It Will Take a Miracle

Well, we are left with only a couple options now.  Each option includes the Brewers winning most of the rest of their games and the Cubs losing most of the rest of theirs.  Here they are:

• If the Brewers go 7-0, then to win the NL Central outright the Cubs must go 2-4, 1-5, or 0-6.  To tie and force a playoff game, the Cubs must go 3-3.
• If the Brewers go 6-1, then to win the NL Central outright the Cubs must go 1-5, or 0-6.  To tie and force a playoff game, the Cubs must go 2-4.
• If the Brewers go 5-2, then to win the NL Central outright the Cubs must go 0-6.  To tie and force a playoff game, the Cubs must go 1-5.
• If the Brewers go 4-3, they can not win the division outright. To tie and force a playoff game, the Cubs must go 0-6.
• If the Brewers go 3-4, they will be eliminated.
• If the Brewers go 2-5, they will be eliminated.
• If the Brewers go 1-6, they will be eliminated.
• If the Brewers go 0-7, they will be eliminated.

So what that all means is that the Brewers have to win, PERIOD.  Any loss will pretty much clinch it for the Cubs.  I am searching for a positive spin I can put on this, and all I can find is that the Cubs are a combined 7-11 against the Marlins and Reds this season and must face Dontrelle Willis, Scott Olsen, Aaron Harang, and Bronson Arroyo.  Unfortunately, the Brewers are a combined 5-10 against the Cardinals and Padres this season and must face Adam Wainwright, Braden Looper, Greg Maddux, and probably Chris Young and Jake Peavy.  So much for a positive spin, huh?

It seems as though anything I come up with to tell myself that the Brewers have an advantage over the next week is equaled or trumped by the Cubs:

• Pujols is out - Griffey is out.
• The Padres may clinch by then - both the Marlins and Reds are already done.
• The Brewers are great at home - the Cubs are pretty good on the road.

Unless Steve Bartman comes out of hiding in Florida, where it is rumored he moved, this whole thing could be over by Wednesday.  I hope it isn't, but I am being realistic here.  Everything is going right for the Cubs and everything is going wrong for the Brewers.  Calls are going their way.... their opponents are making dumb mistakes... and most importantly, they are playing really good baseball.  The Brewers, on the other hand, are not getting many calls... their opponents are playing stellar defense... and most importantly, they are not playing very well.  Maybe roles will reverse and things will go our way the next 7 days... but maybe they won't, and odds seem to be stacked in that direction, unfortunately.