FanNation

Yes, I know Cubs fans are known as eternal optomists. They are used to saying wait until next year. But maybe just maybe that will be a phrase of the past after this year. For one thing curses are coming to an end. The blacksox curse ended right after Boston's and the Cubs are starting to look for real.

Forget wins. Teams can have streaks -- they are playing smart.  They are finally not just stealing bases, but running the bases correctly. They are taking walks at a record pace for cubs teams, which is why they are first in onbase percentage. They hit cutoff men and play aggressive.  Not only are they 2nd in MLB in record (will be tied for 1st if win today). They are doing well in all fields

They are even keel. 17 wins in April and 14 (with 3 left in May). They are 2nd in MLB in batting average. 2nd only to Boston (note the Cubs do have a better OBP than Boston though) and are first in baseball in runs. A staff that is 7th and era and 5th in strikeouts. They haven't lost 3 in a row all year.

But forget stats. There is a confidence that hasn't been present in a long time. Derrick Lee's wrist is healthy and hitting for power and rbis again. Ramirez plays like a gold glover hits for average while few SOs, Soto is a rookie catcher hitting near 300 and with 10 homeruns. Fukodome does nothing wrong. And the back of the pen with Wood and Marmol have been lights out. You better hope Wood hits you because in his only 4 blown saves 3 start with a first batter being hit.  The Rays are no longer devil's but winning. The Marlins are winning before probably another fire sale. So why not the cubs.

Its a long ride to go, but Im holding my dates open in late October and early november.