The Cubs’ first-year manager might have been at his most animated all season in throwing down a challenge to the entire organization.

The Cubs are not officially eliminated from the playoffs, but their shot at playing in October is effectively gone.

The Chicago Cubs were no match this season for the Milwaukee Brewers, who won the division for the third time in four years. How can they close the “big gap”?

The Cubs were supposed to set the pace in the NL Central but instead they're watching the Brewers celebrate a division title.

The Cubs hired Craig Counsell away from the rival Brewers last winter with the goal of returning to the top of the National League Central under Counsell's leadership and experience. Milwaukee wound up popping champagne in celebration of another division crown on Wednesday night.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell wasn’t trying to downplay the 10 games that separate his team and the National League Central champion Brewers. “I think the message sent is that there’s a big gap,” Counsell said after the Cubs’ loss the day before had clinched the division for the Brewers.