Nico Hoerner says the quiet part out loud about Cubs' rivalry with Cardinals

When the Chicago Cubs played the St. Louis Cardinals last week, it reminded fans of what the rivalry once was. Each team was over .500, and given the Cardinals' emergence as a surprise contender, and the Cubs' season going in the wrong direction, it felt like an important moment.

It was a reminder that before the Milwaukee Brewers became the class of the National League Central, the Cardinals were the kings of the castle. That is what made the 2015 season so special for the Cubs. They overcame the Cardinals in October, and took control of the National League Central. It was a changing of the guard, and one that ended the Cubs' rivalry with the Cardinals as most fans knew it.

The Cardinals were still good, but the Cubs overcame the roadblock that was St. Louis. By the time the chapter was closing on the core that won the World Series in 2016, it was the Brewers who became the new hurdle. A hurdle the Cubs have yet to clear.

There's no question that the Cubs' rivalry with the Brewers has become the primary focus. That's partially tied to circumstance, considering in recent years, the Cubs and Cardinals haven't exactly aligned as contenders at the same time.

It may not just be the Brewers' rivalry. During his weekly hit with 104.3 The Score Chicago, Nico Hoerner suggested that the Cubs' rivalry with the Chicago White Sox is more intense than the rivalry with the Cardinals.

The Cubs' rivalry with the Cardinals isn't what it once was

He's not wrong. As much as it's instilled in Cubs fans to hate the Cardinals, the rivalry has lacked appeal in recent years. Again, it's mostly tied to the idea of the Cubs being good while the Cardinals have been rebuilding, or vice versa. In a season where both teams are contenders, it's fair to suggest that rivalry would be renewed. Look no further than Pete Crow-Armstrong's home run against the Cardinals this season, the moment was electric.

Along those lines, it's why the White Sox rivalry will always be more intense for the Cubs. For better or worse, in the city of Chicago, there's no talking about the Cubs without a mention of the White Sox. Especially when White Sox fans look for any reason to be offended by the Cubs. Add that the White Sox have surprised this season while the Cubs have disappointed, and it's going to add a level of intensity between the fanbases that can't quite be reached with Cardinals fans.

That doesn't mean the Cubs and Cardinals can't reach that point again, but it's going to take some work to get there.

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