Kevin Fishbane

And I think there's a real scoring seven runs to the next day after they scored 10 runs the previous day gives this team some breathing room that they have earned and deserved getting into the St.

Louis series.

No doubt.

And just like when we talk about the crosstown series in this town, Cubs and White Sox, I think in general fans hope that both teams are good or at least competitive or near each other in the standings.

Same deal for Cubs-Cardinals.

If you look at the National League Central standings right now, I'll just go through it.

Milwaukee at 33-20, four games ahead of the Cubs, who are back in second place.

But there's St.

Louis right on the Cubs' butts at 29-25.

They are four and a half back.

Cincinnati right now, 29-26, five back.

The Pittsburgh Pirates, the Buccos, having lost the last two to the Cubs.

are now six games out in the division.

But I like it when Cubs-Cardinals is competitive because there were a lot of years.

There have been plenty of years and eras in this rivalry where one team was better than the other, and I'm sorry to say that more so the Cardinals being better than the Cubs historically.

Well, and again...

For all the pleasant surprises that have happened on the National League side and the success in baseball, the Sox are a good example of one on the American League side.

But for all of the pleasant surprises, I did not think the Cardinals, after trading away their all-star, would be in this position where not only are they in arguably the best division or at least the most competitive in baseball, but that they're hanging tough with it right now would theoretically be very much in the mix for a wild card, a half game back of the Cubs.

And be in the mix for this when theoretically they're in a rebuilding year.

That's what I didn't want to see happen.