Two is the Magic Number

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Sep 19, 2008 4:15PM

With yesterday's crazy, come-from-behind 12-inning victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cubs have cut their magic number to just two. Two more wins by the Cubs, two more losses by the Brew Crew or a Cubs win and Brewers loss will hand the NL Central crown to the North Siders.

That means the Cubs could clinch their division tonight.

The Cubs play host to the St. Louis Cardinals this weekend, opening up the three-game series this afternoon at Wrigley. Should the Cubs win, they and their fans will then have to wait and see if the lowly Reds can outscore the flailing Brewers in Cincy this evening.

If you've got World Series hopes and all that's settled tonight is a guaranteed trip to the playoffs, do you still celebrate? With 100 years of history against 'em, the team and fans should party whenever they've got an excuse -- even if it's not "mission accomplished" for the ultimate goal just yet.

So if the Reds win, we can only begin to comprehend the amount of booze that'll be flowing in Wrigleyville tonight. The Cubs will have finished their game before first pitch in Cincinnati, so a champagne soiree in the Wrigley clubhouse seems unlikely. Does that mean the players will join the fans in the festivities along Clark Street tonight?

AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast