Sept. 16--The memory of losing nine of the final 12 games serves as a painful reminded for President Theo Epstein, who said he and his staff members haven't started to discuss the wild card roster and won't until a National League playoff berth is secured.
"Until you get the little 'c' (representing clinched playoff berth) next to your name in the standings, nothing is assured," Epstein said Tuesday before his Chicago Cubs lost the first game of a doubleheader at Pittsburgh.
Epstein, then the general manager of the Boston Red Sox, saw his team drop nine of their final 12 games to lose out on a playoff berth on the final night of the 2011 season. Epstein left for the Cubs one month later.
"After living through 2011, I don't take anything for granted," Epstein said. "I'm aware of how momentum in September can take on a life of its own and affect the standings, so it's important to keep focused on that day's game, keep knocking your wins, storing them, and take care of your own business and things will be OK," Epstein said.
The Cubs' magic number for a playoff berth is 13, meaning any combination of Cubs wins and San Francisco losses would assure the Cubs of a playoff berth.
"There are a lot of options to work with in a one-game situation," Epstein said. "I've never been in that (situation) before."
If the season ended Tuesday, the Cubs would visit the Pirates in a one-game wild card playoff to advance to the National League Division Series.
