Maaaaan, Do We Really Have to Start Talking About Wild Card Logistics? And Other Bullets

Sep 26, 2018

The gym I’ve been going to for the past three years is closing this week. They have two other locations in the Columbus area, but the one by us is where I’ve always gone. I know the people there. I like it. It kept me working out regularly for the first time in my life. I’m not exactly sure yet what I’m going to do going forward, so I’m pretty bummed out. This morning will be my last time there.

With the Cubs up just a half-game at this point, the chances of the Brewers passing them for the division are now sufficiently large that it has to be a real consideration. The Wild Card Game, if you want to clear you schedule, just in case, is next Tuesday, October 2. Also a potential consideration: a tie atop the NL Central standings, which would leave the Cubs and Brewers playing a game at Wrigley Field on Monday to decide the division, with the winner heading to the NLDS and the loser playing that night (at home) against the second Wild Card team.

With the Tigers on deck for the Brewers, the Cubs could reeeeeeeally use an assist from the Cardinals tonight. Just one game, man. Just beat the Brewers once.

If the Cubs do wind up in the Wild Card Game, the candidates to face are the Rockies (ahead of the Cardinals by a half-game right now) or the Cardinals, whom the Cubs would be facing in the three games before the Wild Card Game. That could set up some really weird stuff, like, what if the Cubs have already lost the division by Sunday, but the Cardinals need a win to take the Wild Card. Do the Cubs rest up for their own benefit, but in so doing help the Cardinals win on Sunday?

But, let me underscore: the division is not decided. The Cubs are still in the lead. They just need to win some games and let the chips fall from there.

Reading the Cubs’ reactions and perspectives on where things stand right now, I wouldn’t at all say they sound defeated, but they do read as “up against it” a little bit (ESPN, Cubs.com, x 2). In a way, they sound a bit like we do: they’ve won a lot of games, and despite that, they’re at risk for falling out of first place in the final week of the season – and that sucks. But they can’t let the idea that they *might* fall out of first creep into their heads on a nightly basis, because it doesn’t have to happen, and there is a game to win tonight.

Daniel Murphy had the most positive take on the state of things (Cubs.com): “We’re coming down to the end. Five games left, if I’m not mistaken. Half-game lead – like I said, I think a lot of ballclubs would sign up for this. I know I would have about six weeks ago wearing a different uniform. It’s all about the lens you look at it through.”

Good man, good organization:

Another great day for the @RizzoFoundation as we delivered a $2 million check to support the Hope 44 programs. @LurieChildrens pic.twitter.com/1C7ZnmJ5iX

— A. Rizzo Foundation (@RizzoFoundation) September 25, 2018

If you missed it earlier, mixed news on Kris Bryant, tentatively good news on Pedro Strop.

Storage disks, microscopes, PC accessories, coffee, and under desk exercise bikes are among the many, many Deals of the Day at Amazon today.

written by

Brett Taylor

Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

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