How this Cubs fan is dealing with the Brewers’ Success

The Brewers have been on a historic run of success, going 44-16 in their previous 60 games. As a Cubs fan, this is both painful and disheartening. Despite the fact that the Cubs still have the 3rd best winning percentage in the majors right now, at .579, the season is slipping into disappointing territory, especially with the recent inability to get a healthy starting pitcher at the trade deadline.

Here is my journey during this Brewers run:

Shock – Wait, the Cubs lead over the Brewers is down to 3 games! What the hell! There’s no way the Brewers can keep up with the Cubs, with their current roster and payroll. It simply can’t and won’t happen.

Denial – They’ve been lucky for a couple of weeks, but this won’t last. Who the hell is Caleb Durbin or Joey Ortiz or Isaac Collins? And there’s no way Andrew “bleeping” Vaughn can keep up this pace. They have 6 games coming up with the Dodgers, and the Cubs will get back control of first place in the Central. Everybody calm down.

Anger – This just isn’t right or fair! Stupid Dodgers get swept twice! Screw those Dodgers! Do the Brewers get to play the rest of their games against the Pirates, Marlins and Nationals! (In my best Gob Bluth voice) Come on!

Bargaining – OK, so the Brewers have been playing really well. But at least the Cubs have 2 of their best pitchers going in the 3-game series in Milwaukee. And then we have the trade deadline, where the Cubs will certainly get another top-line starter to combat this Brewers rotation that got Woodruff back and promoted the new kid throwing at 102. We just have to be a little patient, and the Cubs will be back in first. Everything is fine.

Guilt – Why did I underestimate the Brewers again??? Every year, I think they will fall into the pack in the NL Central, and every year they drastically surpass expectations. I was laughing when they got pummeled in that opening series against the Yankees. And I was more worried about the Cardinals and Reds than the Brewers as the season was progressing. I should have seen this coming. Perhaps this is all my fault.

Depression – Well, it’s over. The Brewers are going to win the Central, and the Cubs will be lucky to get a Wild Card spot. Then they’ll have to play the Mets, Phillies, Padres or Dodgers – all teams that made improvements at the deadline. If they’re lucky, maybe the three game Wild Card series will be at home. But even if they win the Wild Card, they might have to face the Brewers team with the series starting in Milwaukee. Let me just check that Brewers – Braves score on my phone. Sigh. *Closes phone*. *Throws phone in a lake*.

Acceptance – So, the Brewers are never losing again. Chourio and Mlodzinski get hurt, and they don’t skip a beat. Every days one or more of Turang, Perkins, Vaughn, Collins, Durbin or Ortiz will hit a home run. Priester and Quintana will pitch like aces. And the bullpen will close every game successfully. That is established. Then, after they sweep the 5-game series against the Cubs, the NL Central race will be over. But, the Cubs still have a good record, and should make the playoffs. And in the playoffs, anything can happen. And while the Brewers dominate in the regular season, something bad always happens to them in the playoffs. The ghosts of Trent Grisham and Devin Williams will rise up and keep the Brewers from carrying over their success — and then, the Cubs might have a chance!