With the Cubs’ fourth loss in a row at the most critical time, we’ve started to approach that point where it is almost more palatable that they just lose every single game the rest of the way in order to TRULY let us feel like it was all just so extremely over all along. Like, just burn the whole thing down, man.
Almost. Almost.
That is more emotional than practical, of course, because it’s technically still possible that the Cubs could go on a crazy run and win out.
… but that’s possibly what they would *need* to do in order to win the division at this point, *AND* they would need help. The Cubs are now 5.0 games behind the Cardinals. If the Cubs win out from here, they would wind up tied (at worst) with the Cardinals (pending their series with the Diamondbacks), but they would need the Brewers to lose a few games against terrible teams, since the Brewers – having won again last night – are now ahead of the Cubs by 2.0 games.
Look, I’m not going to criticize anyone for remaining hopeful while there’s a technical chance. The odds are now overwhelmingly against the Cubs winning this division, and only slightly better that they can come back to grab a Wild Card spot. It’s a weird, weird place for the 2015-19 Cubs to be in, and weirder for us as fans to navigate. There’s no right or wrong way to do this, in my opinion.
For me, I’m just gonna look at today’s game and say: realistically, they have to win today to have any shot at *any* postseason spot. And if they win today, it definitely is still plausible, even if unlikely. So start there: just win today’s game.
Jose Quintana is perfectly capable of busting out a great start, and Dakota Hudson has one of the largest spreads between results and peripherals I’ve seen this year. The Cubs *could* hammer him.
Again, just start there. Win today’s game, and we’ll see what’s what in the fallout.
Of course, if the Cubs lose today’s game, I can’t promise I won’t say just rip off the bandaid and get swept.