The Rundown: Cubs Give Chicago Reason to Celebrate, Horton Lining Up for Game 1 Start, MLBPA Bracing for CBA War

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterSeptember 18, 2025

“Now that the smoke’s gone and the air is all clear, those who were right there got a new kind of fear.” –-Hey Man Nice Shot by Filter

Happy Clinching Day to all those who celebrate! The Cubs beat the Pirates 8-4 yesterday and earned a place in this year’s postseason tournament, but it didn’t come without a little debate. Some people questioned Chicago’s postgame champagne celebration because nobody wants to jinx things. Yes, there is still work to be done, but it’s not like Chicago’s North Side Baseballers promise perpetual postseason appearances. Other than 2016, the city’s Senior Circuit franchise is lathered with generations of heartache going back a century. The called shot by Babe Ruth, the billy goat kerfuffle, and the unfairly titled Bartman Game are some of the more memorable instances.

It’s even been rumored that Mighty Casey of the Mudville Nine was at least partly representative of legendary Cubs (then known as the White Stockings) third baseman King Kelly, who posted a blistering 7.3 bWAR in 1886 before being sold to the Boston Braves (then known as the Nationals).

So go ahead, celebrate! You may remember the Cubs opted not to party in 2018 after losing game 163 to the Brewers. Chicago laid an egg the next day, too, losing to the Rockies in a single elimination Wild Card tilt. Come to think of it, that may have been the fastest and most disappointing 48 hours in the history of the sport. Chili Davis took the fall that year while Jon Lester complained that the team was dragging their “dicks in the dirt.” The Cubs also went down meekly to the Marlins in 2020, though it’s unfair to count games played in front of empty seats and an occasional cardboard spectator.

Hey man, the Cubs have won just one playoff series since defeating Cleveland in the 2016 World Series. Additionally, this season felt longer than normal when the Brewers went on their pesky three-month run. You may think it’s premature to celebrate, but I’ll take advantage of any opportunity to clubhouse boogie that the North Siders provide. We lost Ryne Sandberg this year, so you make damn sure you honor that man by popping a few corks. Chicago’s magic number is now 13, as in postseason wins to become world champions. Let the countdown begin, once they secure home field for the Wild Card round, of course.

Cubs News & Notes

Ball Four

Saint Nick Shepkowski is hinting at an early Christmas with visions of the past, present, and future. If the standings remain the same, the Cubs would host the Padres at Wrigley Field for a best-of-three Wild Card series beginning Tuesday, September 30. I’ll have to pull my Sandberg, Rick Sutcliffe, and Keith Moreland jerseys out of storage for that series.

Central Intelligence

Wild Pitch

“Do you wanna bang heads with me? Do you wanna feel everything?” — Mother by Danzig

How About That!

Dodgers starter Blake Snell vetoed manager Dave Roberts last night, stayed in the game, and struck out Otto Kemp.

Trevor Story had yet to be thrown out in 31 stolen base attempts this season until last night.

Nick Sogard was a big hero in Boston’s big win last night. The Red Sox are trying to hold off the charging Guardians in the AL Wild Card race.

The league canceled next year’s Yankees-Blue jays series in London over scheduling conflicts.

Rob Manfred believes that MLB will control local television rights for all 30 teams by 2028.

Pursuit of a salary cap by owners in the next CBA is seen as a “declaration of war” by the players’ union.

The Mets have used 46 different pitchers this season, a new league record.

Rounding Third

Can we stop with the narrative that the Cubs lost the Tucker trade? That seems awfully nitpicky considering the Cubs are playing nearly .600 baseball, will win at least 90 games, and have clinched a playoff spot. Tucker’s 139 wRC+ and 149 OPS+ best Cody Bellinger (127, 127) by a significant margin. Additionally, Garrett Crochet cost much more in terms of prospects than Tucker. Jed Hoyer, and most fans, were right for believing Matt Shaw was a budding star at third base. Isaac Paredes saw a significant power downtick when playing in Wrigley Field, and Shaw has been better than Cam Smith.

You truly have to dig deep into the weeds to find reasons (if any) Chicago lost that trade, even if Hoyer doesn’t extend or re-sign Tucker this winter. And by the way, if Hoyer wanted to keep Bellinger he would have picked up his option instead of trading for Tucker.

Extra Innings

Jed’s enjoying his first celebration as top dog.

Apropos of Nothing

I have a feeling that Horton, Happ, and PCA will carry this team to the NLCS, if not the World Series. I also believe Michael Soroka will play a bigger role than any of us might imagine. None of that matters unless Tucker is healthy, however.

They Said It

  • “I got emotional catching the last out. Just the years, the ups and downs, the beginning of my career and how expected this was to the last couple of years falling just a little bit short. Getting back is a good feeling.” – Happ
  • “You don’t get to do this in regular jobs, you know what I mean? Where you just get to celebrate and throw champagne on each other. You just don’t get to do it, right?” – Counsell
  • “The playoffs is where the fun happens. I’m so happy for all the people in the room, the guys that are going for the first time. The goal is not complete yet during the regular season. We want to host games at Wrigley. We want to play our first playoff game at Wrigley. That’s really important. And so we got a lot of work to do left for that. But we’re gonna have some fun today.” – Counsell

Thursday Walk-Up Song

Never take a postseason appearance for granted, my friends. We get those celebrations for too infrequently.

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterSeptember 18, 2025
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