The comeback Cubs have Wrigley Field rocking: ‘It’s a playoff atmosphere’

The first wisps of green have arrived as the ivy that covers the outfield wall at Wrigley Field is just beginning to bloom. It’s still early in the baseball calendar. Not even May. However, there is a feeling brewing on the North Side of Chicago that has been lacking in recent years.

For the last half-decade, the Cubs have largely been an afterthought. A city that’s seen its sports teams in steep decline and struggle to gain traction locally, let alone nationally, is desperate for a winner. Which is why what’s happened over this first month of baseball feels so significant. The Cubs have once again become a must-see attraction.

Despite a gantlet of a schedule that includes many of the National League’s best, the Cubs have burst out to a 16-10 start. With an unrelenting offense that’s proving as potent as any in the game, this is one of the most entertaining teams in baseball.

They had an unforgettable victory Friday, then repeated the feat Tuesday with another remarkable comeback. The fun continued Wednesday night when the Cubs won another back-and-forth contest against the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-6, sweeping the short two-game set and winning the season series 4-3. Add that to a season series win over the Arizona Diamondbacks and a split with the San Diego Padres, and the Cubs are making an early case as legitimate contenders.

Pete Crow-Armstrong was the star Wednesday, slugging a 3-run homer among his three hits while playing stellar defense and stealing two bases. In his short time with the team, he’s become a fan favorite with chants of “PCA” often ringing out around the ballpark. His all-around game has him at 1.4 WAR (FanGraphs), tied for third in baseball with Fernando Tatis Jr.

“We definitely gave ’em a good set of five games the last week,” Crow-Armstrong said of the Wrigley faithful. “But you see these people show up against whoever. They love Cubbie baseball through and through.”

Wrigley Field is rarely lacking in attendance. The second-oldest ballpark in the game, one that’s been granted National Historic Landmark status, is a destination for fans. When the sun is out and summer is in full swing in Chicago, there are few places baseball lovers would rather be.

“They’ve always shown up regardless of record — cold days, sunny days, rainy days,” Dansby Swanson said. “But there’s a difference in everyone coming to the game to enjoy themselves and people coming to watch the group win. That’s what’s been so awesome so far this season.”

On Tuesday night, a crowd of 36,425 stuck around until the end to watch the Cubs come back to win 11-10 in 10 innings against a loaded Dodgers team. How could they not after knowing the team pulled off a similarly remarkable comeback just days earlier at Wrigley against a strong Diamondbacks squad?

“That was a Tuesday night in April,” manager Craig Counsell said. “That was as fun as you’re going to have at a baseball field. There’s not many places you can do that at. I don’t know if it has anything to do with the Cubs are good or whatever, but I think what we all experienced together (Tuesday) night — fans, players, you all — it was just a lot of fun. That’s what being a Cub and playing at Wrigley offers.”

Counsell isn’t one to gush about the atmosphere or take too much away from one game. Especially in April. But the way his team has played and the feeling at Wrigley has made it undeniable even for him, someone who has a tendency to downplay one game in the big picture. It’s a long season, so one loss or one win is only just that — one game out of 162.

But it’s all starting to feel different. The buzz is returning to a place that was regularly raucous in the 2010s.

The Cubs front office is continuing to act with a sense of urgency, cycling through relievers and choosing to designate Rule 5 pick Gage Workman for assignment Wednesday after he made two costly errors Tuesday. In Workman’s place, veteran Nicky Lopez, a Naperville native, was signed to an MLB deal.

Lopez, who was with the team for much of spring training, said many of his teammates have already told him there’s a different vibe at Wrigley lately with all the winning they’ve been doing.

“I’m happy to have been able to witness when the Cubs are good,” Lopez said. “Back in ’16 when they won it, it truly was electric. It’s a playoff atmosphere every single day — whether it’s a Tuesday or weekend game.”

The only current Cub who has experienced that feeling — packed stands and the excitement of postseason baseball at Wrigley — is Ian Happ. There are those who have experienced postseason play elsewhere and won it all, such as Swanson, Kyle Tucker, Justin Turner and Ryan Pressly. But getting to feel the October buzz at Wrigley is something this group is aching for.

“I’ve been here for a pretty long time now and I’ve never seen playoff baseball here with fans in the stands,” Nico Hoerner said. “That’s the obvious goal from a baseball standpoint. But just from the joy of playing and the experiences you get to have as an athlete, playing in front of the Wrigley fans in a home playoff game and a playoff run is a huge motivation.”

There’s a long way to go and a lot of baseball to be played. But through 26 games, this Cubs team feels different than ones of recent vintage. Health is always important and so is avoiding extended slumps. The team is imperfect, in need of stability at third base and, like most teams, the Cubs could use more pitching depth in the rotation and bullpen. But they look like a legitimately good team destined to satiate a fan base hungry for playoff baseball.

“(Ian) always reminds us that Wrigley is the most fun place to be when the Cubs are playing good baseball,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I’m just really happy that we’re giving the fans a good stretch here. I’m excited to keep it going.”

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