August 17, 1908: Let the winning begin! Also, a naughty goat gets arrested.

The Cubs finally put one in the win column today, topping the Phillies 5-1. Also, a naughty goat gets arrested.

OK ... baby steps here, people! There's still a lot of ground to make up, but the Cubs finally won a game today to snap a three game losing streak. In addition, and maybe I'm over-exaggerating just a tad, but a loss would've dropped the Cubs to fourth place and I'm not so sure they would've been able to climb out of that hole.

And you know what? I'm NOT exaggerating. EVERY game ends up mattering in this season, so one more loss anywhere and we'd be here at MakeAmerica1907Again.com instead because there would be no 1908 ring.

Big Ed Reulbach led the way on the mound for Chicago today, carrying a no-hitter into the seventh inning and ultimately only giving up two swats on the day. He also added in five strikeouts in the complete game victory. (Though really ... weren't they pretty much ALL complete game wins back in the rubber arm days?)

Well hello there

Manager Frank Change changed up the batting order again today, this time going back to the "normal" order, and it worked to the tune of five runs. Joe Tinker knocked in Del Howard to start things in the second, and then the Phillies had a little bit of a mini-meltdown in the third and the Cubs managed to score three more and put this game out of reach early.

It was a pretty spread out attack with five different Cubs scoring on the day, with Del Howard as the only Cub with a multi-hit game. Quite frankly, it was exactly what the Cubs needed ... a team effort and a victory.

This bear is creepy

In other news ... a naughty goat get himself arrested.

I love goats. Their adorably mischievous little animals who also make some wonderfully delicious cheeses. I'll also subtly add that their meat is fantastic when prepared properly, but I'll just go ahead and gloss over that for those of you that like goat for their cute factor.

Here's a picture to distract you from what I just said ...

Awwww ... Don't eat me!

I also love the fact that in 1908 goats were basically just roaming the streets of Chicago, and one in particular got a case of the munchies ... and we all know the tall tales told about how a goat will eat pretty much anything. Remember this awesomely hungry goat from the old Tex Avery cartoons in the 50's?

Well in today's story, a Chicago family in mourning (for the death of whom I have no idea), had hung a ceremonial death wreath on their front door, as well as a black crepe (the silk symbol of mourning, not the yummy French food). And our friend, Mr. Billy Goat, decided that that looked like very a tasty snack, and proceeded to munch away at the death display.

Cries for police soon followed from the family, and nearby Officer Michael O'Toole went in pursuit of the naughty goat vandal. Did he catch him? Yup! And Officer O'Toole went all in with his apprehended scofflaw, taking the goat down tot he precinct for ... well ... I have no idea because YOU CAN'T ARREST A GOAT! And since I don't see any court information in the following days in the newspaper, I'm guess the goat walked on this one.

Goats 1, Humans 0!

Can't catch me, Copper!

In summary ... the Cubs win puts them at 59-45 on the year. First place Pittsburgh was idle, so their lead is now five and half games (like I said, baby steps). One more game against the Phillies tomorrow and then the Boston Doves come to town for a four game set.