The time has come to take the persistent narrative about the Cubs being world-beaters at home and pushovers on the road and drop it into the trash.
It belongs there with the stinking beer cups, the mustard-stained hotdog wrappers and all the other refuse of games gone by.
After a 7-5, 11-inning loss to the Nationals on Sunday at Wrigley Field, the Cubs — swept at home for the first time all season — are what they are: a team that’s struggling to find the fast lane offensively, and a postseason contender that’s going to have to do a whole lot of heavy lifting just to make its way into the dance.