Chicago Cubs: Despite the frustrations, it is time to embrace the journey

The Chicago Cubs are in the midst of one of the best stretches of any big league team in recent memory. Despite the frustrations, it’s time to enjoy the ride.

Long ago, back in 2011, the Cubs introduced the infamous Theo Epstein as their new president of baseball operations on what was initially a five-year contract, worth $18.5 million. The team had just come off a 71-91 season, and the hopes of striking gold with Epstein lay in the hearts of Wrigley faithful across the nation.

At his introductory press conference, Epstein uttered an ultimately prophetic statement, saying:

“I firmly believe that we can preserve the things that make the Cubs so special and over time build a consistent winner, a team that will be playing baseball in October consistently and a team that will ultimately win the World Series.”

Well Cubs Nation, this has undoubtedly rung true over the past three seasons with three-straight  National League Championship Series appearances and capturing that elusive World Series championship. The talk of black cats, goats and a man with headphones down the left-field line were put to rest.

That being said, too many of the faithful, it still somehow is not good enough.

Chicago Cubs: R-E-L-A-X

The heightened aspirations of the 2018 season came in strong after a flurry of excitement in the offseason with bringing in Brandon Morrow and Yu Darvish. Cubs fans had just one thought: could this be the team to win another title?

So far, despite the daily grumblings, a bevy of injuries and a lack of contributions form Darvish, the Cubs find themselves in first place as we head down the stretch here in August.

Manager Joe Maddon has been a huge proponent of the idea that it is a long season, that ups and downs will occur and that people need to enjoy it. For instance, on Sunday, the team finished a series with the San Diego Padres ending in a split. Despite the air of frustration which seemingly found its way into many Cubs fans, the manager brought up something important this weekend.

“Lighten it up a little bit, folks. You get right now, you keep playing these very difficult games, tight race, and so you start losing your mind a little bit. So just relax, play baseball, have some fun with it. I’m sure we’ll play our better brand at that point.”

It is not the first time the Cubs manager has taken a nonchalant approach to the apparent seriousness the season needs to be each day. After being asked if he was poking fun at the game by allowing Anthony Rizzo to pitch in a blowout, Maddon had this to say:

“So relax, folks, it’s a baseball game. It is not life and death. I want people to understand that,” he said. ” Yes, (that’s) a typical, perfect example that it is a game. People  who say things like that don’t understand how each day is connected.”

Needless to say, like Joe Maddon, many people need to understand that feeling overwhelmed, living and dying by every single game, make the game, and therefore the Cubs, hard to enjoy.

Chicago Cubs: Enjoy it while it lasts

Our beloved Chicago Cubs are enjoying a stretch of baseball that may never be matched again. We as fans need to be better about finding the everyday joy that our professional baseball team is good. Like, really freaking good.

Much of the time the masses feel the need to “burn it to the ground” when the team loses. Here is a newsflash: the team still lost 58 times in their World Series championship season. Last year, 70 times. If the team wins 92 games this in 2018, it will be another 70-loss season.

The point trying to be made here is simple: great teams lose. Great teams also come along every so often. It is a bit of a rarity. So, with that being said you will be left with this: please, enjoy this baseball team in all of its glory and all of its heartbreak.

Looking back in hindsight you do not want to be the guy who couldn’t enjoy the ride because of an afternoon loss in August to the San Diego Padres.