Exceeding expectations is a wonderful thing. A 3-3 roadtrip would have sufficed and a 4-2 road trip would have been a very nice accomplishment given this team's road success this season.

But 5-1? Godd work guys. Props to Reed Johnson for getting four hits, three of which were off right handed pitchers. He's going to need to have performances like this in October for the Cubs to have a long playoff run.

The Cubs have knocked off 9 digits from their divisional magic number in the last 7 days. With the next nine games against the Nationals, Pirates and Dunn-less/Dusty-fortified Reds, expectations should be to knock that number down into the Todd Bell territory by the first day of school for the Little Murtons.

Don't dog it, fellas.