Santo soaks it all in

CINCINNATI -- Ron Santo sat at one end of the Cubs' clubhouse Friday night and soaked it all in -- literally and figuratively.

On this emotional night, when the Cubs clinched the National League Central division, the emotional heart and soul of the franchise celebrated the moment.

"I'm so excited," said Santo, the former third-base great and current radio analyst. "It's just been unbelievable. I'm really lost for words, because I've never really been in this, but my heart has always been here.

"One thing I know, we started off with high expectations. We didn't start off well, but when we needed to win, we won. I'm excited about the rest of the way."

Santo was a member of the fabled 1969 Cubs team, which lost its division lead to the Mets down the stretch. When the Cubs won the NL Central in 2003, Santo missed the postseason because of health problems.

But he's ready to go the distance now, and he says he never lost faith.

"No, because of the talent," he said before giving a share of credit to manager Lou Piniella. "He's been, in my opinion, the difference in this whole year. He's a winner, and everybody knows it."