It’d be irresponsible to call a win in the 91st game of the season some kind of statement or referendum on the team as a whole, but the Cubs opening the second half with a 4-3 victory over the Pirates Friday afternoon felt somehow bigger. And not like in some blogger-creating-an-angle way, just legitimately more important than a regular ol’ W.
With the deadline less than three weeks away and the NL Central closer from top to bottom than any other division is from first to second, every game matters. And when the opponent is in said division and just handed the Cubs their asses in a paper bag last week, well, I think you get the point.