We are all counting on 2015 being the first of a half-decade or so (or much longer, much longer would be nice) Cubs renaissance.  The young players are sure to get better (most of them, anyway), more accomplished veterans should be added, especially to the pitching staff, and at some point, we expect to finally see the Cubs play in, and then actually win a World Series.

That might all happen, but even if it does, will it ever get more fun than it is right now?

Bryant Walk-off SIThese Cubs are like a bunch of happy kids who let us watch them hang out in their tree fort every day.  They genuinely like each other and like to have fun.  Their manager has been through enough wars, and has enough self-confidence, to actually tell them to work less at times.  They lead all of baseball in walk-off wins–which they know how to celebrate better than any team in the game.  They have the best road record the National League and the second best in all of baseball.  They got no-hit in the middle of a three game home sweep against the hapless Phillies, took a couple of days to regroup and then won 15 of their next 16 games.

August was supposed to kill them.  Young players not used to playing this many games, especially this many big games, would start to fray at the seams.

They are 20-4 in August.

Their seams are made of stronger stuff.

Every day there’s a new hero.  Every day something happens that makes you think, “are these really the Cubs?”

Even when they lose, they scratch and claw to the very end.  There is no quit in them, and we love them for it.

We love them for pretty much everything.

They play hard, and we love that.

They don’t take any shit, and we love that.

They look like they’re having fun, and we love that.

They have reminded us why we all like this stupid game, why we spend way too much time thinking about it and watching it and why, against all reason and sanity, we picked the Chicago Cubs, of all teams.

Kris Bryant hits a walk-off homer and Pedro Strop, who was warming up in the bullpen to pitch a tenth inning that is no longer needed, runs along side him down the third base line, high-stepping all the way.

Anthony Rizzo climbs the infield tarp and reaches into the stands for an impossible catch, and laments that he didn’t steal any snacks from the fans while he was sitting in a seat.

Starlin Castro gets bounced from the shortstop spot he’d manned for nearly five years, never pouts, picks up his glove, takes grounders at second base and if you look at any picture of any of these Cubs wins since he’s grinning ear to ear.

Jon Lester gets lit up by the Tigers, comes back five days later and with Corey Kluber throwing a no-hitter opposite him, says, “fuck this” and matches him out for out.

Hector Rondon loses his closer’s job, is lights out pitching the eighth, goes back into the closer’s role and never complains or says he told us so.

Miguel Montero screws up his thumb, goes on the DL, decides he’s tired of being on the DL and comes back before his thumb is healed and puts up an OPS of over .900.

Chris F’ing Coghlan plays wherever he’s asked to, always looks on the brink of accidentally punting the baseball into the stands, but never actually does.

Jake Arrieta is just friggin’ awesome.

Justin Grimm was supposed to be the guy who pitched before Neil Ramirez and Jason Motte and Pedro and Hector, and now he’s one of the most important guys on the whole team.

Kyle Schwarber stands at home plate like the pitcher is always in trouble, and he usually is.

Addison Russell is…oh, come on, who doesn’t love Addison Russell?

The dream, of course, is that they keep this “we’re just here to have fun” attitude into the playoffs.  Chances are the first game will be on the road in Pissburgh, and if they win that, then two more on the road in St. Louis.  Maybe it’s for the best that they’ll get a head start away from us.

But what if they come home even or better with the mighty Cardinals?  What if the 107 year angst doesn’t faze them because to them that’s so old that it’s not history it’s mythology?

And even if they don’t go far in the playoffs, or even if they somehow miss them altogether (which incredibly, becomes more unlikely by the day), but they go on to progress like we think they will, and grow into the National League behemoth…  Will it ever be THIS much fun again?

Just in case it never is, take a little extra time to enjoy this.  We’ve wanted a team to not be afraid to root for, and we’ve got one.

And before they figure out that they probably shouldn’t be winning this much, it just might be too late.  And wouldn’t that be a sight to see?