Not Clenching Over the Clinching

Last night, the Cubs did something that, prior to 9/27/17, they had only managed to accomplish six times since the beginning of divisional play in 1969.  If you limit the time period to the years that I've been alive and roaming planet earth, they had only been able to reach this achievement five times.  Yet, despite this significance, I almost didn't feel any sense of urgency or anticipation.  In fact, instead of watching the first half of the ballgame, I hopped on Netflix and watched a documentary about the Foo Fighters.  What was it that the "My Heroes" accomplished last night, you ask?  Well, it was the same objective that they accomplished in....

...1984...

...1989...

...2003...

...2007...

...2008...

... and 2017.

In case you haven't figured it out yet, they officially clinched the 2017 National League Central Division title, their seventh division championship since 1984, with a 5-1 triumph over the Cardinals.  I don't want to speak for all Cubs fans, but in the wake of last year's magical World Series victory, winning a ticket to the dance no longer holds the same mystique that it once did.  I suppose we Northside rooters are becoming a tad spoiled.

After all, repeating as divisional champs coming off of a World Series triumph is no sure thing.  In fact, World Champion club has been able to accomplish that feat since the 2009 Phillies took home the NL East crown.  The World Series hangover is a very real and consuming pain - just ask the first half version of the 2017 Cubs, who were actually under .500 and rapidly losing ground to the surprising Brew Crew and the Red Birds going into the All Star break.  Plus, there was the added bonus of being able to clinch at our most storied rival's home turf.  With all of that in mind, I suppose I really should be more grateful that the "Lovable Winners" were able to turn things around and successfully defend that trophy.

Playoff berths are nothing to be sneezed at.  Even when you factor in the franchise's two Wild Card wins in...

...1998...

...and 2015...

...playoff spots are still a relative rarity in team history.  Although, the ways things are trending, these ain't your granddaddy's Cubs.  In all actuality, they're more like your great granddaddy's Cubs.  By that, I mean that with having qualified for October baseball in 2015, 2016, and 2017, the club will be making their first back-to-back-to-back postseason trip since the 1906-1907-1908 edition of the Cubbies.  With that noted, it sure looks like the current crop is morphing back into the National League juggernaut that was Frank Chance's squad, well over 100 years ago.  

About damn time, right?

I'm sure that once October is here and the big series with our former friend Dusty Baker and his Nationals is upon our doorstep, my Cubbie Blue blood will start pumping a little faster.  In the meantime, congratulations to the 2017 National League Central Division Champions.  Regardless of last year's unprecedented success, winning that title is still a major accomplishment that deserves celebration, despite my initial disinterest.  

Now, if everyone could just stay healthy for this last week, that'd be great!