Cubs advance to NL Championship Series

                The Chicago Cubs punched their ticket to the National League Championship Series with a 6-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cubs, who had the third best record in baseball this year, knocked out the Cards—the best record—in four games in the NLDS. This will be the first time since 2010 that St. Louis won’t play in the NLCS and the first time since 2003 that Cubs will participate.

                Including the regular season, the Cubs have now won 12 of their last 13 games. They have a heap of momentum going right now and also have something else going for them—a 25-year old prediction.

                If you remember the 1990 movie, Back To the Future II, you will remember that when Marty McFly went into the future, he ended up in 2015 and was informed by a holographic 3D sports report that the Cubs had won the World Series. And, as the solicitor for the “Save The Clock Tower” campaign mentioned to Marty, I wish I could go back to the beginning of the season and but some money on the Cubbies.

                However, Hollywood aside, the Cubs are in great position to end their Championship drought that has lasted 107 years. All the money they spent in the off season (nothing wrong with that—if you have it, spend it) may pay off.

                First baseman, Anthony Rizzo, is leading the charge offensively for the Cubs. During the regular season, Rizzo had an All-Star type season, batting .278 while hitting 31 home runs and 101 RBIs. He also stole 17 bases. In the field, Rizzo made only nine errors in 1,465 chances, for a fielding percentage of .994.

                And while Rizzo has struggled somewhat in the post season thus far, you can’t expect him to continue his slump for much longer. Besides, he has teammates that have picked him up in the first five games of the playoffs. Right fielder Jorge Soler is batting .571 with two homers and 4 RBIs; centre fielder Dexter Fowler is hitting .300 with two homers and 3 RBIs; and catcher Kyle Schwarber is batting .538 with three home runs and five RBIs.

                On the mound, it begins with ace Jake Arrieta who has won his first two starts in the playoffs after winning 22 in the regular season. A solid bullpen led by closer Hector Rondon, is capable of shutting down any team’s line up in the late innings.

                All in all, there is a strong possibility we could see the Cubs playing for a few weeks yet and I’m sure we will be seeing them in the World Series for the first time since 1945.

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