Can the NL North Cement it's Season 1 Dominance with a World Series?

By Paul Sullivan
TRIBUNE REPORTER

CHICAGO- A strong postseason has put the Chicago Cubs in good position to be the first Branch Rickey World Champions. They received the #1 seed and a first-round bye after posting a 97-65 mark during the regular season, and capitalized on it.

The Divisional Series matched them against the Columbus Moon Devils, the top Wild Card team. But the Cubs were too much, winning in three straight games on the strength of a pitching staff that shutout Columbus in two of those games.

Next up, the New York Knickerbockers. NY is a good team, but their whiny owner quit on them halfway through the season making their playoff run even more improbable. After splitting the first two games, Chicago exerted its dominance by pounding the helpless New York team that was led by the ageless manager, Simmy McSimmons. In the five game series the Cubs outscored NY 43-14.

And on to the World Series, where Game 1 was more of the same- a 16-3 Cubs win, led by Artie Wright's two grand slams in the first two innings all but ending the game right there. Midseason acquisition Charlie Crow added two more homers adding to his incredible postseason run (1.428 OPS, 9 HRs in 9 games). And toeing the hill in Game 2 is Geraldo Garrido, who has followed up a 13-3 regular season w/ an amazing postseason (3-0, 0.39 ERA) highlighted by his epic no-hitter to finish off the hated trooperbud and the Knickerbockers.

But if they think things will be a breeze in the WS, think again. Shakazulu's postseason history of early exits coupled with the Cubs dubious history of finding ways to not win a World Series make this combination a disaster waiting to happen.

When asked, Owner/GM said, "I'm plenty aware of all the doom and gloom that goes along with this franchise's name, along with my history. And ya know what? I don't give [darn] about it. The game's not played in the past, or on paper, it's played in a little computer engine somewhere in Ohio, I think."

Well, the Kansas City Monarchs will certainly have something to say about things before all is said and done. They admitted coming out flat in the first game, citing some "extracurricular activities" the night before laying a Game 1 egg. Cubs fans shouldn't expect the same performance, as a KC win in Game 2 would give them home-field advantage and the momentum heading back home for games 3-5.

As dodger said, "A loss is a loss, I don't care if it's 16-3, 1-0, or 100-0, we move on to the next game looking to even the series." And of course, he's right. Game 2, which starts shortly, should be plenty entertaining. Let's see if the Cubs can finish this season of destiny, or if the Monarchs knock them back to earth and the curses of the past strike again.

psullivan@tribune.com