There’s little more enjoyable than rooting for a team that is in the middle of a pennant chase in late July, and it’s even better if your team isn’t supposed to be that good.

While I do my best to block out all the rumors and frivolous trade talk, I love this time of the season, before the dog days of August set in. Like thousands of other dumbass Cub fans, I know exactly what the Cubs need to win the NL Central or earn a top wildcard spot. Ha!

Unlike most fans I don’t believe what the Cubs can, will and should do operate in a vacuum. This is the part of the game I really enjoy even if I am at a great disadvantage. Trying to figure out who has the best package to acquire the guys I think the Cubs need is a challenge I welcome each season, both during this period and the hot stove league.

Take Tarik Skubal, the two-time AL CY and presumed former Tiger. Because the Tigers have had a bad week, it’s assumed they will trade him to the team that gives them what they want. We also assume that he’s going to hold up his end of the bargain and pretend he’s not due to make kazillions next year on the open market. Will he be willing to empty the tank for his new team?

Other trade targets may prove to be the better options for teams and trying to guess which teams will make moves and which will chicken out of making the trades is entertaining, but what’s really fun right now is watching the Cubs wax the hometown Cards in the first two games of their series at Busch. After mutual years of mediocrity in the 70’s and STL success in the past few decades, I never tire of seeing the Cubs crush the Redbirds.

Unlike the NFL where the Bears can win the NFC North without dominating the division, the same rarely holds true in MLB.