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Maddon: Cubs 'on verge of doing something wonderful'

Jerry Lai / USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Cubs hope to exorcise 71 years worth of demons Saturday night at Wrigley Field.

One win away from their first World Series appearance since 1945, the Cubs have two chances to knock out the Los Angeles Dodgers as they enter Game 6 with a 3-2 lead in the NLCS.

The Cubs franchise is synonymous with heartache and curses, and these Lovable Losers know what's at stake and what it would mean to the city to advance from a series that's given them so much trouble historically.

"There's angst, there's all that kind of good stuff," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said, according to ASAP Sports. "It's just a fan base that's been waiting for a while. We're definitely on the verge of doing something wonderful, and they're absolutely engaged and involved.

"At the end of the day, again, it goes back to my advice, is like with everybody else, let's just do this one thing at a time, let's try to score first, let's try to win some innings and just play our game. That's the best, that's all we can do. That's what we can control."

CUBS' LAST 4 TRIPS TO NLCS

YEAR OPPONENT RESULT
2015 Mets Lost 4-0
2003 Marlins Lost 4-3
1989 Giants Lost 4-1
1984 Padres Lost 3-2

The Cubs' last World Series title came in 1908. They lost in six World Series from 1910-1945 and have fallen in each of their last four trips to the NLCS. They were swept in four games last season by the New York Mets and were thwarted by the Florida Marlins in 2003 in a collapse shouldered by Steve Bartman.

Maddon acknowledged he and his players are more than familiar with the history that has plagued the fan base, but aren't placing any additional pressure on themselves.

"It's a really passionate fan base, obviously, and it's generational," he said. "And it's wonderful. So, my interaction with the fans has been great on the streets or wherever, in a restaurant last night. Went out to dinner last night, and they couldn't be more kind. So, it is. That's what it is. And you accept it and you nurture it and you understand it. But at the end of the day, our boys have got to go out there and play the game like we can tonight, and I want that with a free mind and moment by moment."

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