Cubs know it's big deal to make it to baseball's final four
All Cubs manager Joe Maddon, or anybody else, has to do to know where we're at now is to look out at the Wrigley Field scoreboard.
And now there are four teams left.
"I was thinking about that last year," Maddon said Thursday as the Cubs held a light workout in preparation for Saturday night's opening game of the National League championship series. "Sitting in the dugout, when you get to the final four and you look up, there's only one other game going on. That's pretty impressive. It's pretty impressive what our young guys have been able to do for two consecutive years, the number of games we've won, how we've won them, the solid baseball we've played.
"When it comes down to it, we've won a lot of these games based on playing baseball properly. That's what I really appreciate."
The Cubs took some batting practice on the field as they awaited the winner of Thursday night's division series Game 5 between the Dodgers and Nationals.
Last year, the Cubs buzzed through the early rounds of the playoffs, winning the wild-card game at Pittsburgh and then beating the Cardinals in the NLDS before getting swept by the Mets in the championship series.
So far this fall, the Cubs have been able to sit back and wait for the opponents. The other difference is that while the Cubs have been awaiting opponents, high expectations have been awaiting the Cubs.
But they like the year of experience their young players have in these games.
"I think last year, the point to get here was a little bumpier," said general manager Jed Hoyer. "We had the one-game playoff, played great against St. Louis. But we knew our guys were young, and we kind of didn't know what to expect. It was like a totally unproven … uncharted waters last year.
"But this year is a little bit different. Most of our guys have played in the postseason before. Willson (rookie catcher Contreras) might be the only newcomer there. It's a little bit more of an idea what to expect. Yeah, probably higher expectations, which I think has been a good thing. Last year, we were the wild-card team that was making a run through a 100-win team (the Cardinals), and this year, we're the division winner."
With that comes another advantage.
"I can tell you it's awfully nice playing at home, starting this trip at home. Last year, we knew we had to bus to the airport at noon on Friday. We didn't know where we were going to go. It's awfully nice to stay in your own bed and know that we're going to open here on Saturday night. I think that's a source of comfort no matter who we play."
The Cubs knocked off the Giants in four games in the division series, rallying with 4 runs in the ninth inning Tuesday night. That may or may not provide some momentum, but it can't hurt.
"The other night would help any team," Maddon said. "That's definitely a confidence and morale booster, there's no question about that. However, the next game, that can be squelched by a good starting-pitching performance on the other side. I'm all about, as you know, starting pitching."
Veteran right fielder Jason Heyward was on the receiving end of the Cubs' run last year with the Cardinals. He's looking forward to something new.
"It's a lot of fun," he said. "This is a new one for me, first time past the first round in the playoffs. I'm looking forward to taking it all in. At the same time, it's not just about me. I'm looking forward to going through that with these guys on the team."
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