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The Cubs are in first place.

I'll repeat it in case you are rubbing your eyes in disbelief:

The Cubs are in first place.

Yes, this is difficult to believe. I understand. Last you really paid attention the Cubs were in 3rd or maybe 4th place. I understand. Last you read the paper Ramirez was on the DL indefinitely, Dempster had a "Cubbie" injury and Soriano couldn't hit above .240. I understand. Last you read this blog, you saw me say the Cubs Suck and weren't going to make the playoffs. I understand.

But folks, the standings don't lie. Keep in mind that the Cubs are playing in the weakest division on the NL, if not all of MLB. The Cubs truly do have a great chance of winning the division despite the Cardinals recent trade for Holliday in addition to having the best player in baseball, Pujos possibly having another career year.

All that needs to happen for something special to happen is for the Cubs to make the playoffs. Then as we've all been told repeatedly, anything can happen. Just ask the 2006 Cardinals, 2005 White Sox, etc. etc.... BUT, does this mean the Cubs can win one playoff game? I'm still not convinced, and I think judging by the lack of total craziness within Cubdom this year compared to last year, I'm not the only one.

Carol Slezak wrote a great column in Sunday's Sun Times that pretty much personifies what I believe most Cub fans, including this one, are thinking right now. That these Cubs just aren't that good and there are still have considerable issues: our best pitcher, Lilly on the DL for another mysterious injury that could last who-knows-how-long; Bradley, Soriano and the entire Cubs team showing a severe 1st half funk (although there have been signs of life since the All Star break, albeit against inferior competition); Mármol's inability to consistently throw a strike and so on.

Cubs fans have been down this road the past two seasons and as such, we continue to watch with a skeptical eye. We wait until October now to really become emotionally invested. As my good friend, a White Sox friend said in an email today: "Nice run by the Cubbies. As usual the May suicide party by Chicago fans proves to be unnecessary...now the October suicide party..."

In the mean time, if you're looking for baseball entertainment that doesn't involve becoming too emotionally involved with the Cubs, I encourage you to check out Steve Stone making an Ass of himself again. Here's a great recap of what I'm referring to.