Miles: Wind is blowing the Cubs' way
Slowly, inexorably, it's starting to look more like "when" for the Cubs rather than "if," doesn't it?
That's how manager Joe Maddon has been talking most of the year, and that's the feeling Cubs players have had when it comes to them making the playoffs.
There's still a month to go yet, but things are pointing the Cubs' way, and the calendar is running short of days for the teams behind them in the wild-card race.
After losing six of eight games, the Cubs erupted in a big way Friday, crushing the Arizona Diamondbacks 14-5 at Wrigley Field on a day when the wind was blowing in.
The wind didn't stop rookie Addison Russell from enjoying his first multihomer game, as he hit a pair. It also didn't stop Anthony Rizzo from highlighting an 8-run fifth inning with his second career grand slam. And it didn't stop Javier Baez from capping that inning with his first home run of the season after his recent call-up from the minor leagues.
"There are so many positives out there today," said Maddon, whose team improved to 76-57. "Primarily I'd say it came from Javy and Addison, KB (Kris Bryant) beating out another groundball. Those are the things … that tells you you're on the right path. These are guys that are very skillful. They're going to be able to hit home runs.
"But there's other stuff when you're playing in the playoffs and you're facing good pitching and good teams, you're not just normally going to pummel and hit home runs like that. You have to do these other little things well, and our guys have."
The Cubs had a day off Thursday, and that seemed to energize them, to the point where Maddon described the mood in the dugout as "spunky."
"It was awesome," said Russell, who has 12 home runs this season. "I spent it with my little one and just chilled out with the family. So it was a really good break to have."
The beneficiary of all the offense was starting pitcher Jon Lester, who needed to work only 5 innings as he improved to 9-10 with a 3.59 ERA.
Lester knows a little something about championships and championship teams, having helped the Red Sox win a pair of World Series. He sees that "something' here with the Cubs, even with a young club that's navigating its way into September.
"That's kind of what's impressed me throughout the year," he said. "Guys just go out and play. You don't really see the moment. You don't really see the team or the time of year affect guys. Guys go play. Guys have a good time. I'm sure you guys see in our dugout throughout the game some of the stupid stuff we do in there that's fun and lighthearted. Everybody's having a good time and just enjoying the baseball game.
"When there's nine other guys that have to go out there and play it, the rest of us are sitting there enjoying the show. That's a testament to Joe and what he preaches and the, 'I don't really care what you guys do to prepare for a game as long as you're prepared and play hard.' We've done that all year. That shows in where we're at right now and what we're fighting for."
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