Chicago Cubs: 2015 Cubbies Crib staff picks

Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

With Opening Night upon us, we at Cubbies Crib have made our picks for the upcoming season. We’ve focused mostly on the Cubs and the NL Central, but included our World Series picks and National League Award winners. It’s the senior circuit, and the one that matters most.

As you might imagine, optimism is high, but not all believe that this is the year. It’s also a clean sweep for the Cubs at NL Rookie of the Year, we just differ on which Cub earns the honor.

Predictions are always fun because if you’re right, you can point back to them and say “hey, I picked it!”. Or if you’re wrong, it’s been long enough that most have forgotten what you said, and you never mention it again. So without further ado, the Cubbies Crib staff picks for the 2015 season.

Next: Just missed

Getting better, still no postseason

Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Tobey Johnson – Staff Writer

Chicago Cubs I think are still a year off from postseason play.  I can see them about 4.5 to 5 games out of the second wild card game.  I think they will not be buyers at the trade deadline but will sell on a couple of the veterans they have like La Stella, Coghlan, Denorfia, maybe even Fowler if one of the young guys come up and are playing really well enough and the offer was right.  With the versatility of Alcantara he could take over in CF if Russell or Baez came up and Fowler was wanted for a nice deal.

I still think the Cubs need to add an arm – Zimmerman would be who I would target out of anyone but will cost the most.  David Price I think is a possibility to sign next off-season. Cubs add that extra top-tier arm and all the young guys like Bryant, Soler, Russell, Almora, even Baez show up and play as well as they have – no doubt next year the Central in the Cubs.

Cubs Finish – 84-78 – 3rd Central – 4th place in the Wild Card

NL Central

1.  St. Louis Cardinals     91-71

2.  Pittsburgh Pirates      89-75

3.  Chicago Cubs              84-78

4.  Cincinnati Reds          76-86

5.  Milwaukee Brewers    74-88

Cubs MVP -Anthony Rizzo – .292 avg.,  38 HR, 102 RBI’s

World Series – Cleveland Indians (want to go Angels but not sure) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – Dodgers in 6 games

National League Awards

Rookie of the Year –  Joc Pederson LAD  (Would love to say Bryant but won’t – don’t want to jinx him)

Cy Young –Matt Harvey – NYM (Kershaw is too obvious – love how Harvey has pitched – only worry about an inning count)

MVP -Bryce Harper – WAS (Kemp and Adrian Gonzalez are two others I’m tempted to say)

Dan Schmelzer – Staff Writer

It is obvious that the Cubs will be one of the most improved teams this season. On the pitching side, I project them to be very good and consistent in both the rotation and bullpen. Offensively, there will be games when the Cubs will look like the best team in baseball, but strikeouts and inconsistency with so many young players is to be expected.

It is going to be an extremely fun season to watch, and the Cubs will be in the playoff race for most of the year. However, I think the inconsistency offensively will hold them back from missing the postseason, but not by much. They will be a very dangerous team heading in to the 2016 season.

83-79 – 3rd place in NL Central. Narrowly miss Wild Card.

NL Central

1. Pirates

2. Cardinals

3. Cubs

4. Brewers

5. Reds

Cubs MVP – Anthony Rizzo

World Series -Dodgers vs.  Angels

Angels win

National League Awards

Rookie of the Year: Jorge Soler – CHC

Cy Young – Clayton Kershaw – LAD

MVP – Andrew McCutchen – PIT

David Miniel – Assistant Editor

As much as I want the Cubs to reach the postseason, I still think they need a couple more pieces before they make the playoffs. This is why I believe they will finish second or at least third in one of the toughest divisions in baseball. Just like the Green Bay Packers to the Bears, the St. Louis Cardinals are still a dangerous team. Now as the Cardinals appear to be the favorites to win the N.L. Central this season, it’ll be a tight race to see who could lock up a top spot behind the Cards. I think it comes down between the Cubs and the Pirates. Cubs win anywhere between 80-85 games.

NL Central
1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. Chicago Cubs
3. Pittsburgh Pirates
4. Cincinnati Reds
5. Milwaukee Brewers

Cubs MVP – Anthony Rizzo – This man was the original piece of Theo Epstein’s plan, and despite struggling during Cactus League play – Rizzo is going to explode into a neck-and-neck race with Miami Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton for N.L. MVP honors.

World Series: Washington Nationals vs Seattle Mariners
Nationals win in 7.

National League Awards
Rookie of the Year: Kris Bryant – CHC Two Cubs are going to battle it out for this award. Bryant will have competition in teammate Jorge Soler.
Cy Young – Clayton Kershaw – LAD
MVP – Giancarlo Stanton – MIA

Jacob Misener – Co-editor

While the Cubs are clearly improved over a year ago, inexperience and youth will be working against them in 2015.

Jon Lester adds a bona fide ace to the staff, but questions over what you’re getting in Travis Wood and whether or not Kyle Hendricks can duplicate his rookie success are concerns moving forward.

Chicago lost 89 games last season; this year, the club will climb above .500 and be competitive in the division – but will fall short of the postseason yet again.

Cubs 83-79, third NL Central

1. Pittsburgh

2. St Louis

3. Chicago 

4. Milwaukee

5. Cincinnati

Cubs MVP – Anthony Rizzo

World Series – Seattle Mariners vs Washington Nationals

National win

National League Awards

Rookie of the Year – Jorge Soler – CHC

Cy Young – Jordan Zimmerman – WAS

MVP – Giancarlo Stanton – MIA

Taylor Martin – Staff Writer

I wishfully think the Cubs will go (89-73)

NL Central

1. St. Louis

2. Chicago Cubs

3. Pirates

4. Brewers

5. Reds

Cubs MVP – Kris Bryant – If they stay on track with bringing him up and if he continues his hot streak that he had in spring training.

World Series – Nationals vs.  Angels

Nationals win

National League Awards

Rookie of the Year – Kris Bryant – CHC

Cy Young – Clayton Kershaw – LAD

MVP – Bryce Harper – WAS

Next: Making the postseason!

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The long-awaited return to postseason baseball

Michael Settepani – Staff Writer

The Cubs will make the improvements their fans have been yearning for since 2009 and eek into the final Wild Card spot.  It’s an odd year, which means the San Francisco Giants will not win the World Series — don’t worry, Giants fans, they’ll win it next year probably.  It’ll come down to the final game of the season and the Cubs defeat the Brewers to finish a game ahead of San Francisco.  They’ll take on Pittsburgh in the one-game playoff and hopefully they inexplicably start Edison Volquez again (ignore that he’s on the Royals).

– Cubs’ final record – 85-77, 3rd in the N.L. Central, 2nd Wild Card Spot

NL Central

1. St. Louis Cardinals

2. Pittsburgh Pirates

3. Chicago Cubs

4. Milwaukee Brewers

5. Cincinnati Reds

Cubs MVP – Anthony Rizzo (.286 BA, .379 OBP, 33 HR, 101 RBI)

World Series – Washington Nationals vs. Baltimore Orioles

Nationals win

National League Awards

Rookie of the Year– Jorge Soler – CHC (.281 BA, .333 OBP, 26 HR, 87 RBI)

Cy Young – Clayton Kershaw – LAD  (20-4, 2.03 ERA, 240 K, 0.90 WHIP)

MVP – Giancarlo Stanton – MIA (.297 BA, .398 OBP, 36 HR, 118 RBI)

Nicholas Blazek – Co-editor

Every year, my father gets his friends that are Cubs fans and our family together for our yearly picks. Nothing at stake, just for fun. Needless to say in the past five years I’ve overshot the Cubs win total in my projections each season. I’ve always said that one day they would make me look good.

Hopefully this is the year.

I’m keeping my optimism and hoping the Cubs can live up to the hype. I think the core is solid, and the additions will be enough to compete. I think the Central as whole will be very tough, and I’m counting on that for the Cubs to have the time for some of the young players to develop–as the division essentially beats up on itself.

I’m not going crazy with a World Series pick, but I think they sneak out the Central..by less than two games.

Cubs 2015 record: 91-71, First in the NL Central

NL Central
1. Cubs
2. Pirates – *WC
3. Cardinals – *WC
4. Brewers
5. Reds

Cubs MVP – Starlin Castro – I think he puts it together for a solid season. I think in part due to Maddon, the other in fear of Addison Russell on his heels. Doesn’t mean he won’t have typical “Castro” lapses, but he’s an All-Star, so this isn’t far-fetched to believe.

World Series – Nationals vs Indians
Nationals win in six

National League Awards
Rookie of the Year – Jorge Soler – CHC – Bryant is likely to have a fantastic rookie season, but I think Soler is more complete and is about to have his breakout year.
Cy Young – Matt Harvey – NYM – Kid was fantastic before injury, and has looked great this spring. I see him having an impressive year as long as he avoids injury.
MVP – Giancarlo Stanton – MIA – No explanation needed. This kid is just good. 

Next: We're a pretty optimistic group

Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

No funny business here, the Cubs will be good

While most of us don’t see the Cubs making the postseason, as a whole we see a much improved team in Chicago. “The plan” set forth by Theo Epstein is working. It’s not there yet (even tough rizzo and I think it’s close enough), but they’re making great strides.

One thing for sure is that this team should be fun to watch this season. With the additions made, Maddon at the helm and the youth that is here or very close–there will be no shortage of excitement, even if there’s a shortage of bleacher seats for that excitement until May.

How about you? Think the Cubs have what it takes? Or are they still another year or so away? Make your pick on our poll, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below!