Finally, after seven years without a playoff appearance, 12 since a postseason win, and over 100 since a World Series trophy was brought home to the North Side of Chicago, the question can finally be asked: Can the Cubs make the playoffs?
The Cubs management team certainly thinks so, as they began selling playoff tickets to season ticket holders on August 20. Not only that, but the infamous 1980's film, "Back to the Future 2," also thinks the team has a shot, as they predicted the Cubs winning the Fall Classic and breaking the longest drought a professional sports team has seen.
However, for as much hype as the team has been giving off recently, it's not over 'til it's over and the Cubs have a long way to go before they can rest easily and have finally finished a team-rebuild that has taken longer than most Chicago fans would've liked.
With the Cubs currently poised to take the second Wildcard spot, it would be no surprise if the San Francisco Giants came and stole that spot right out from under them. The Cubs have to face the Giants in the upcoming month and on top of that have to face the league-leading St. Louis Cardinals twice in September. The road to victory certainly won't be easy for this team that is primarily made up of young ballplayers who happen to be riding a high at this very moment.
I would love to see three of the National League Central teams (Pittsburgh Pirates, Cubs, and Cardinals) make the postseason, and I sure hope that because of the odd numbered year that the Giants fade off, but if the Cubs really want a chance against seasoned veterans and teams with way longer and more accomplished resumes than theirs, they need to start playing like this year is their year and not just another year of rebuilding and practice for their common slogan "there is always next year." Because let me tell you, I'm not even a Chicago Cubs fan and I'm tired of hearing that same phrase at the end of every season.
Sure, the other top teams in the Cubs division have basically figured themselves out and hold a good understanding of how to win and make each year a remarkable one. The Cubs, on the other hand, are still figuring themselves out but that doesn't mean that they can't figure themselves out on the way to holding that World Series trophy up at the end of October.
The team already has a better record than they have had in years (above .500) so the Cubs have to decide if they want this year to end boasting about their possible 80-win season, or if they want to celebrate with champagne being sprayed all over their clubhouse.
Wrigley Field already has a giant JumboTron and a new set of bleachers to finish off its leg of the team-rebuild, so now the players and managers have to do their job to see if this team can finally make it five in '15.
