Chicago Cubs: Ranking all postseason series since 1984

Cubs History: These series were so bad, they had a total of zero games won

#14: 2008 National League Division Series:

There is little doubt the 2008 NLDS was the worst postseason performance in team history. It was both shocking and mind-numbing. On the 100th anniversary of their 1908 World Series victory, the 2008 Cubs were looking to end their title drought after winning 97 games in the regular season.

Facing the 84-win Dodgers, hopes were very high on the North Side that 2008 would be the Cubs’ year. Hopes were quickly dashed as the Cubs, who looked unstoppable all year, got their behinds whooped. Not only did the Cubs get swept, they got outscored 20-6 while committing six errors in the three games.

They got outscored 17-5 alone in the two games at Wrigley Field.  Game 2 was particularly ugly when they lost 10-3 and committed four errors. It still is amazing to think how such a great team in the regular season took such a dive in the playoffs.

#13: 2007 National League Division Series:

The 2007 Cubs won the NL Central with 85 wins. This team was not nearly as good as they would be the next year in 2008, but the Cubs had an opportunity to take advantage of a pretty lousy league that year and go on a run. The Cubs would face the 90-win Arizona Diamondbacks.

Probably the most memorable moment of this season was Ted Lilly slamming his glove on the ground when giving up six runs in game two. It was an awful series for the Cubs, and it all ended in a frustrating game three loss when they grounded into five double plays and went 0-9 with RISP. Rich Hill gave up a first-pitch home run to Chris Young in that game three loss at Wrigley Field summed it all up. Overall they got outscored 16-6 in the three-game sweep.

#12: 2015 National League Championship Series:

It was a magical and unexpected run to the NLCS in 2015. While the young Cubs showed so much promise throughout the year, they met their match against the Mets in mid-October. To sum it up, the Cubs bats went cold (.164/.225/.297 team slash), and the pitching got rocked (5.56 ERA and 1.35 WHIP) as the Mets waltzed to the World Series. Daniel Murphy alone hit as many home runs in the series (4) as the entire Cubs team did.

At least they could say there were young and inexperienced. One could argue the team used it as a learning experience, and the World Series victory the next year washed away the sour taste in the mouths of the fans. Still does not mean it wasn’t a brutal series to watch.

#11: 1998 National League Division Series:

This was probably the least disappointing series loss. While the team won 90 games and got a historic season from Sammy Sosa, they simply were not good enough to make a postseason run. The 106-win Atlanta Braves showed that the 1998 NLDS was pretty much a “bye round” when they swept the inferior Cubs. It was kind of like the 8th seed in the NBA playoffs facing the in-prime Golden State Warriors or 90s Bulls.

The funny thing is the Cubs were closer to winning a postseason game in this series than in the other three series previously mentioned. Game two saw the Cubs lead 1-0 in the 9th with two outs separating them from victory when Javy Lopez homered to tie the game. The Cubs would lose in extras. After the final out of the series was recorded in a 6-2 loss at Wrigley Field, the fans stood and cheered to pay tribute to their team.