David Haugh: After torturous end to the season, hard part really begins for Cubs

Now comes the hard part.

As agonizing as it was to sit through nine innings of baseball torture Thursday at Wrigley Field that was the Cubs' 11-1 loss to the Dodgers in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, now the real challenge begins.

Getting back on top of the mountain often proves more difficult than climbing it the first time. And for the first time in 351 days, the Cubs no longer can call themselves defending World Series champions. To have any hope of reclaiming the title, as soon as next year, it will take a frank,