Chicago Cubs: Here we are again Cubs faithful, on the doorstep

The Chicago Cubs can make a habit of making the postseason if they’d like. I wouldn’t oppose it. Is it okay to want more than just “a good showing”? You’re damn right it is.

Last season when the Chicago Cubs made the postseason, most of us were excited–yet somewhat cautious. By most accounts, we weren’t supposed to be there. A year ahead of schedule most said. But that didn’t matter. For a city long deprived of a championship, we simply wanted a shot at it. The Cubs will have another go at it this year. The loser of last year’s NLDS, the Los Angeles Dodgers, pushed past the Washington Nationals for the opportunity.

Let me get this out of the way now. I think Dusty Baker mismanaged his pitching staff again. Stunner, right? Yes, Max Scherzer gave up the leadoff home run to Joc Pederson. But that ball BARELY left the yard. And he had been dealing to that point. Baker should have left him in there, but I guess that’s none of my business.

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About this time last year, I made a post on Facebook that I had forgotten about. Nothing big, just a simple status update. It wasn’t anything memorable, but it fully encompassed my feeling as a fan at the time. “Hopeful, but cautious”. I sounded like someone who had their heart broken many times before and was scared to commit. Wait..that’s EXACTLY who I was, who we are. I like to call it “pessimistic optimism” when I see it online. But I’m ready to open up. I’m ready to commit to that hope I’ve had since the day I was born. Okay, that might be a little dramatic. But being a Cubs fan is the only way I’ve known.

There’s hype videos, highlight reels, just about anything you can imagine to keep the spirits up. I’ve had to help keep fellow fans “off the ledge” at times this year. We won 103 games!? Why was I having to do this? It was because of 1969. Because of Steve Garvey in 1984 and Alex Gonzalez in 2003 (not Bartman). There’s only so much heartbreak one can take before you simply can’t pull yourself off the floor.

The “new” Cubs have arrived

Then, in came the 2016 Cubs. With Joe Maddon leading the way, he made the players believe. Then they made us believe. Now with home field advantage, we’re on the verge of something only a handful of fans have witnessed. A Cubs team in the World Series. I’m not saying that they’ll get there, but I’m also not saying they won’t. I’m tired of curses, jinxes and whatever else people call it.

This team doesn’t care. Addison Russell was excited to find out that Wrigley sat on Addison. That’s because he was born in 1984 and knows nothing of all this curse stuff.  David Ross and Jon Lester endured the curse over in Boston–and STILL wanted to be here. Maddon doesn’t care because, well, he’s Joe Maddon. This Cubs team is ready to close the door on that chapter of team history.

I’m committing every bit of what I have into believing in this team. If we lose a game, I won’t look too far ahead. I’ll use the clincher against the San Francisco Giants as my baseball sherpa to “never conceding a loss”. This team is never out of a game. It’s what Maddon has ingrained in them from day one. I’m buying into it.

Next: Four Cubs that need to step up

So I’m asking every Cubs’ fan to do the same. To stand up for your team. Fly the W for every win, and know that a loss is not a sign of failure. To refuse to use the phrase “here we go again” at any point in time during the LCS. These aren’t your father’s Cubs. Or your grandfather’s Cubs. These are Grandpappy Ross’ Cubs.

#FlyTheW