After the Cubs did us all a favor and saved us all a good deal of stress by wrapping up the division on Saturday afternoon, I was a bit conflicted as to how I wanted this last week of the season to unfold. With the Cubs facing the Mets and then the Brewers, two teams battling for the NL Wild Card, Lou’s boys are going to have a big say on which team will make the playoffs. At first, I didn’t know which team I wanted to see make the playoffs. I’m not worried about the Cubs having trouble with either team in October. They can and should beat either team. If the Brewers make it, and both they and the Cubs advance to the NLCS, I might actually have a chance to get tickets to a playoff game at Wrigley North. Not to mention the fact that the Cubs manhandled the Brewers the last time they traveled to Milwaukee in a four-game set. Plus, watching Dale Sveum manage in the playoffs would be almost as hilarious as watching Ned Yost manage in the playoffs would have been. On the other hand, outside of Johan Santana, the Met starting pitching is comical, and the Cubs probably match up better against New York.

And then I remembered 2004. And Craig Brazell. And that good old-fashioned rage came bubbling back up to the surface.

It’s payback time, Mets.

I’m not suggesting that the Cubs tank their games against the Brewers. I’m not suggesting that I want the Cubs to do anything less than go 7-0 against the Mets and the Brewers to finish the season. No, no. I’m just saying that I want the Cubs to plunge their hands deep into the chest of the New York Mets, feel around for their still-beating heart, and tear it out. Then, I want them to hold that heart up to the surprised eyes of the Mets and show it to them before taking a giant bite out of it.

I want Mets fans to feel the pain I felt at the end of the 2004 season. Sure, they just felt that pain LAST season, but it wasn’t the Cubs who ruined it for them. It’s funny to think that the team that is going to finish the year with the best record in the National League has the opportunity to play “spoiler,” but they can, and they should.

Not to mention the fact that each win the Cubs have over the Mets has a great chain reaction effect. It warms the heart of Ron Santo, which in turn irrationally infuriates Mike D. And there’s no rant party quite as good as a Mike D. rant party.

Go ruin someone’s season, guys.