The Cubs Kryptonite
“The Cubs Kryptonite”
The Chicago Cubs’ rollercoaster of a 2026 campaign currently sits at one game away from clinching a playoff spot. With now four games left in the season, and what seemed like odds heavily in their favor, there is a way the odds can somehow be destroyed.
It is unlikely, but possible that the Cubs miss the playoffs, but fans credit horrible pitching and management decisions as a sign that if they do make it, they will be first round exits. With the way the Cubs have been playing in their 3 game series against the lowly Miami Marlins, there is even less hope and even more fuel to the fire.
If the Cubs somehow collapse and lose every game to the Marlins, in which so far they are 0/2 with 1 game remaining (they would have to win the next game, ⅓ of any game vs their upcoming series against the favored Boston Red Sox, OR have the Arizona Diamondbacks lose a single game) this wouldn't be the first time the Marlins have essentially broken the Cubs chances of contention.
2003
Starting back in the NLCS, the Cubs had a dominant start in the series with a 3-1 lead and everything looked good in the potential decisive Game 5 with a 3-0 lead in the eighth inning, just 5 outs away from clinching a World Series appearance, something the franchise was desperate for.
I am NOT here to blame the infamous Steve Bartman incident as why the Cubs lost. Momentum was killed, but it has been publicized for over 20 years that his interference on a foul ball is not excusable for allowing 8 unanswered runs in less than 2 innings of play. It is not.
Game 6 and Game 7 of that series were close, with the Cubs having a 5-3 lead in the 3rd inning, but phenomenal pitching from the Marlins (don’t ask Cubs fans about Josh Beckett) and defense held Chicago down and the Marlins later went on to clinch the World Series, and win it all against the New York Yankees.
The Cubs had some decent seasons in the 2000s following this heartbreak of a loss, but the controversy behind the Bartman incident and the “curse” that followed them of losing for generations, as well as more playoff disappointments carried onwards.
2020
The 2016 Cubs title winning roster will go down in the history books. Contending since 2015, the Cubs last year of going all in with their winning core was 2020, going 34-26 in the shortened season and even clinching the NL Central title, signifying that this was a true shot to take back the Central division for good. What followed next with a roster with notable names such as the winning core Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber, Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, and even 2nd place in Cy Young pitcher Yu Darvish? A 0-2 Wild Card SWEEP against guess who? The Marlins.
The Cubs were overwhelming favorites in the series and got absolutely obliterated, showing signs that this core was done. The Cubs later blew up the core in 2021 and onward and this was the series that showed the world that this beloved core was not winning anymore.
Had the Cubs won a playoff series, something they had not done since 2017 at that point, management would more than likely capitalize off the core and lock up extensions instead of letting them go for prospects or capitalizing on their rental value, as most of the core's contracts were about to expire.
CURRENT DAY
It took the Cubs until 2025 to make the playoffs once again, and after an unfortunate loss in the decisive Game 5 of the NLDS to their division rival Milwaukee Brewers, the chance to capitalize on a rollercoaster 2026 and potential NL MVP Pete Crow Armstrong’s phenomenal year can potentially come down to a familiar face: Miami.
Regardless if the Cubs clinch during today’s game or lose, Cubs fans are not happy with their performances against the underdog team and unfortunately, are used to underperforming against them.
