Rozner: One party down, three to go for Cubs

It can never be said that these Cubs don't know how to have a good time.

Seriously, Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer and Jason McLeod spent Friday in the first row of the left-field bleachers, Epstein under hat and fake mustache.

"The guys have been asking if we could do it if we clinched early and had a day we could do it," Epstein said with a big smile. "We had a blast. Best place to watch a game. It's awesome out there. Might have to quit my day job so I can watch more games out there."

Late in the game, owner Tom Ricketts joined the bums and spent a few innings with what is likely to be remembered as the most important triumvirate in Chicago sports history.

And it was Ricketts who told me on the field after the game that Cub fans need not lose any sleep over the fact that he has yet to announce a new contract for Epstein.

"No one has to worry about that," Ricketts said with a huge smile. "Cubs fans have nothing to worry about. Nothing. Believe me."

Epstein said much the same in a text message last week so there was very little to worry about Friday even though the Cubs missed their chance to clinch the Central Division Thursday night.

Instead, the Cubs had their party Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field in front of 40,823, after clinching late Thursday night when the Giants took out the Cardinals in San Francisco.

A year ago, the Cubs clinched on a Friday just before midnight in similar fashion, having lost the game that day, but Oakland beat San Francisco late at night while the North Side ballpark was empty.

So the following day - after another defeat - the Cubs had their clinching bash.

It looked like that would be the scenario again, a loss, a clinch, a loss and a party. The Cubs said it didn't matter, that they could throw a bash either way, but once they rallied to tie the game and then beat the Brewers in extras Friday, they confessed it was a lot more fun after a victory.

"It always feels a little funny when you have it after a loss. We can admit that now that we won," Epstein laughed. "What a fitting way with a walk-off home run from a consummate team player and professional in Miguel Montero to kick off our celebration."

Every starter except for Javy Baez was on the bench resting Friday, and that was as much a chance to get Baez some work at shortstop as anything else.

Outside of starting pitcher John Lackey, it looked a lot like a 2012 or 2013 lineup - when the rebuild had just begun - filled with spare parts and youngsters.

But when the Cubs came from behind in the ninth to tie the game and had a chance to win it, every Cubs regular was on the top step ready to vault onto the field.

It was quite the scene.

"That tells you a lot about this team," said veteran catcher David Ross. "Those guys are always pulling for the starters and now the regulars had a chance to return the favor, pulling for the bench guys. It's just a special group of people."

When Montero won it with a solo shot to left in the 10th inning, the Cubs finally had a chance to let loose.

The celebration began by mobbing Montero at home plate 17 hours after they officially clinched. It moved to the clubhouse and then back out onto the field, where friends, family and tens of thousands of fans awaited their triumphant players.

"The best smell in baseball," Epstein said, "is champagne."

This team is starting to get used to the aura.

"Play hard, win hard," said veteran Jon Lester. "We have a good time together and we like this kind of party. It means something good has happened. We hope to have a few more of these next month."

So it's been a somewhat strange 24 hours for the Cubs, unable to celebrate with a win Thursday, but determined to celebrate hard and they promised to do so Friday night.

"It's been a pretty good year for us to this point and winning a division is not an easy thing to do," Lester said. "We're absolutely going to celebrate. We don't really care who has a problem with it."

It's not a problem for anyone who can count.

One party down, three to go.

brozner@dailyherald.com

• Listen to Barry Rozner from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays on the Score's "Hit and Run" show at WSCR 670-AM and follow him on @BarryRozner on Twitter.