September 17, 2017: How You Finish

It started with a win and it ended with two more.  A series sweep is how you finish a Cubs Cardinals series.  This one was especially fun.

It never gets old, and although it wasn’t officially ending their season, like we did in the 2015 NLDS, it put a big nail in their coffin.  This is how it was supposed to be.

It started with the Cubs apparently losing their cool in a close game.  It ended with ex-Cub Dexter Fowler swearing as he just missed breaking Wade Davis’ perfect save streak.  I loved watching Mike Matheny sit on the dugout bench after watching the Cardinals season potentially end before his eyes.  What was a 3 game lead, is now a 6 game lead.  I’m glad that WE did this to them….but it ain’t over quite yet.

There is still some baseball left to be played; 13 games to be exact.  And yes, it’s now six straight after that day off last Monday.  And yes, I’m still calling that 19 in a row to end the season!  But it won’t be easy.

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One of the keys to the Cubs success was our pitching.  Before Lackey got tossed, he was pitching well; he has been pitching well.  Will he got another shot at postseason glory?  You know, that main reason we acquired him…the one area he has not come through for us yet.   If everyone is healthy, he may not.  Hendricks sure looked healthy.  Big Game Kyle spun a gem on Saturday a la the Dodgers NLCS clincher against Kershaw.  Is he finally hitting his stride?  And Joe actually let him throw over 100 pitches!!!  And then there’s Quintana, who has continued to be steady.  He only made one mistake on Sunday; the three run HR off the bat of Fowler.  I really like what I’ve seen from him so far; I look forward to seeing what he can do on the next level.

And then there’s the bullpen.  Mr. Perfect is now 31 for 31; he thought he blew it when Dex hit that ball to the track. He is the most reliable piece in that pen, and Joe is already saying he’ll call on him for more than 3 outs if necessary going forward; sound familiar?  The next most reliable guy out of the pen is???  Brian Duensing?  Shockingly, that could be correct.  Big out, and nice show of emotion as he almost stumbled off the mound; I loved it!  Who would have thought THIS lefty, and not Justin Wilson may be Joe’s go to guy from that side of the mound.  And let’s not forget about Mike Montgomery who I like as a starter, but I love out of the pen.

Yes, when the bats and arms work together, our Cubs are tough to beat.  We knew they were light years better than these birds; I was glad to see that hold true in this weekend’s trouncing.  Now let’s hope this next day off Monday gives us that last recharge to close the deal and win the NL Central, while punching our ticket to a third consecutive postseason.  Go Cubs!!!