Chicago Cubs baseball: And down the stretch they come!

It could be a wild ride come September at Wrigley Field.

Think of it as a horse race where the horses have rounded the final bend and are now racing full speed to the finish line. The Cubs are in a great position now to cross that finish line and make the baseball postseason playoffs— but it is not guaranteed —and it certainly wasn't always that way.

When the gates first opened in April and the race started, not many thought our beloved Cubbies had much of a chance. The so-called experts opinioned that while the team had potential, they were still a year or two away from contending for a playoff start.

In the early part of the season, those experts looked like they were right on.

The Cubs were well back of the pack. But that was early, and things started to change in June. Slowly but surely, the Cubs started to move their way up, winning games more frequently and passing up some of the other "horses" along the way (continuing with the horse race theme.)

That momentum carried over into July and August, and suddenly, when jockey/manager David Ross went to the whip, the team responded by winning in big numbers and sporting one of the best records in the National League since the all-star break.

Who would of thunk it! But there they were, the 2023 Cubs, right in the thick of the race.

There is something special about this year's team. They have a certain unique chemistry, a positive karma, a little bit of "feel good," if you will— both in the dugout and on the field. You see players who enjoy playing together, competing with joy and an unbridled enthusiasm that has carried over onto the field with positive results.

So here we are, mid-September, and ready for the final stretch run. As it stands now, the Cubs are in. They are 2nd place in the wild card standings (3 teams make it) and still have a chance to win the division outright if they can catch a solid Milwaukee Brewers team.

But even if they don't win the division, they are in great shape to cross the finish line and qualify for the playoffs. It is not guaranteed, and they still have to keep winning, as the Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, and San Francisco Giants are chasing them from behind and close on their tails.

The Cubs have a decent cushion, though, and they must hang on these final three weeks. Can they do it? Can they keep the mojo going? Can they go to the finish line and surprise all those supposed experts?

We shall see.

Whatever happens, it should make for an exciting finish to the 2023 season! The final games are September 29,30 and October 1 at Milwaukee and could be classics if both teams are still battling for the division crown.

And best to remember—even if you get in as a wild card team? Once you are in the postseason playoffs —anything can happen.

Championship and/or World Series baseball in Wrigley Field this October?

Hey…Dreams are free.