Last night the Cubs clinched their first playoff berth since 2003. In that year, the Cubs very possibly could have gotten to the World Series if it wasn't for the infamous Steve Bartmann. Now, thanks to the Cubs winning and the Brewers losing 6-3, they are back in the playoffs.
The Cubs were coming off of a terrible season last year and they knew changes had to be made. For one, they needed one more hitter to come and protect Derek Lee and Aramis Rameriz in the lineup. They found there man at expense of 8 years, 126 million dollars in Alfonso Soriano. What a huge difference he made. When the Cubs took off in mid-June that was when Soriano leading the pack. However, in early August, Soriano got hurt and the Cubs really started to struggle. Once Soriano came back in September, the Cubs once again took off. In the month of September, Soriano set a Major League record six leadoff homeruns. Alot of players don't do that in a season or career, let alone one month.
Another key was the signing of Lou Pinella as the manager. The Cubs started off the season really slow and then that all changed on June 26. With the Cubs under .500 and getting beat again by the Atlanta Braves, a close play at third changed the whole season. Aramis Ramirez was called out much to the dismay of Lou Pinellia who went out and gave the umpire his opinion. The umpire wasn't hearing it and threw Pinella out of the game. The cubs would go on to lose that game, but since that day have the 2nd best record in baseball behind the Yankees.
So as the final two days of the season are completed, the cubs know they are in the playoffs. Its been four years since they were last in and hopefully this is the year the curse ends.
