The Cubs were not exactly “closers,” emphasizing my biggest fear with this year’s team. As Brandon Morrow remains on the DL, they’re struggling with inconsistent relief by committee, an undesirable position to be in down the stretch. They had their largest division lead headed into Milwaukee and lost two straight, also suffering from ineffective run production. They could not afford a Brewer’s sweep headed into the finale. The red-hot Cardinals are also lurking, but have sputtered at the Nats. They blew a lead in the bottom of the 9th in the opener to a Bryce Harper game- tying homer and lost it in the 10th. They didn’t allow history to repeat itself in game 3 and took the series after squandering a 6-1 lead. The Cubs head there next for a four-game series, after narrowly escaping that Brew Crew sweep, following a predictably poor relief effort by recent acquisition Jesse Chavez, giving up a two-run homer in the 7th to Curtis Granderson. Cishek and Wilson combine to get them through the 8th, but the Cubs need insurance and don’t get it. In the bottom of the 9th Strop walks the leadoff hitter on four straight pitches and allows a clean hit to Christian Yelich. You can almost see the two-run lead once-again slipping away, with only Carl Edwards Jr. in waiting. Me of little faith is surprised when a Strop strike-out wins the game, and extends the Cubs lead to 4-games.

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Kris Bryant is finally back in the line-up for the Cubs, but showed some defensive rust with a bad decision not to get the lead runner at home that cost them the opening game. This was after Rizzo had given them their first lead with another 2-run shot late in the game. His timely offense was not enough to counter the poor pitching that allowed a Brewer comeback victory without a single hit. This is what worries me come playoff time, and why I don’t think the Cubs have what it takes to win it all this year. Please prove me wrong.

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With all the come-from-behind victories and shaky finishes, it’s been an edge-of-your-seat kind of year. 82-victories is certainly respectable, in fact there’s nobody better in the National League. The Cards are 4 1/2 games out and remain a Wild Card contender, just behind the Brewers. 23-games remain on the Cub schedule including 3 more against the Brewers and 3 versus the Cards, all at the “Friendly Confines.” Let’s hope that Cubs’ pitching finds a way to “close” things out this season, and helps us grab another gold ring. “Pass the coffee please.”