Some Cubs fans are going to embrace the expectations that have been placed on the team this season. Others are not.
I lean toward the former. I lean toward this team not giving a solitary damn about the curse of a billy-goat or Steve Bartman. I lean toward this 2016 Cubs team has one of, if not the, most talented rosters in the history of the franchise.
Pitching:
You return the 2015 Cy-Young winner in Jake Arrieta to frontline the rotation and return seasoned veteran Jon Lester as the number two option. The Cubs added another veteran in John Lackey this offseason and will return number four starter Kyle Hendricks. The rotation is probably as good as it’s been since the 2003 season with Mark Prior and Kerry Wood.
Arrieta showed on Monday against the Angels that he still has filthy stuff. His fastball runs about six inches to his arm side. He throws 95 miles per hour. Good luck hitting that.
Lester didn’t exactly dominate in his first season in the Windy City, but he showed glimpses that made you feel good. He’s a competitor and a great option from the left side for the Cubs.
Lackey and Hendricks are what they are. They’re not going to dominate you, but they’re not going to pitch you out of the game either. They’re going to let this potent offense have a chance to win the game.
Offense:
They signed Jason Heyward.
I repeat: they signed Jason Heyward.
Okay, I’m done.
The offense is stacked. It’s beyond stacked. It’s almost unfair.
With Fowler leading off, that allows Head Coach Joe Maddon to put Heyward in the two hole and be protected with newcomer Ben Zobrist and All-Stars Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo.
Heyward’s presence in the lineup is scary enough, but the Cubs lineup past him is even better. Rookie sensation Kyle Schwarber returns to the club after a breakout first season on the south-side, and the Cubs have Addison Russell and Jorge Soler in the back end of the lineup as well.
While Soler has struggled noticeably in cold weather games and has had issues with his defense throughout spring training, he still has all of the tools to become one of the game’s next best players.
Essentially, the lineup is the best in baseball. The only considered weak spot in the lineup is with Miguel Montero, who hit a ball around a billion fit on opening night last night.
Predictions:
NL East Winner: Mets
NL Central Winner: Cubs
NL West Winner: Dodgers
NL Wild Card # 1: Giants
NL Wild Card # 2: Diamondbacks
AL East Winner: Blue Jays
AL Central Winner: Royals
AL West Winner: Astros
AL Wild Card #1: Rangers
AL Wild Card #2: Mariners
NLCS: Cubs vs. Dodgers
ALCS: Astros vs. Blue Jays
World Series: Cubs vs. Astros
World Series Winner: I’m doing it……Cubs
