Chicago Cubs: Going through the five postseason stages of grief

Every loss hurts.

Some of you may be going through the five stages of grief and loss right after the Chicago Cubs failed to advance to a second-straight Fall Classic. But you know what I’m going to do for you?

I’m going to go through those stages for you so that we can all move on with our lives.  There are more important things to worry about and you shouldn’t hold onto that anger – it’s bad for your health.

So what I’m saying is read this article not for you, but for your health. (Please note:  If you don’t like pieces that are tongue-in-cheek, you won’t like this).

What do you mean the Cubs lost?!  Of course, they didn’t.

I mean you have Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo at the corners, Javier Baez and Addison Russell up the middle, and an all-around good starting staff.  How could you lose with that lineup?

Not to mention this team made it to the World Series last year.  Everyone on this team has playoff experience. In the ninth, we have Wade Davis – one of the best closers in the game.  The Cubs couldn’t have lost, it’s impossible.

Who even is Justin Turner again?  Isn’t he the guy that looks like if the Lucky Charms guy didn’t shave or get a haircut for two years?

One thing I know for sure is he didn’t hit those homers.  They must’ve changed the dimensions to Dodger Stadium, it’s the only way.

Also, isn’t the NLCS a best-of-nine?  I’m pretty sure the NLCS is a best-of-nine!  Someone call Rob Manfred!  Where are you, Rob?!

Just give us one more chance, please?

What if we played the World Series with only 23 players?  We’ll happily forfeit two players if it means we can play some more baseball.

Dodgers:  What if we give you Jake Arrieta?  I know he’s a free agent, but he’s a really nice guy.

What if we also give the Dodgers some money?  C’mon Dodgers, we know you like money, too.  How much is it going to take?  Please answer me!

They’re never going to win another game ever again.

They won’t, they just won’t.  Is the curse back?  Oh no, I think the curse is back!  What are we going to do?

Why should we worry about it in the first place?  They’re never going to be back there again, ever.  Plus, everyone’s going to leave when they’re a free agent.

They might as well trade Rizzo and Bryant too for that matter.  I can’t trust them anymore!

The Cubs lost and it’s okay.

Everything is going to be okay.  Are there problems with the Cubs?  Certainly.  Did Joe also make some extremely questionable moves this series?  For sure.

But this team’s still young.  You have Bryant, Rizzo, Baez, Contreras, and many more players under club control for years to come.

Carl Edwards Jr. will eventually find the strike zone, Jose Quintana will get adjusted to the National League, Bryant and Rizzo won’t be ice-cold.

Next: Arrieta needs to be a top priority

If you want to panic and freak out over losing to the better team, go right ahead.  I’m just going to accept that the Cubs ran up against the best team in baseball and got beat.  It’s as simple as that.

Jake Arrieta may leave, Ben Zobrist will get older and may get worse, Jon Lester may start to face Father Time – but you know what?  Like Bob Marley once said, everything’s going to be alright.