Cubdom’s cynics - myself included.

But this is 2008 and a different team than year’s past. This is a team that comes from behind, finds ways to win and overcomes its own self-made obstacles.

In just the last two days, the Cubs battled back from a three- and two-run deficits to take the first two of a three-game set with San Diego. As important as the victories, it also showed the Cubs - and Cubbie fans - that they can win on the road. With the wins, Chicago assured itself of taking its first road series since early April.

My guess is those around major league baseball are asking themselves, “Who are these guys?”

Easy. They are the 2008 Chicago Cubs.