Putting some sort of magic number next to the leader in MLB's National League Central Division is something less than practical. Actually, let's put it this way: It's like Bret Bielema's thinking of gray and white and other ruddy complements at Camp Randall on football Saturdays. It works, but you're better off without it.
It has gotten to that point in the season when, yes, that number in parentheses next to first place teams in other divisions is useful. But why list it for the Central? At last check, Milwaukee and Chicago were separated by a mere half a game.
Even a sportswriter can do the math here. Basically, it tells middling duo's followers what they already know: A playoff spot, however briefly it lasts, will be on the line until the final days of the season.
Both the Brewers and the Cubs have all but gift-wrapped the first place spot for the other, starting with the Cubs' uninspiring play in the beginning of the year. The Brewers pushed their lead all the way to 8 1'2-games. But, you take a team that is bad enough on the road to be swept by teams like the Giants - no matter how well it plays at home - and that advantage is as likely to disappear as a Washington State lead over a Badger team at home.
Brewers fans can at least give the team some credit for not folding, or hold the Cubs in complete contempt for their inability to take advantage of a perfect opportunity. Chicago had a chance to deliver a serious hit to the Brewers last month during a three-game series at Wrigley but only picked up one game. Chicago promptly gave up its lead the next day.
Several weeks later, not much has changed, and it's more frustrating than anything, watching the Cubs and Brewers alternate wins and losses when, in reality, neither of these teams is fit for the postseason. The Cubs don't do anything extraordinarily well except spend money and get a bad return on their investments. The Brewers can do something extraordinarily well - win at home - but would be on the road in the playoffs anyway.
Still, there's a lot on the line as the Brewers and Cubs march in lockstep toward the last 10 games of the season. Milwaukee, at least a newly relevant team in the league, needs a postseason for the sake of a starving fan base and a generally inexperienced group of players. No playoffs means Ned Yost is gone and the Brewers are left explaining how they couldn't close the job in the MLB's version of bush-league baseball. As for the Cubs, well, there's not much left to lose, other than another season to curse - and questions will be asked about general management.
Which team is left scratching caps more is to be answered in a matter of weeks, and, in all likelihood, no time sooner.
Contact Jon by e-mail at bortin@wisc.edu.
