The Chicago Cubs notched their first playoff victory since 2003 during this year's MLB postseason but are evidently not satisfied with such modest exploits.
Chicago's young nucleus is thriving on baseball's biggest stage and will proceed to the National League Championship Series after eliminating the St. Louis Cardinals in a 6-4 victory at Wrigley Field on Tuesday.
Three home runs in Game 4 carried the Cubs past their National League Central Division rival. ESPN Stats & Info highlighted how the long ball played a big role in Chicago's success in the National League Division Series:
The Windy City's North Side is ecstatic as the Cubs continue to pursue a World Series crown, which would be the franchise's first championship since 1908. Even indifferent spectators have to be thrilled for an organization that's endured immense heartbreak and frequent losing for over a century.
Bleacher Report's Facebook page passed along a celebratory video:
Fox Sports: MLB provided context for why Tuesday's triumph over the Cardinals was so special:
So, all in attendance and Cubs enthusiasts everywhere had to celebrate appropriately once Hector Rondon—the eighth pitcher Chicago manager Joe Maddon called upon Tuesday—recorded the final three outs.
SportsCenter set the scene around the ballpark in Wrigleyville, further highlighting the significance of Tuesday's occasion:
The Cubs' official Twitter feed made note of how the club defeated the two teams ahead of it in the NL Central this postseason in showing pictures of the celebration:
Cubs culture isn't lost on other professional athletes in the city. Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs could certainly appreciate the gravity of the moment:
The MLB's official Twitter account tweeted an appropriate GIF to encapsulate Cubs' fans feelings. It also provided a video of the players' on-field jubilation after the game:
Bleacher Report's Dan Carson put an interesting pop culture spin on the Cubs' "Fly the W" flag campaign, which has come to prominence as a social media hashtag amid Chicago's 2015 resurgence:
Time Out Chicago also nailed it, celebrating the "W" in a unique way:
Maddon has made quite an impression during his maiden season in the dugout, rallying a talented group of former blue-chip prospects into immediate contention. The deliberate rebuild executed by president Theo Epstein is paying huge dividends at long last.
Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe alluded to how Epstein helped the Boston Red Sox break the Curse of the Bambino when they hoisted the Commissioner's Trophy in 2004 after a similar dry spell to the one the Cubs have endured:
The Cubs await the winner of the other NLDS matchup between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers. It could well end Tuesday evening, as the Mets host L.A. at Citi Field with a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-five series.
No matter the opponent or what happens from here, Chicago's batch of young, transcendent talent hasn't flinched in the playoffs thus far. That alone is a big positive for a team that appears destined to be a perennial contender for the foreseeable future.
Heightened expectations will come with the territory now that these Cubs are playing deep into October. However, for the time being, there's no reason for Cubs fans, players and anyone with a stake in the club to do anything but savor the moment and look toward what lies ahead with tremendous optimism.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
- Login to post comments