Chicago Cubs' latest victory ends a historic streak for the organization

With their victory over a Philadelphia Phillies team on Tuesday that may have had a long night celebrating their clinching of the National League East division, the Chicago Cubs clinched their second-consecutive non-losing season.

In doing so, the Cubs also broke a streak for the organization. The 2024 season marks the first time since the 1971 and 1972 seasons that the Cubs will have had two straight non-losing seasons but fail to qualify for postseason play.

The Cubs' latest accomplishment defines their mediocrity.

In 1971, the Cubs finished with a record 83-79. At the time, the Cubs were a part of the National League East division and finished in third place. The following season, in 1972, the Cubs finished with a record of 85-70. It was good enough for second place in the National League, but once again, it was a season where the team failed to qualify for the postseason.

There is no better definition of the current iteration of the Cubs' organization than marking the first time in 52 years that the team had consecutive non-losing seasons but still failed to reach the postseason. Under Jed Hoyer, the Cubs are hoping to be just good enough. Just good enough so that if enough dominoes fall in the Cubs' direction, the team could reach the postseason.

It's a poor strategy for a team like the Cubs to have, and Craig Counsell isn't afraid to say the quiet part out loud.

Say what you want about Craig Counsell, and to the fans wishing for David Ross, just know that you are part of the problem, but Counsell is demanding better from the Cubs front office. In the past two seasons, the Cubs front office has not been serious with the construction of the team's roster. Just good enough has proven to be not good enough for the Cubs. It's time that the Cubs' front office ends these mindless exercises of being cute and wakes up realizing that they can and should be one of the powerhouses in the National League.