What S The Score Deep Thoughts On A Cubs Loss

• Jeff Roberson/AP Photos
• Addison Russell and Starlin Castro

It’s as true in baseball as it is in academia: it’s not enough to win—your enemy must also lose.

The Cubs weren’t simply two runs behind; the Cardinals were two runs ahead! Let’s say the Cardinals were playing at home against the Pirates, while the Cubs, hot on the Cardinals’ heels, were playing in Wrigley against the Brewers. The Cardinals led their game 2-0 while the Cubs’ game was scoreless. We could say then that the Cardinals were two runs better off than the Cubs—they enjoyed a two-run margin in their game while the Cubs had no margin at all.

But unless the Cubs scored three runs, victory was impossible. The Cubs needed three runs; the Cardinals didn’t need any.