Chicago Cubs learning about the humbling nature of America's pastime

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CHICAGO, IL – SEPTEMBER 12: Starting pitcher Jose Quintana #62 of the Chicago Cubs delivers the ball against the New York Mets at Wrigley Field on September 12, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

After rolling through the regular season last year, the Chicago Cubs – and their fans – are being reminded that the game of baseball can be unforgiving.

Last year, the Chicago Cubs ran off 103 regular season wins. They won their first division crown since 2008, while fighting off the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers en route to a World Series matchup with the Cleveland Indians.

Of course, that ended with one of the best Game 7 storylines in baseball history. What looked like a sure-fire Chicago win, followed by a home run and a short rain delay. Throw in a locker room speech and a clutch base knock. The rest, as they say, is history.

The 2017 campaign, though, has been an entirely different animal. After chasing the Milwaukee Brewers for the majority of the season, Chicago finally sits in first place. But, despite multiple opportunities, the team failed to separate themselves from the pack.

Now, with just weeks left in the regular season, the Cubs are clinging to their lead in the National League Central. Through it all, after flying higher than ever before in 2017, fans are being harshly reminded how cruel baseball can be.

CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 10: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs leads the team onto the field with the World Series trophy before the home opening game between the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field on April 10, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: A healthy roster – don’t take it for granted

The last memories Cubs fans had entering Opening Night at Wrigley Field was Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo jumping into each other’s arms after winning a World Series.

As the team carried the Commissioner’s Trophy onto the field, the thoughts of another title ran rampant in the minds of fans. After Wednesday’s win over the Mets, Jon Lester talked to the media about this year. The New York Mets, the team that swept the Cubs in the 2015 NLCS, are stumbling to the end of this season. Nothing is for granted. Nothing.

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“With that being said now, you got to take each individual season for what it’s worth. You’re going to have ups and downs. You’re going to have injuries. You’re going to have things not necessarily go your way.

Last year, apart from Kyle Schwarber‘s season-ending injury, Chicago avoided any significant missed time. The roster was remarkably healthy. And, as fans, we never thought twice about it. IT was ‘normal’ to have a healthy team. But, boy. Were we mistaken.

Injuries continue to decimate the Mets. (Not to mention one of the most mismanaged front office in baseball). And this year, the Cubs have learned that same lesson – to a lesser degree.

CHICAGO, IL – SEPTEMBER 02: Jon Lester #34 of the Chicago Cubs reacts after giving up a single to Matt Kemp #27 of the Atlanta Braves to load the bases during the first inning at Wrigley Field on September 2, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Digging a hole early in the year

Everyone expected the Cubs to just keep rolling. The team dominated last August, going 22-6 to pull away from the pack in the division. September fared well for Chicago, as well. The team went 17-10 in the season’s final month.

The postseason speaks for itself. Time and time again, the club rallied or delivered with its back against the ball. So why shouldn’t we expect that in 2017? The roster remained almost exclusively intact. Joe Maddon is back at the helm.

But, instead, Chicago sputtered, going 43-45 heading into the All-Star Break. Compare that to a 53-35 mark the season prior and it’s easy to see why the team has been fighting for its playoff hopes the entire second half.

What was to blame?

The Cubs ranked 11th in the league in runs scored in the first half. The team ranked 10th in OPS, while the pitching staff held its own with a 4.05 ERA. That ranked fifth in the National League. The offense hardly represented its former self. Oh, and the team had one All-Star – closer Wade Davis.

CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 19: Javier Baez #9 of the Chicago Cubs reacts after throwing out Ryan Goins #17 of the Toronto Blue Jays at first base during the ninth inning on August 19, 2017 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs defeated the Blue Jays 4-3. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Turning it all around and fighting

By the Midsummer Classic, the Chicago Cubs’ fans had begun to panic.

Chicago Cubs

This isn’t how it was supposed to be. We all expected a dominant lead by this point in the season. But instead of that, the Cubs were in the throes of a battle in the Central. Chicago was up for the challenge, though.

Entering play Thursday, the team owns a 36-21 record in the second half. With a winning percentage north of .600, the Cubs are beginning to look more like the team we all know and love. Led by a resurgent Javier Baez, Chicago put together some impressive runs.

Big bats breaking out

This offense has shown what it’s capable of, throwing up double-digit run totals at least once a week (or so it seems).

In the first two games of the most recent series against New York, the Cubs put up 25 runs. With Willson Contreras back in the mix, the bats appear poised to wake up for the stretch run.

It’ll be about health for this team. Addison Russell is nearing a return. Jake Arrieta, sidelined with a hamstring strain, needs to be right for this team to make a deep postseason run. If key pieces get – and stay – healthy, Chicago is poised to make some noise again come October.

CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 22: Kyle Schwarber #12, Ian Happ #8 and Jason Heyward #22 of the Chicago Cubs celebrate after the final out of the13-9 win against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 22, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Find a way – make it happen

Really, there’s nothing more to say than what Lester mentioned Wednesday.

“All you got to do is get in,” Lester said. “It doesn’t matter how the season looks, what everybody’s stats are. Whether you limp in or you sprint in, it doesn’t matter. You get in, anybody has a chance. I’ve always been a big believer in that. And there’s been a lot of teams over the years that have proven that.”

This year’s Chicago Cubs team is not the same one that won it all. Sure, the main pieces are all still in-place. But it’s different. Don’t compare the two clubs – it won’t get you anywhere.

Accept this team’s faults. Just because the team hasn’t clinched the Central with weeks to go doesn’t mean anything about October. Like Lester said: “All you got to do is get in.”

Next: Quintana has been much better than you might think

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Chicago Cubs learning about the humbling nature of America’s pastime