It wasn't necessarily the cinch it looked at one point, but the Cubs held off the St. Louis Cardinals to clinch their second-straight NL Central crown this afternoon. After jumping out to a 5-0 lead, the Cards cut the lead to just one run in the 6th inning. The Cubs shut 'em down after that, however and claimed the division title with a 5-4 victory. We expect the celebration in Wrigleyville won't wind down 'til the wee hours of the morning.
The Cubs themselves can also take some time to celebrate. As the first team in the NL to punch their ticket to the postseason, the Cubs will have to wait a while to learn who their first round opponent will be. In the meantime, the Cubs can focus on getting their players healthy and resting their rotation a bit before October.
And how the South Siders? The Sox's magic number currently sits at 7. A key series with the Minnesota Twins this week will mostly likely decide the AL Central. So will we finally see both our teams in the postseason for the first time since 1906? Our chances are looking pretty damn good.
[Ed.'s Note - The last time the Cubs made the postseason for a second-straight year was...you guessed it, 1908. - M.G.]
AP Photo/Paul Beaty
