Chicago Cubs 2017 Team Preview
108 years was the time between World Series Championships for the Chicago Cubs. The longest sports championship drought in the history of North American sports ended on November 2nd 2016. Now, can the Cubs repeat, and become the first team to do so since the 2000 New York Yankees?
This upcoming version of the Chicago Cubs returns much of the squad that brought the parade to the Windy City. With the catalysts of the offense in team leaders Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant leading the charge, amongst a bevy of other sluggers in the lineup; the offense isn’t likely to miss a beat. And the pitching returns four of the five starters from last season that contributed the most to the full-season of success. And, driving the ship built by Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer is manager Joe Maddon.
Looking over how the Cubs got to this incredible position of sustained success, in what some feel could be a budding dynasty, it dates back to October 12, 2011 when the Cubs signed Theo Epstein to overhaul the baseball operations of the franchise. Since then the incline has slowly formed towards the top of the baseball pyramid.
The Cubs last season won the most games in the regular season with 103. They won the NL Central by 17.5 games, and dominated all season, save a short stretch near the All-Star break. Seven all-star represented the team, and more could have had a case been made on their behalf.
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Third basemen Kris Bryant captured the Most Valuable Player for the National League. Pitcher Jake Arrieta and Rizzo earned Silver Slugger awards. Outfielder Jason Heyward, and again Rizzo won Gold Gloves, and a strong case could have been made that Kyle Hendricks should have won the NL Cy Young Award.
The Cubs didn’t leave much on the table in terms of things to accomplish. They certainly came very close to letting the title slip away with the late inning heroics of Rajai Davis in Cleveland. However, World Series MVP Ben Zobrist erased those concerns with what would be the game-winning hit in extra innings.
Currently the Cubs stand as the team that is projected to win the most games with 96, according to Fangraphs. Obviously, health and possible transactions could affect that number, but as it currented stands is the expected most wins in MLB.
As with all sports, the expression ‘heavy lies the crown’, comes into thought when trying to defend the title. All eyes will be on the Cubs as they try to make more history. But, what stands in there way of winning it all again?
Center Field
The Cubs made a move in the off-season that could come to be fruitful this season in bringing in veteran Jon Jay. Jay was brought in presumably to replace Dexter Fowler and will have a chance to play center field along with young up and comer Albert Almora. Jay, a lifetime .291 hitter, had his best days in St Louis, before a short one-year stop in San Diego last season. If they can get anywhere near the production from Jay that they got from Fowler it will be considered a strong pick up.
Fifth Starter
Brett Anderson was a move that the Epstein-Hoyer braintrust hope will answer any questions related to the fifth spot in the starting rotation. Anderson, who’s best season came in Oakland as a rookie in 2009, is looking to stay healthy, and bring stability to the back-end of the rotation. With possible free-agent paydays and retirements looming for other starters for the Cubs, Anderson can create a long-term home for himself. He will be competing with Mike Montgomery for starts in what should be a unique battle all season long.
Closer
Having lockdown relievers is a trend that is taking over baseball. The Cubs saw first hand what kind of an impact the likes of Andrew Miller, Kenley Jansen, and Aroldis Chapman can have in terms of affecting a game. After Aroldis Chapman left for a payday in pinestripes, the Cubs got aggressive in acquring hard-throwing Wade Davis. Davis who is coming off back-to-back All-Star appearances, and a World Series title in 2015 with Kansas City, was a move that needed to be made.
Bullpen
Fortifying the bullpen with the likes of Davis is key. The Chicago Cubs also brought in lefty reliever Brian Duensing in the off-season. This will be Duensing’s first go-around in the National League after spending time in Minnesota and Baltimore. Soon to be 42-year old Koji Uehara also could help in the bullpen. The former All-Star and ALCS MVP could help bring the games to the stopper Wade Davis.
Big Bat
Another addition to the 2017 club was someone who was there all along. None other than Kyle Schwarber. The former first-round pick who returned from a gruesome knee injury to DH in the World Series should be back to full form this year. With most of his time in the outfield, and some platoon catching chances, everyone knows his money is made in the batters box. Adding Schwarber’s bat to the already menacing Cubs lineup is going to create big problems for opposing teams all season.
Lead-Off Man
Dexter Fowler hit his payday, and now is a member of the Cubs fierce rival the Cardinals. Fowler had a career year in 2016. He made his first All-Star game. He led the league in triples, and was 4th in runs scored. Fowler was the table-setter for the lineup, and is the most integral piece of the puzzle that the Cubs have to replace. Whether its Albert Almora or Jon Jay, it will be an uphill task replacing Dex.
Back of the Rotation
15 game winner Jason Hammel was perhaps the best fifth starter in baseball last year. Following up Lester, Arrieta, Lackey, and Hendricks was not easy task. Hammel answered the call on many occasions. As mentioned the likes of Brett Anderson and Mike Montgomery will get the first cracks. Hammel signed with the Royals, and is slated to be the third starter on a team in the hunt for an AL Central crown.
Right Field
Jorge Soler’s exit in a trade for Wade Davis caught some by surprise. Soler who was by many accounts the most hyped prospect out of Cuba since Yoenis Cespedes, never found his groove in the Cubs lineup. With the return of Kyle Schwarber, the playing time for the young slugger may not have been substantial. With the Royals he can be a key cog in the lineup with Eric Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain.
The Cubs gave up some big young talent including revered Gleyber Torres in the deal that brought them Aroldis Chapman last season. Without his efforts, the Cubs probably don’t win a championship last season. Chapman decided to return to the Yankees on an expensive 5 year contract. The flame-thrower Chapman could be hard to replace.
Grandpa Rossy
Revered Cubs catcher David Ross decided to hang up the cleats after a fairy tale ending to his career. No doubt his emotional support in the clubhouse will be missed. He has hung up his catchers gear, and put on his dancing shoes for ‘Dancing With The Stars’, as my colleague Bobby Mueller reported.
The Cubs will be a tough team to beat in every series that they play. Many thought 2017 would be the year that everything would click when they were re-building. They ended up being one year ahead of schedule. They have a powerful lineup, deep pitching, and Joe Maddon who some consider the best in the game. The Cardinals and Pirates are going to hang around, but may not have the horses this season to keep up. The Brewers and Reds are currently light years away from where the Cubs hope to be, and aren’t an imminent threat.
What could hold the Cubs back?
Repeating in any sport is difficult. It hasn’t been done in baseball since the turn of the century with the Yankees, and some great teams have tried. Losing any combination of the starters for a substantial period of time could be tough to overcome, however, the front office has shown they are not adverse to making any deals to make the deal better. At the risk of sounding corny, the Cubs can only beat themselves this season.
Cubs Projected Rotation
Jon Lester
Kyle Hendricks
Jake Arrieta
John Lackey
Brett Anderson/Mike Montgomery/Rob Zastryzny
Bullpen
Brian Duensing
Koji Uehara
Wade Davis
Projected Lineup
Ben Zobrist
Kyle Schwarber
Kris Bryant
Anthony Rizzo
Jason Heyward
Next: Potential First Time All Stars
My Prediction
100-62
The Cubs will coast along this season with the best record neck and neck with the Dodgers. A key pitching injury puts question marks on the repeat dreams, but like in the World Series, Mike Montgomery steps up. The Cubs end up winning the pennant against the Nationals on a Jason Heyward walk-off. They end up losing the World Series in seven games to the Houston Astros.