Chicago Cubs Baseball

When the 2008 baseball season began I believed (and hoped) the National League Central Division would be a two-team race.

Based on last year’s showing, Milwaukee’s young and brash Brewers seemed poised as the chief challengers to the defending Central Division champs, Chicago Cubs.  And for the most part, that form has held true.

After an admirable and remarkable run by St. Louis for three-quarters of a season, the Cardinals seem to be losing altitude quickly - leaving not much space between their lofty goals and the ground.

But never did I imagine that nearing the end of August Chicago Cubs baseball would be an amazing 33 games above .500, and boasting for at least another day, the best record in the entire major leagues.  It was the first time the Cubs have been that much above .500 since the 1945 season - coincidentally, the last time Chicago played in a World Series.

The Cubs reached the feat today, eking out a 2-0 win over Pittsburgh’s flailing Pirates.  The win completed the series sweep of the Pirates and gave Chicago a 14-4 edge in the season series.

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of this most recent three-game sweep was the way it was accomplished.

The Cubs won by a little (today for example) and they won by a lot.  They won by jumping out early and they won by coming from behind.  Chicago got a standout pitching performance from the least of the starting arms (Jason Marquis), and was able to overcome an uncharacteristic effort by the staff ace (Carlos Zambrano).

“That’s the sign of a good team, one that can win in different ways,” Reed Johnson, Chicago Cub outfielder, said. “We’ve been able to win the last couple of weeks by sitting back and swinging the bat. Today we weren’t swinging the bats very well, so we were able to play a little bit different game and it ended up working out for us.”

Yes, things have been working out for the Cubs.  And in ways, not even the most ardent member of Cubdom would have considered.

To “win in different ways” has been the hallmark of Chicago Cubs baseball in 2008.  It may well have be the team’s motto.

As we all know there’s much baseball to be played before another flag can fly atop Wrigley Field’s Friendly Confines.   But for now - for this moment - there is none better in baseball than these Chicago Cubs.