OK, Cub fans.

It’s not quite time to hit the panic button just yet.

There’s a 4 1/2 game lead over the Brewers, and an even larger wild card lead behind that. Yes, Big Z was suffering from ‘dead arm’ and the offense has sputtered against mediocre pitching.

This is a team that has dominated the NL since the beginning of the season and has only showed a few sputters in the first five months.

Ryan Dempster is a legit Cy Young candidate, and, take away Brandon Webb and Tim Lincecum, is probably a runaway favorite (Sorry CC).

Mark DeRosa has played numerous positions without saying a single word, and though it all, has had a career year by far at the plate.

Geovany Soto is the runaway choice for Rookie of the Year in the NL, which is scary with the talent he possesses.

And even through the red-tinted eyes, Jim Edmonds has provided what people wanted from him and then a whole lot more.

As I am writing this, the aforementioned Edmonds just hit a solo shot to tie the Cubs and Astros at seven in the bottom of the 7th.

Buckle in fellow Cub fans, but keep that finger off the panic button.

To quote the movie “Happy Gilmore,” “We’ve only just begun."

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