I’d like to think I’m an optimist, but when it comes to the Cubs I know I’m anything but. However, I’m just stupid enough to think that what we’re seeing isn’t a one-year run at the playoffs like we saw in 1995 and 1998 and 2001, but rather the beginning of an extended run of dominance in the National League Central.

You can say that the Cubs aren’t ready yet, and that a pitching staff led by youngin’s like Kerry Wood, Mark Prior and Carlos Zambrano can’t hold up over a long year.

You can say that.

You’d be wrong.

The pitching is the least of the Cubs concerns. In fact, if, like in most playoff races, pitching tells the tale, the Cubs might as well start printing the playoff tickets. It’s going to be a three-team race to the finish in the Central, and only one of the three can pitch.

If the Cubs don’t make it, it won’t be because The Franchise, or Woody, or Big Z let them down, it’ll be because succubus spots in the batting order that belong to shortstop and catcher couldn’t be overcome. Trading for a guy like Rafael Palmeiro would have been a good thing, but it would have only been a big plus if he could strap on the gear or play a little short. A lefty hitting first baseman isn’t a huge need, in fact, there’s a pretty big Korean on the team who seems to finally be rounding back into form, who fills that very spot.

The Cubs are 60-56 with 46 games to go. Fifteen of those games are against the other teams in the race, St. Louis and Houston. It’s pretty simple, really. If the Cubs want it, it’s right there for them.

Call me optimistic. Call me a moron. Call me a Kool-Aid drinking dope. But I don’t just like the Cubs chances, I love them. Get ready for a rip the hair out of your scalp, jump up and down and scream at the TV, tears-in-your eyes (for good or bad) finish.

Oh, and get used to it. They’re going to be around for a while.

Before we review each and every player, let’s take a look at the state of public enemy’s one and two:

Houston Astros, first place, 63-54
The Astros play in the most ridiculous ballpark in existence. Left field is like nine feet behind the third base bag, you need a camel to travel all the way out to center field and when you get there, some moron left the flag pole in play and built a dirt bike berm behind it. Right field is a little more fair, but not much. They also are winning despite the flaws in each of their star players. Jeff Bagwell has a shoulder so rickety that he’s starting to try to punt the ball back to the pitcher. Craig Biggio plays centerfield like he’s reading a roadmap and driving at the same time. Jeff Kent plays second base like he’s lip synching Neil Diamond classics into the bathroom mirror. Lance Berkman never met a pie he couldn’t swallow hole. Richard Hidalgo has a bullet in his arm. Geoff Blum is…Geoff Blum and Brad Ausmus gets two hits a month whether he needs to or not.

The pitching staff is overrated. Wade Miller is a dominant pitcher…when he gets to face the Brewers three times a month. Roy Oswalt’s groin is hanging down inside his sock. Jeriome Robertson can’t spell his own first name. Tim Redding thinks the white-man shaved head look is in and they’re using a fat knuckleballer in their rotation now.

Oh, and besides the fact that Chip Caray and Steve Stone are scared of their bullpen, it’s doubtful that 115 games into the season anybody’s quaking in their boots at the sight of Brad Lidge or Ricky Stone. And if their bullpen is so good, how come they’re trying to bring Rick White in to improve it?

St. Louis Cardinals, second place, 61-56
Desipite a brief, July death rattle, Tino Martinez has remembered that he can’t hit anymore. Bo Hart is a folk-hero in St. Louis, but Joe McEwing was too, and we know how that turned out. It’s about time for paper mache Scott Rolen to impale himself on somebody. Jim Edmonds hurped his widdle shoulder in the Home Run Derby and has been rendered useless. JD Drew’s knees are still falling off and Eduardo Perez is playing right field way too much. Albert Pujols is making a run at the triple crown, which is amazing given his advanced age. The pitching staff is hilarious. Woody Williams has been solid, Matt Morris blew out his shoulder and then a finger, Jason Isringhausen hasn’t set the world on fire in his return, Steve Kline can’t get anybody out, Jeff Fassero is (guffaw) starting. Maybe Tony LaRussa is a genius after all. Nah.

Things are so bad that the Cardinals are trying to spread the rumor that Chuck Finley is dead, so they can hang his old jersey in the dugout for a little inspiration. Kannon Kile has been banned from the clubhouse because he’s “bad luck”. It’s about time.

Oh, and by the way, Mike Matheny is an overrated hack of a catcher. He’s Damian Miller without the charm. Deal with it.

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Now, on to the Cubs.

Sammy Sosa — Only Chicago fans would get so caught up in what a guy can’t do. He can’t throw anymore, in fact, watching him throw is painful. Let’s see…what else? OK, that’s it. For the past seven weeks Sammy’s been playing his ass off. He’s carrying the offense and is back to being that intimidating presence in the middle of the order that goes beyond his own numbers. You know what the problem with Sammy is? The Cubs only have one of him.

Moises Alou — He’s hard to warm up to. Cool, emotionless and (how to put this nicely) conservative of effort, Moises doesn’t seem to get fired up in the big moments. But he just seems to come through. Last year was lost before it started, but this is the Moises Alou the Cubs spent the big free agent jack on. Sure he played a double into a homer the other day, the reality is he’s played a really good left field. In fact, you cringe every time he dives because if he doesn’t get up…well, we don’t want to think about that.

Kenny Lofton — I already admitted I was wrong. Kenny can still play. He’s not just aggressive on the bases, he’s smart about it. Twice in one game against the Diamondbacks he turned singles into doubles and set up important runs. He can’t throw either, but he can run down just about anything that stays in the ballpark. He’s also filled a leadership void in a hurry. The fact that he’s been through the postseason wars is a plus, too.

E-ramis Ramirez — The glove is a mystery, but his approach at the plate isn’t. His opposite field power will serve him well in Wrigley and he finally seems comfortable with his new teammates. A huge final six weeks seems possible from a guy who’s done it before. Plus, he’s no Lenny Harris.

Alex Gonzalez — This slump can’t last forever, can it? He’s hitting less than .050 in August and swinging and missing enough to make Jose Hernandez chuckle. I’ll never understand how anybody this talented can underachieve this much, but he’s doing it. Right now, the biggest need is shortstop. And unfortunately, it wouldn’t take much to have an upgrade.

Mark Grudzielanek — The thing that really hurts about his broken hand is that it robs Dusty Baker of the opportunity to play Ramon Martinez at short a few times a week and get Alex’s bat out of the lineup. Gruddy has done a great job at second base, and he’s missed in the field and at the plate. He claims he’ll be back before August is over. Who knew that the Cubs season might hinge on it?

Ramon Martinez — He’s been a godsend in the absence of Gruddy, but he’s nursing a bad hammy and you can see it from time to time on the bases. Let’s not think about what happens if he gives that bad boy a full yank.

Damian Miller — Chip Caray is fond of saying clever things like, “if he never gets another hit, he’ll still be invaluable”. Screw that, if he doesn’t get another hit he’ll be unvaluable. Miller is a good catcher, nobody begrudges him that, and he’s throwing very well right now, but you’ve got to get some offense out of that spot and he’s not delivering any. Is a hot month too much to ask?

Paul Bako — Still can’t hit at all. He’s practically useless. Didn’t you love it when Steve Lyons remarked that Bako has good speed for a catcher. We had no idea because he doesn’t get on base enough to ever have to run anywhere.

Hee Seop Choi — No question the concussion set him back, but if there’s a silver lining in Rafael Palmeiro being too much of a pansy to come to Chicago for the stretch run, it’s a resurgence in Big Choi’s playing time. Eric Karros has cooled and if Dusty’s smart he’ll start running Big Choi out there against most righthanded pitchers, including the ones the Astros will be using this week. He can hit. Let him prove it.

Eric Karros — He handled his part-time duty with class, and he’s handled his more than part-time duty the same way. Being a professional goes a long way in this business and Karros has been just that. It hasn’t hurt that he’s hit better than .300 so far. He’s killing lefties and hopefully will keep that up, while ceding some at bats against righties to Big Choi.

Troy O’Leary — He’s a pretty good extra outfielder…on a beer league softball team.

Augie Ojeda — Once again, Chip Caray proved his moronicness when he said this after Augie made that great play in the ninth inning yesterday. “That’s why you have Augie Ojeda on the team!” Yeah, so he can come in and make that game saving diving play? Do you think Dusty sent him in and said, “Hey Augie, go in there and make a game saving diving play.” “OK, coach!” Shut up, Chip.

Doug Glanville — Ivy league educated, Doug Glanville is a solid backup centerfielder because he can field the position and…OK, that’s all he can do. His Cubs career may have been encapsulized in the first inning Saturday. He singled and got picked off. Guh.

Tom Goodwin — Had the Cubs not traded for Kenny Lofton, who would be playing center right now, Trent Hubbard? Woof. Goodwin’s DL time is up, but his hammy’s still hurt. Don’t look for the Cubs to activate him now until after the rosters expand on September 1.

The Franchise — Let’s list every Cubs pitcher in history who is better than Mark Prior. Greg Maddux. Fergie Jenkins. OK, that’s enough. Anybody want to bet against him being better than either of them? Call it hyperbole, or whatever, he might just be the best pitcher in the National League right now. Other guys have more wins, more strikeouts, whatever, but if it comes down to one game for the whole thing in October, I think we all want number 22 on the mound. It should be mandatory that all Cubs fans have to pinch themselves when he starts a game. Is he really a Cub? Really?

Kerry Wood — He’ll frustate you from time to time, but as good as Big Z and Matt Clement have been, there’s no reasonable argument against Woody being the next best thing to The Franchise. Other teams hate to face him. Players dive away from his pitches and swing hopelessly at his slider. Nobody’s tougher than Kerry, and down the stretch, when the Cubs need him the most, he’ll be there. Trust me.

Carlos Zambrano — I could care less if he did break dance moves after big strikeouts, there’s nothing wrong with showing some emotion on the field. Carlos wants to be great. He wants the ball. There aren’t enough guys in the game with his stuff and his attitude. If you’re Dusty and you have to whittle it down to a three-man rotation, how can you possibly not include Big Z? You can’t do it. That’s how far he’s come in two short years. Remember when Oscar Acosta refused to work with him? All that proves is what a complete dumbass Oscar Acosta was.

Matt Clement — He takes a bad rap thanks to Dontrelle-mania, but as good as Dontrelle has been, and as good as he might be, this still wasn’t a bad trade for the Cubs. Clement’s a legit number three starter on anybody’s staff. Well, anybody but the Cubs’. He too has stuff that can be absolutely dominating, and more often than not lately, it’s been just that.

Shawn Estes — He gave up three runs to the Dodgers on Friday which is like giving up nine runs to a team with a real offense. He’s clearly the Cubs sixth best starting pitcher, but because he throws a baseball, combs his hair and brushes his teeth with his left hand he’ll be trotted out there every five days. Sigh.

Juan Cruz — If I’m Juan I get to the ballpark early tonight and spill some marbles in front of Estes’ locker. A Prior-Wood-Zambrano-Clement-Cruz rotation might be all righthanded, but it would be unmatched in terms of flat-out talent. This just has to happen. You hear me, Dusty?

Regular Joe Borowski — His post All-Star ERA was 8.59 going into a save the other day in San Diego. Just to clarify, that’s a bad thing. But every closer goes through some struggles. Joe doesn’t walk guys and that’s half the battle when you’re only in there to get three outs. The Farns throws harder, but if you need three outs with everything on the line, Joe’s still the man.

The Farns — Once hated, now beloved again by Cubs fans, The Farns can still come in from the bullpen and spray gas on the fire, but more often than not, the only gas is what he’s putting on the ball. Nobody throws harder, and nobody finishes fights like The Farns.

Mark Guthrie — For about six weeks now, Mark Guthrie has quietly been the best lefty reliever in the National League. The Cubs have a distinct advantage late in games. 1) Their starters almost always go really deep into games. 2) They have two top-notch lefties to go to. This, is a very good thing.

Mike Remlinger — As if on cue, he’s begun to pitch well as the games get more important. He’s still tougher on righties than lefties (are you paying attention, Dusty?), but regardless of the batter, Remlinger’s got the goods to get him out.

Dave Veres — Left for dead by the Cardinals, Veres has been invaluable since his return from his sore arm. The fact that he’s closed games before is huge, and the fact that he gets righties out with regularity doesn’t hurt, either.

El Pulpo — He’s a bonafide, twenty-four digit freak. But I need to defend him. There is no way that Pulpo flipped off the fans at Wrigley. It’s impossible. But you saw him do it, you say? No you didn’t. He’s got six fingers on both hands, er-go, he has NO MIDDLE FINGER. So he didn’t do it.

Dusty Baker — Every manager makes moves that cause fans to scratch their heads. Dusty’s no exception. But what you see right now is what makes him a successful manager. You spend the first four months getting yourself into position and then the last two sprinting for the finish line. It’s August and the Cubs are in the hunt. This is when Dusty pays dividends. How many times have the Cubs looked like they were teetering on the brink of disaster, only to be pulled back just in time? It’s no coincidence that they haven’t collapsed when given the opportunity. This is a team full of guys who’ve won before. This is a manager who’s won before. Are the Cubs likely to end up in a position that will intimdate Kenny Lofton? Sammy? Moises? Karros? Damian? Remlinger? Nothing phases The Franchise, Woody or Big Z. There will be no collapse. If they don’t win it, it won’t be because they choked. Some day later this month, maybe Thursday, maybe middle of next week, maybe two weeks from today, the Cubs will take over sole possession of first place. And when they do, they won’t give it back. These aren’t your grandfather’s or your father’s Cubs.

These are Dusty’s Cubs. They’re made of sterner stuff.

Somebody fire up the bandwagon, it’s time to take it for another spin.