Chicago Cubs win but Epstein won't get too far ahead of things
Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein is usually happy to talk about most anything.
Setting a playoff roster isn't one of those things.
"We have to get there first," Epstein said Monday, as the Cubs opened a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. "This game will humble you in a hurry if you get too far ahead of yourself."
It's only understandable that fans and media would want to start speculating. The Cubs seem on the verge of their first postseason berth since 2008.
They took another step in that October direction with a 9-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.
What Epstein will talk about how well his team has played in the second half of the season. He also agreed that the Cubs taking four of six from the division-leading St. Louis Cardinals is a benchmark for his young team.
"Anytime you can go up against the team with the best record in baseball and go into their place and win two out of three and take two out of three at our place, that's a big confidence booster," he said. "I think we're a lot better now than we were earlier in the season, certainly at the beginning of the year and even in the middle of the year.
"We're playing good baseball. You want to play teams like that when you're feeling good about yourself.
"Look what it takes to beat us right now, the way we're playing. St. Louis won that game (Sunday), and they deserved to. They played a good game. You've got to show up and do a lot of things right to beat us right now, the way we're playing. It's on us to keep playing that way and take it to that level when the games mean the most."
While general manager of the Boston Red Sox, Epstein experienced that team's rivalry with the New York Yankees. This past weekend, he got his first real taste of how heated Cubs-Cardinals could get.
"It reminded me a little bit of 2003, when we were starting to get the Yankees' attention," he said. "All those games were back and forth and all close game and played at a really high level."
Epstein also endorsed manager Joe Maddon going off on the Cardinals after they hit Anthony Rizzo with a pitch last Friday.
"That was a cooled-down Joe," Epstein said with a laugh. "He was even hotter when we were in his office before he went to meet you guys. It's good. We should stand up for ourselves. It says more about how we feel about the Cubs and the Cubs way. We're not going to take anything. We respect a lot of things they (the Cardinals) do, but in this case, we've got to stand up for what we're doing, which is pretty good, too.
"I think the Cubs' way is starting to develop a certain reputation, too."
The Cubs' way was a sloppy one Monday night, as they committed an error in each of the first three innings. The Brewers jumped ahead of pitcher Jason Hammel 2-0 in the first inning, but the Cubs picked up 3 against Milwaukee starter Wily Peralta in the second.
Hammel, the Cubs' No. 3 starter, remains a concern. He lasted 5 innings against the Brewers, giving up 5 hits and 4 runs (3 earned). He has only 2 quality starts since the all-star break. Hammel has been the target of quick hooks by Maddon, as the Cubs seek more out of their Nos. 3-5 starters.
"Honestly, it's not up to me," Maddon said. "It's up to him, "him" being any of our three candidates. I'm not just talking about Jason. You try to do right by the player, but at the end of the day, you try to do right ball all these players."