MLB: Ranking the top storylines of the first half
By Jason Burke
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs go off and win a World Series and everything in what was totally not a fluke season, and then return to being the Cubs of the previous 108 years? What the hell?
Much like the Giants, their foes from last year’s NLDS, their big name guys just aren’t performing. Miguel Montero had some choice words about his pitchers recently after allowing anyone that reached base to run around the bases at will. While this may not be anything by itself, could it be the symptom of something larger brewing in the clubhouse?
The Cubs (43-45) are in arguably baseball’s most winnable division given the talent they have, but instead they’re sitting below the .500 mark. They have plenty of time to turn things around, but with a 7.5 game deficit in the wildcard race and a 5.5 game disadvantage in the Central, they won’t have a ton of time to mess around. They’ll have to come out of the gate with some energy to start the second half.
How they’ll approach the deadline should be interesting as well. They already have enough talent to contend, on paper. Heck, they won the whole damn thing a year ago. If they’re not looking to make a big move, where do they turn to improve? The rotation? Somewhere offensively? Do they just start playing their best defensive lineup?
The Cubs fall from grace hasn’t been nearly as steep as San Francisco’s, but it has certainly been more surprising.