The Peoria Chiefs are one game back in the wild card race with six regular season games to play. With 4 of those games coming against the two teams they are battling for the final playoff spot, the Chiefs control their own destiny.

"It comes down to winning ballgame," said manager Ryne Sandberg.
" We can't rely on other teams losing games we have to rely on us going out and winning games, playing good baseball like we have as of late and winning games."

"We're trying to win every game possible at this point because when you lose one game you fall behind and you don't have that many more games to make it up," said pitcher Jeremy Papelbon.

Papelbon is familiar with the postseason. He was part of the Cubs short season team in Boise that made the playoffs last year.

"It's something that if you make the playoffs you get a chance to get a really nice looking ring," said Papelbon. "It's always an incentive to keep winning."

" We're all looking for World Championships," said Cubs roving instructor Bob Dernier. " I mean that's why we're here. We're trying to develop these young people and turn them from young men to veteran men with a baseball resume and hopefully they develop and their game continues to improve and we can send a handful of them up to Chicago and they can win a world championship or two."

The Chiefs coaching staff has playoff run experience two. Roving Instructor Bob Dernier and Manager Ryne Sandberg were part of the 1984 Cubs team. The first Cubs team to make the playoffs in 39 years.

" Sometimes you don't forget those seasons. Those are memorable seasons," said Sandberg. " That's what I remember...84 and 89 were two of my favorite seasons because we went to postseason and everybody played well. We won as a team and that's what we're trying to accomplish here."