Is this the year? The question has been asked for over a century by folks from the Chicago area as well as baseball fans from around the world. Now nothing can be said quite yet, but it certainly seems to be trending up for the lovable losers and teams, as well as players. People are really starting to take this club seriously, and rightfully so. With critics setting 2016, possibly ’17, as the primary contending season for Joe Maddon’s club, Chicago has quieted the haters with nearly one hundred wins in 2015.

Chicago started off these playoffs with an epic 4-0 win against the Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Jake Arrieta was tough as nails, throwing a complete game and only allowing five hits throughout the contest. Not only was the win awesome for the Cubs, but the game itself entertained all of baseball’s enthusiasts.

A bench-clearing altercation as well as a moon-shot sent into the seats by Kyle Schwarber, kept the crowd on their toes. All against a division rival to make it all the more sweet. But, it seemed to me that the story won’t end there. After that night in Pittsburgh, it felt as if a spark was ignited under this Cubs team.

Now they move on to another division opponent, the St. Louis Cardinals. Game one went to the Cards in a dominating 4-0 win of their own, only allowing three hits for the Cubs. Left fielder Stephen Piscotty went 2-4 with a home run and a double to help propel St. Louis to a win. However, in game two, the Cubs woke back up. Raking in six runs, they were able to win the second game of the series by a three-run deficit. Cubs right fielder, Jorge Soler, was 2-2 with a dinger and a double of his own.

Game three is coming up for these two, as I write this article, in a highly pivotal matchup. Jake Arrieta will be back on the mound for the Cubs, and he will face the Cardinals third man Michael Wacha.

This will also be the first home game for the Cubs all postseason, so look for the friendly confines to get rowdy as all hell. They have a great shot to rope off two in a row and take the NLDS. If there has ever been a time for this franchise, it is now.

If the Cubs are able to make it through this round, which will be the toughest by far, they face the winner of the Mets and Dodgers. Now the Mets have one of the better three-man rotations in the sport with Harvey, DeGrom and Syndergaard. Those three can be deadly when put back-to-back-to-back.

The Dodgers obviously have a stacked lineup, and the Kershaw Greinke combination is also vicious. With regards to both of those teams though, Kershaw has been known to choke away big moments in the playoffs, and a chunk of their lineup has been very inconsistent. The Mets are slightly better, and I think could pose a huge threat to Chicago, but it really would be an awesome series if that were to play out.

A couple of key points for Chicago looking ahead as well, neither Anthony Rizzo nor Kris Bryant have recorded a hit throughout the first three games of the postseason. When their bats come alive it is going to be bad news for the opponent.

Now, with all of that food being digested, take in to consideration what this year could mean for the Chicago faithful. If the Cubbies pull it off, a 107-year-old World Series drought is lifted and the city will be ecstatic.

Personally, I am pulling for the Cubs. Although, the Mets were my predicted National League Champions, it’s hard not to pull for the north side’s favorite: The Cubbies of Chicago’s “Friendly Confines.”