5 reasons the Chicago Cubs win the 2016 World Series
1. The Offseason Moves Get the Cubbies to Over 100 Wins
The biggest area the Cubs fell short last year was their offense. When they reached the NLCS against the New York Mets, they simply did not have enough in them to counter the stellar Mets rotation. Knowing that, Cubs General Manager Theo Epstein went out and got two big name players to come to Chicago.
Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist both had very large impacts on their respective teams last year. Zobrist, in fact, gave a boost to both the struggling and lackadaisical Oakland Athletics as well as the Kansas City Royals, guiding them to the 2015 World Series.
Heyward and Zobrist are both the kinds of players from which you can expect nearly identical performances, if not better ones, each and every year. Last season, Heyward slashed for .293/.359/.439 with 13 homers and 60 RBIs at the top of the Cardinals lineup. Zobrist hit nearly the same with a .276/.359/.450 line to finish the year. He also smashed 13 home runs and 53 RBIs.
On top of all this, the Cubs wanted to be sure that they kept a top-notch pitching staff, adding the veteran John Lackey to the mix. In 2015, Lackey went 13-10 with a 2.77 ERA in the hyper-competitive NL Central. The same division that sent three teams to the playoffs in 2015.
Most importantly, Lackey started 33 games, tying a career high and tying for second among all starting pitchers in 2015. Only the Rays’ Chris Archer had more starts (34) in the regular season.
Next: Pitching Staff
2. The Pitching Staff Is Lights Out
Before we even go into any analysis, just listen to the projected starting five of the 2016 Chicago Cubs rotation. The 2015 stats are added next to each player’s name below.
- Jon Lester (11-12, 3.34 ERA)
- Jake Arrieta (22-6, 1.77 ERA)
- John Lackey (13-10, 2.77 ERA)
- Kyle Hendricks (8-7, 3.95 ERA)
- Jason Hammel (10-7, 3.74 ERA)
These five players combined had a 64-42 (.615) record with a 3.11 ERA. Keep in mind that some of the losses on each player’s record, including Lackey with the Cardinals in 2015, were of the hard-luck variety. There were numerous games where, for example, Hammel would go out and toss six or seven innings of one or two-run baseball but get a loss because the Cubs simply could not put it together on the offensive side of the ball.
With the key additions to the offense, this may not even be a problem for the Cubs anymore. Expect each starter to end the year with at least 12 wins under their belt. Also expect a combined starting rotation ERA below 3.80 and a winning percentage of nearly .700.
Next: Lineup
3. There Are No Weaknesses in the Lineup
Last year, the Cubs ranked among the middle of MLB in nearly every category on offense. It was very apparent that they had a few key pieces missing on offense. The Cubs slashed a mediocre .244/.321/.398 over the course of 2015. Yet, their depth and talent took them all the way to the NLCS before the offense simply could not hang on anymore.
But with the likes of MVP-caliber Anthony Rizzo, reigning Rookie of the Year Kris Bryant, the big-time slugger in Kyle Schwarber and many, many more, the Cubs have the makings of a dominant offense. Add on top their new additions of Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward and the Cubs have every offensive aspect covered, from small ball to raking in big home runs.
The only “weakness” that could be claimed about the Cubs’ lineup is the bottom two in Miguel Montero and the pitcher’s spot. However, playing small ball has allowed for the smart usage of these lineup spots. And Montero is not that bad of a hitter anyway. Last year, he hit at .248/.345/.409 and as a catcher, I should add. Plus, some of the Cubs pitching staff can really hit the ball. Arrieta had 12 hits in 79 plate appearances last year, including 2 for home runs.
Next: Youth and Experience
4. Youth and Experience Are on Their Side
The Chicago Cubs are one of the youngest teams in baseball right now. Their average age is about 28 years old. Add to this the fact that the team went all the way to the NLCS last year and you have a young yet experienced team. They have veterans like Lackey that have been there before and can help the young guys keep their composure throughout crunch time and October baseball. They also have players like Kris Bryant and Addison Russell who as rookies were one series away from playing for a shot at the championship.
The biggest component here, though, is the age of the players. Because they are so young, it is much easier for the players to stay healthy for the whole year and not burn out around August or September. The Chicago Cubs have the deadliest combination in baseball – youth and experience. And the only way to get rid of that youth is waiting five or ten years for the players to age, which is not exactly a feasible option for the other 29 teams in MLB.
Next: Joe Maddon
5. They Have the Best Manager in the Game
Joe Maddon has won three Manager of the Year awards since becoming a skipper in 2006 for the then Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He is also voted as one of the best managers every year by the players and a manager that nearly anybody and everybody would want to play for. His influence has brought former players like Ben Zobrist back onto his teams. Maddon’s baseball IQ is one of the most impressive of anyone out there, whether it be a manager, player, coach, general manager, owner or even umpire.
As a manager, Maddon boasts an impressive 878-796 (.525) record with a trip to the World Series in 2008, three trips to the ALDS in 2010, 2011 and 2013, and most recently a trip to the NLCS in 2015. The most impressive thing about Maddon’s managing career is that he has not always had the best teams to manage, yet he has always found a way to keep the team above water, competitive and in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Next: World Series Prediction
2016 World Series Prediction
The Cubbies will finish the year with a 102-60 (.630) record this year. They will dominate in every aspect of the game and will be reminiscent of the 2001 Seattle Mariners. They will hit long winning streaks, not unlike those of the 2002 Oakland Athletics. Do not get confused: the Cubs will be the best team in MLB this year and there is very little other teams can do to stop them with the pieces they have put together.
In the 2016 World Series, the Houston Astros will be coming in hot despite barely sliding into the playoffs through the second AL Wild Card, eerily similar to their 2015 arrival to October baseball. 2016 AL MVP Carlo Correa will be playing some of the best ball seen in years and making plays from short the way the greats used to do. Plus, his offense is such a huge boost to the team as a whole.
The Astros have a great rotation led by their ace Dallas Keuchel, but their offense will still be of a homer-or-bust style. This will be a downfall for them against the strong strikeout rotation coming out of Chicago, giving them problems and ultimately costing them their shot at their first ever World Series win… until potentially 2017.