Cubs’ Magic Number…

Last Friday I noted the Cubs Magic Number—combination of Cubs wins and Brewers losses needed to clinch the Cubs the division championship—was 30. The Brewers did as little as possible to help us, losing only one game last week. (They also didn’t play twice, but that doesn’t factor in.)

Despite that, and going about things the right way, the Cubs have dropped their Magic Number by *seven* over the last week by winning six straight games. With 28 games left (and the Brewers having a similar number), things are looking pretty good. We play the Brewers for the last three games of the season. Chances are we’ll have clinched it by then, but if not, then every win by us would count twice because it would be both a Cubs win and a Brewers loss.

We’re just playing really good baseball right now. It’s *very* fun. My only petty regret is that my annual trip to Kentucky to hang out with family means I’m going to miss a whole week of baseball right in the middle of this. Its going to kill me if they clinch and I can’t even watch the game. But whadya gonna do?

On a side note, a White Sox beat writer from the Sun-Times was on the Score (local sports radio station) this morning, and the blessedly departed Jay Mariotti came up. Apparently he was an even bigger dick than I suspected. The guy, coming off an operation earlier this week, noted, “I got rid of two cancers…the one in my leg, and my co-worker [Mariotti].” He also called Mariotti a plagarist and a fraud, using those exact words. This guy must have had his fans, since he had this high profile gig, but I haven’t heard of a single person in town who isn’t celebrating his departure.

Anyway, Go Cubs!

  • I was about to make a joke about hopeless causes, when I realized I had said the same thing to a co-worker about the Red Sox a while ago and had to eat my words.

    So, I’ll just say “You cubs fans are probably pretty jealous of Boston, aren’t you?”

    Then again, if the Cubs win, what euphemism will I have left for “When hell freezes over”? I already lost the Boston one, if I lose “And the Cubs are going to win the World Series”, I will have very little left.

  • Ericb

    There’s always the Lions.

  • bt

    Another nice win today. I’m starting to believe! And I’m hoping the 2 grand I had to put down on playoff tickets actually goes to use this year.

    The Mariotti thing is the strangest thing I’ve ever seen. EVERYONE hated him. EVEYONE.

  • Ericb-

    Yes, the Lions will have to do. I lost the Rams in 2000, though they are striving for mediocrity again, so there is always hope.

    Outside of sports, Susan Lucci finally got an Emmy in 1999, ruining that non-sports metaphor as well.

    And though my hometown Orioles continue to try to recapture their marvelous losing streak of 1988 (first 21 games lost), but they can’t even lose right and have yet to, er, rise to those depths once again…

    Well, the Lions it is. At least until someone else makes a career of defeat.