The Gist - Sweep Edition Part II: Son Of Sweep Edition

There really isn't much I can say right now to do justice to how the Cubs are playing.

Remember last month when I made my "crazy prediction"? On April 29, I said that the Cubs needed to use the next month to really make a statement and establish themselves as one of the best teams in the NL. I predicted that they would go 22-9 over their next 31 games and go into June with a record of 38-18.

I'll go ahead and admit that I was stretching a bit. It's not that I didn't think the Cubs would actually perform that well, but that 22-9 prediction was a very-best scenario prediction. I was called crazy for making such a bold statement, and I actually felt like I was crazy.

But the Cubs backed me up. If 22-9 was a crazy prediction, going 19-12 (what the Cubs actually did) is pretty damn good. Not only do the Cubs have the best record in the NL, but in all of baseball.

Sure, the Cubs have had some decent teams in the past, but what makes this current team different? What makes the tingle in the crotch that this Cub team gives you better and less irritating than the feelings we've had in past years? Just look at today's game against the Rockies, a 5-3 win. Nothing spectacular, right? Exactly. The Cubs are getting things done when they need to get it done. Gone are the days where the Cubs play to the level of their competition, where they step up against great teams and play like crap against terrible teams. Today's game was a textbook example of the kind of games we dreamed about in the spring; a few home runs, solid starting pitching, Wood closing it down. Fly the white flag.

2008 Cubs checklist:

Score runs? Check (#1 in majors in runs, batting average, OBP, OPS)
Pitching? Check (#6 in majors in ERA, #5 in strikeouts)

Not bad.

Look people, we know that you're apprehensive. We know that you've trusted and given your heart to other Cubs teams in the past, only to be burned and walked out on. But I'm telling you right now that this team is different. This team will not give you a case of crabs and kick your puppy on the way out the door. There's something special brewing here in Chicago. I'm a believer.

Now will someone please remind the Cardinals that they're supposed to be awful this year? Please? Anyone???

This is all that's left of the Rockies. Get it? A busted rock? Yeah, I'm retarded...