Cubs ready to call Billy Goat’s bluff

The MLB curse business has taken a real downturn this century. Both Boston and the Chicago White Sox ended their 80-plus-year droughts with World Series wins. The only curse still functioning is that Billy Goat thing plaguing the Chicago Cubs.

We can’t yet guarantee 100 years without a world championship is going to end, but would you settle for a World Series appearance? After all, it has been 62 years since they’ve gone that far.

With seven weeks left in the season (and Steve Bartman safely in hiding), we’re ready to anoint the Cubs N.L. champs, especially after they built their Central Division lead back to five games with a four-game sweep of Milwaukee last week. Here’s why:

1. They have an A.L.-caliber lineup: Entering the weekend, only the Rangers had scored more runs than the Cubs (615), who were on pace for 866. Since the end of World War II (and the Cubs’ last World Series appearance), 18 N.L. teams have bettered that figure: Five of them were Colorado teams in the non-humidifier era; of the other 13, 10 went to the postseason and four to the World Series.

2. The trade effect: Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin, acquired from Oakland on July 8, have bolstered both aspects of the pitching staff. The Cubs have a 2.99 rotation ERA since Harden joined the rotation. Harden (2.10 ERA), Carlos Zambrano (2.39) and Ryan Dempster (2.20) all have ERAs below 2.50 for the last month. Expect that trio to make every possible start in the postseason. Gaudin? He’s 3-1 with a 1.84 ERA and allowed just one of seven inherited runners to score.

3. So Sori: The Cubs’ offense is now getting a real push from Alfonso Soriano, who is making up for lost time this season. Soriano missed two weeks in April and returned July 23 from a six-week stint on the disabled list due to a broken finger. After taking a couple of games to get re-acclimated to major league pitching, Soriano embarked on a .417 tear over the 11 games heading into the St. Louis series. He hit six homers in that stretch and slugged at an .854 clip. The Cubs went 9-2.

4. Good Wood: Likewise, the bullpen withstood the three-week absence of closer Kerry Wood – barely. In the long term, the time off should only help keep Wood, who had a blister issue, fresh for the stretch drive. Since May 6, Wood had converted 20 of 22 save chances and compiled a 2.12 ERA. He came back in a non-save situation but could return to the closer’s role next week.

5. A great catch: Every team needs bullpen help for the stretch run. The Cubs have gotten a boost from former Notre Dame wide receiver Jeff Smardzija, a starter all season in the minors. Smardzija allowed a run in his big league debut; in the five appearances since, he held hitters to an 0.83 average and allowed one run in 72/3 innings.