Go ahead and beat the Cubs. Again. Remind the World Champs and their doting fans that what happened back in Denver was no fluke. Swiping two out of three from Chicago on a rain-soaked homestand looked big back in May. A sweep in the Windy City would be big now.

Nobody wants to see the “W” fly over Wrigley. Keep that flag at the bottom of the pole. But also keep in mind there are Ws just around the corner that are far bigger than the ones to be gathered in Chicago this weekend.

In fact, what happens between June 15 and July 2 will make or break the Rockies. Or, perhaps more importantly, will break the rest of the NL West.

In the 18-day stretch that follows the Rockies’ upcoming series in Chicago and Pittsburgh, Bud Black’s ball club gets the chance to step on the collective throat of the rest of their division. For 16 straight games, the Rox will play only divisional opponents.

Why not go ahead and win this thing right now?

Sure, mathematically speaking, the NL West cannot be truly “won” before Independence Day. But in Colorado, looking down the ladder after the All-Star Break – and not up it – could not be more important. The key part of that sentence, of course, is in Colorado.

In Colorado, injuries happen.

In Colorado, the bullpen gets tired.

In Colorado, history – or superstition, paranoia or apprehension (or whatever you want to call it) – happens. No matter how much you believe in this team, or how much this team believes in itself, there’s a cloud that hovers over Coors Field.

How long can this really last?

You know you’ve asked that question.

The Rockies have never won the NL West. Why not?

The longer the Rockies stay on top, the more likely it is that the question becomes: “Hey, why not?”

That’s why now is the time.

From July 3 to August 31, Colorado only plays three games within the division (all against the Padres). Ground can be absolutely be gained or lost over that two month stretch, but not nearly as quickly as it will be from June 15 to July 2. Get ready for this wild ride, because full-game swings in the NL West standings will be the norm during the next three weeks. It may not be possible to win the division in June, but it feels accurate to say that it could be lost. The Rockies (or Dodgers or Diamondbacks for that matter) cannot afford to flop in July and August, but flopping in late June could be colossally bad.

When September rolls around – when (we hope) the Rockies have a commanding lead in the NL West – they’ll have to defend their position atop the standings. In September, only three games on the schedule are not against divisional opponents. It will be better – and arguably easier – to defend the lead than to try and wrangle it away from, oh, let’s say, the Dodgers.

And let’s stop this “Wild Card” talk already.

If the Rockies can just play .500 ball from here on out…

If the Rockies can just hold it together until the All-Star break…

If the Rockies can stay healthy…

…then they’ll at least get a Wild Card berth.

Phooey. Go out and win the damn thing. Right. Now.

That’s what great teams do, and this team is on the verge of being great. Punch the Cubs and Pirates right in the mouth and then go out and grab the NL West.

Denver, as Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla aptly pointed out, is on the verge of being a baseball town. Wednesday’s packed house – at a mid-week day game! – was evidence of that. Sailing into the postseason as a real baseball team and a real baseball town should be the goal. The Rocktober bandwagon was fun, but this time, let’s do this thing right.

As in, right now.

It’s all there for the taking, and it’s not even July.