WHEN IT COMES TO THE CUBS I'M NOT WORRIED . BUT......

 I get a kick out of hearing meatball Cub fans who have waited decades for a decent and well built ballclub call sports talk stations and write letters to the editor panicking about the recent reversal of fortune suffered by their beloved Cubs. And I use the term "suffered" advisedly as it is hard to describe any team cruising along with the giant (oops did I say Giant!?) divisional lead they enjoy as suffering in any way. The Cubs red hot, almost historic start has given them the cushion and the means to put things on cruise control. They can put players on the disabled list, they can send a pitcher or two down to the minors, they can play a guy who just came up from the minors to catch at any position they wish to play him. They could appoint Dr.Seuss team trainer were he not deceased.
They can do anything they want thanks to the terrific start that has put them as high on top the division as any team in baseball because all that counts is October. All they have to do is win their division by one game and avoid the one game wild card playoff game, which they will. The Pirates are done. I know its a long season but they are treading water trying to remain above .500 and may even be sellers at the trade deadline. They don't want the one game playoff that they never win and I doubt they will make any big moves to try to play in that one game. They may even get rid of a few players. They are so far behind the Cubs and so lacking in what it takes to challenge them that they can have thoughts of 2017 dancing in their heads and play out the string.

While the Cubs have underperformed, the Cardinals have barely moved. Instead of taking advantage of this lull in the performance of the division leaders, the Cardinals have slogged their way through a so so week that finds them being beaten by a previously disappointing Mariners team. It isn't the fault of the Cardinals, they just aren't that good. Fortune smiled upon them in a 3 game sweep of the doldrum dwelling Cubs but instead of that propelling them into turning up the heat on the north siders, they have opted to nap.  They may, before it is said and done, pull close to the division leaders but barring a blockbuster deal at the deadline, this is not the Cardinals year in the division so wild card looks like their best chance.

The Cubs are going to win this division even looking as lackluster as they have the past week or so. The party room wasn't getting any business when they took to the road, and the road has been no smoother since. I'm not worried but I AM spoiled. The joy of watching the Cubs absolutely bash their opponents so that you could watch the game without the outcome in doubt, the night terrors absent, just enjoying the youthful exuberance and the raw talent that brought victory on almost a daily basis, THAT was something.  So yeah, I'm not worried but I am wistful. The pop gun offense minus the injured talent seems too often perplexed and incapable of mounting a late inning rally. If the Cubs are down 2-1, 3-1 or 4-2 after the 6th it doesn't feel like they will win. No late inning thunder. The players in the lineup now don't seem to be torturing the pitcher by making him throw pitch after pitch, waiting and patient to get something they could drive or take a walk to first to jam up the bases. And Madden's magic moves- once foolproof ..but now he does not seem to have the infalability previously reserved for the Pope. The whole team seems like they are just searching for a cold beer and some decent waves, riding the crest of the amazing start .

I don't like seeing teams with less talent and fewer managerial brains beat the mighty Cubs .It is disappointing. While once getting used to fine dining, we are at the baseball hot dog stand and I've lost my appetite. My rational self knows none of this matters....just get everyone healthy and be strong when the air regains its nip. This team will be even better after the trade deadline because the front office smells it and they know the time is now. But my emotional self bemoans the mounting losses and doesnt want to see replays or listen to sports reports because the Cubs are better than this and when they sleepwalk through another one run loss it is galling.  They are not embracing the target, they are rolling over on top of it and I don't like it.  This is what happens when you back a habitual losing team. You never feel safe, never feel secure and definitely never feel satisfied.

So tonight when another loon calls in the late night talk show and proposes trading Schwarber or Russell or some other inane point about the decline of the Cubs and the horrible fate that surely awaits them, I'll try to be more understanding and listen for at least 60 seconds before I turn off the radio.