Chicago 365 Playoff Central: It's almost Time.

     For the last 3 weeks(and really for the last 6 months), Cubs fans have been waiting for this moment to arrive. The moment that the Chicago Cubs take the field for the real season. The moment that the Chicago Cubs embark on their journey to notch 11 more victories-and end 108 years of heartbreak. There are so many things that could be said about this, but frankly, I think I'll let someone else do the talking for a change. Michael Norton over at Scorecard Sports put together this GREAT hype poem. I'm re-blogging it here, but please go and give him a look too:

Twas the night before Game One, when all through Chicago

Every stomach was turning, with all thoughts on tomorrow;

The W Flags were hung through the City with care,

In hopes that Saint Maddon’s boys soon would be there;

The Cub fans were nestled, all snug in their beds;

While visions of champagne corks danced in their heads;

And some in their jerseys, and I in my cap,

Were tossing and turning, unable to nap.

When all of a sudden, I remembered this season,

I remembered the games back in May that were freezin’

Away to my iPhone I flew pretty fast,

To relive some moments, and dwell on the past;

The moonshot, the pickoff, the walk-off base hit,

The feeling of comebacks, this team never quit;

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a team that made all feel that “this year” is here.

With a little old manager, so lively and quick,

Who pressed all the right buttons, and made everything click;

More rapid than eagles, they ran all the bases,

Things were great, you could tell, by the smiles on their faces;

There was Jon, and then Jake, Kyle, Jason, and Hector,

And then Carl, and then Javy, Addison, Ben, and Dexter;

To the top of the scoreboard! To the top of the wall,

To left field, and right field, they hit the baseball;

There was Addy off Jumbo, the no-hitter by Jake,

The wall catch by Rizzo, that made Wrigley shake;

And wherever they went, the baseballs, they flew,

In Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Milwaukee, too;

I remembered when Fowler came back to the team,

And how Heyward and Zobrist fit right in Joe’s scheme;

I thought about Javy, his glove and his bat,

And Rondon and Strop – with his slightly turned hat.

Not to mention Contreras, what a lovely surprise,

And the skills he picked up from Rossy the Wise.

I then closed my eyes, I could hear and could see,

The crowd chanting loudly for their “M-V-P”

His eyes – how they twinkled, made for the silver screen

The crowd would go wild, for good ol’ seventeen.

And then there’s his buddy, his partner in crime,

With clutch hits and putouts, he was there every time.

His defense was great, nothing to underscore,

He’s tops in our books and he wears forty-four.

So tonight when you’re squirming, and thinking oh no!

Know that this team is different; put your faith in dear Joe,

He’s got that broad face and a little round belly,

That shakes when he laughs like a bowl full of jelly,

But he’s also the smartest, and brings out the best,

In his hitters and pitchers he’ll take care of the rest;

And if you are doubting, pessimistic this Fall,

Take a deep breath, just enjoy it, that’s all!

Just eleven more wins, all they need to achieve,

Forget the last 1-0-8, now it’s time to believe,

And tell all San Francisco, we’re afraid of no Giant,

You can keep your BUMgarner, we’ve got Rizzo and Bryant.

     First pitch of Game 1 is in just over 19 hours. Get Ready.