Chicago Cubs: Staff predictions for the 2016 season

With the Chicago Cubs opening up their season tonight in Anaheim, the Cubbies Crib staff makes their preseason picks and predictions for the 2016 season.

It’s that time of year again. The Major League season has officially opened, but tonight our Chicago Cubs begin what we hope will be an unforgettable season. Expectations were raised following a fantastic run to the National League Championship Series, and the team improved in all the areas it needed to this offseason.

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Even then, nothing is guaranteed in this game. 162 games leave plenty of time for Cinderella teams, injuries and disappointment to change the landscape of expectations. But it just feels different this year. Whether or not the Cubs break their longstanding drought, it’s clear that if not his year they will have more opportunities in the coming years. But hey, haven’t we had enough of “wait until next year?” I think so.

Each staff writer has given his final standings of the National League Central, as well as individual award winners and LCS participants and World Series. With so many good players and good teams, we still as a whole landed on a lot of the same choices. With that being said, here are your 2016 Cubbies Crib staff predictions.

Next: Not quite the Cubs time just yet

Ryan Davies – Staff Writer

With last season exceeding the expectations of most, Cubs fans are now ready for the next step, being at very least a trip to the World Series with Vegas giving the Cubs the best odds of winning in all on Opening Day. With a lot of Cubs fans on the “World Series of bust” bandwagon after some big acquisitions in the form of Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward, it’s hard not to think next year has finally arrived for Cubs fans.

That said, the potential from sophomore slumps from a number of youngsters in their lineup such as Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Javier Baez and others along with an expected regression from Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta could counter the effect of the additions. The Cubs do still have a deep farm system and if the window starts now, they could be in line to make a big move at the trade deadline for any missing pieces they need as the season hits the home stretch. This year may not be next year, but a repeat trip to the NLCS is very possible.

NL Central Standings

1. Cubs (97-65)
2. Cardinals
3. Pirates
4. Reds
5. Brewers

Richard Kagan – Staff Writer

The Chicago Cubs will have a great year. So much talent. And, they will produce. Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Kyle Schwarber will make life miserable for opposing pitchers. Look for Ben Zobrist to be a big part of the lineup. Addison Russel will play well at SS. The Cubs will make it to NLCS and lose to the LA Dodgers. Dodgers pitching will be too much for this team.  At least, the Cubs are contenders.

I see the Astros and the Royals battling it out in the ALCS, and the Astros coming out on top. The LA Dodgers wins the World Series over Houston. The good thing about that?  We get to hear more of Vin Scully.

NL Central Standings

1. Cubs
2. Cardinals
3. Pirates
4. Reds
5. Brewers

Next: Afraid to jinx them

Tim Stebbins – Staff Writer

As good as the 2015 Cubs were, the 2016 team looks even better on paper. In fact, they look like one of the best teams in all of baseball, if not the best team. However, how much can a team truly improve over one season, especially a team that won 97 games? It’s not like the team won 90 games last year, after all. I think one huge difference this team will have in 2016 is how they win their games, not the total that they win. I see them winning 98 games, but with fewer close calls. Last season’s team had 13 walk-off wins, so clearly that made a difference in their record. Look for the 2016 Cubs to win more games decidedly.

As for the playoffs, I believe the 2016 team will win the NL Central, with the Cardinals finishing a close second. The team will avoid the dreaded one-game Wild Card game, guaranteeing them, at least, one full series in October. My prediction is that they will defeat the Giants to earn a trip to the World Series, facing off of last year’s champion, the Kansas City Royals.

NL Central Standings:

1. Cubs (98-64)
2. Cardinals
3. Pirates
4. Reds
5. Brewers

Erik Mauro – Staff Writer

Let’s start with the Cubs, winning anywhere from 91-94 games with a Central Division championship would be a fair and realistic prediction.  We will settle at 93-69.  97 wins are hard to beat. The Cardinals in third place? Yes, they are in the worst position of the three teams, with their core players getting old, they lack a shortstop, they lack a quality first baseman, and who’s to say Grichuk and Piscotty will repeat last year?  St. Louis has a lot of questions.

The Cubs have the potential this year to finally break the drought, and nobody would be surprised if they did, that is how talented this team is.  That’s exactly what it is, potential…I myself am a little cautious this season.  In baseball, teams underachieve all the time, and with how young the Cubs are, I would not be surprised to see that.  I hate to be a debbie downer but it is a possibility, however slim.  With Joe Maddon leading the way, though, that should keep everybody laid back enough to just do their thing.

NL Central Standings

1. Cubs (93-69)
2. Pirates
3. Cardinals
4. Brewers
5. Reds

Next: The wait is over

David Miniel – Co-Editor

Following a Cinderella-like 2015 campaign, the Chicago Cubs enter the new year as the favorites to win the World Series. This front office pulled off yet another huge signing over the offseason, nabbing outfielder Jason Heyward only to turn around and re-sign Dexter Fowler. To me, having Heyward and Fowler together is going to make this team even better in 2016. I’m going to admit that I foolishly ruled out a postseason run for the Cubs only to eat my words come October. I’m not going to make that same mistake twice. If they can manage to avoid serious injury, this is definitely their year. It’s not going to be easy with playing in the toughest division in baseball but they proved to the world that they are no longer pushovers. So here are my standings:

NL Central Standings

1. Cubs
2. Cardinals
3. Pirates
4. Brewers
5. Reds

Tobey Johnson – Staff Writer

The National League Central will again this year prove to one of the toughest divisions in all of major league baseball. With three teams that are bonafide contenders to win the division, it again could come down to the final week of play to decide who wins the division and who will play in the Wild Card playoffs. While early predictions from most baseball writers are saying the Chicago Cubs are the odds on favorites to win the Central, do not count out the St. Louis Cardinals just yet.

Despite a rough offseason where they lost some key players to their long-time division rivals (the Cubs with John Lackey and Jason Heyward), they still have a formidable team. On the other hand, the Pittsburgh Pirates might take a small step back this year considering they also had a rough offseason with personnel changes. Neil Walker, Pedro Alvarez, and AJ Burnett will be tough to replace, but the Pirates are used to replacing key players with younger players. More of a question could be how will the Gerrit Cole contract situation affect his performance?

In the end, the Cubs have too much talent at the plate and on the mound; this is really their division to lose, but I still think the Cardinals won’t make it as easy as it may look on paper.Will this finally be THE year? I would like to think so, and with my prediction, I am saying so. While the signing of Dexter Fowler may have been an 11th-hour move and been overlooked by many; I think it was the kind of move that really will push the Cubs over the top of the rest of MLB.

NL Central Standings

1. Cubs
2. Cardinals
3. Pirates
4. Brewers
5. Reds

Mike Rankin – Staff Writer

This season, Joe Maddon’s group won’t be taking anyone by surprise. Despite lofty expectations in 2016, I believe the Cubs have what it takes to win the World Series.

It won’t be easy, though, as the Pirates and especially the Cardinals are going to be tough to handle in the National League Central. Outside the Cubs’ division, the San Francisco Giants look primed to continue their trend of winning it all every even year since 2010. Regardless, I think the Cubs are filled with enough depth and talent to handle the grueling 162 game marathon and finish the last game of the MLB season with a win.

NL Central Standings

1. Cubs 93-69
2. Cardinals
3. Pirates
4. Brewers
5. Reds

Mike Niederman – Staff Writer/Lead MiLB 

2016 will prove to be an absolute war in the NL Central. The Cubs will rely on a complete team effort and the stars on the roster will sacrifice personal accolades to secure a division title on the north side. While guys like Rizzo, Arrieta, and Bryant will fall short in the awards voting, they will undoubtedly steer the ship being powered by the veteran leadership behind them. In the end, the Cubs will compete for the best record in the league in a stellar division that will struggle to get three playoff teams for the second year in a row.

The Chicago Cubs will be light years ahead of where they were a year ago when the playoffs begin. After passing through the divisional series, they will face a familiar foe in the New York Mets in order to reach their first World Series since 1945. The Drought will end and hell may freeze over after the Cubs win a suspenseful seven-game series against a talented Texas Rangers ball club looking for its first championship since their franchise was founded.

NL Central Standings

1. Cubs (92-70)
2. Cardinals
3. Pirates
4. Reds
5. Brewers

Next: Still more believers

Ryan Tadych – Staff Writer

The 2016 Chicago Cubs season will be one for the ages.  The Cubs won 97 games and got to the National League Championship Series last year. On paper, they got better during the offseason with the additions with Jason Heyward, Ben Zobrist, and John Lackey. So, it’s easy to see how the Cubs could win 100 games this year. But winning 100 games is never easy, especially in a division where you have the Cardinals and Pirates. The pieces are in place for the Cubs to have sustained success and it’s all going to begin this year. The Cubs will win 100 games for the first time since 1935, finishing right on the century mark. It won’t be easy but Cubs have the right mix of players to reach the promised land.

It’s going to be a great postseason in 2016. The Royals and Blue Jays are going to have strong teams once again, and will be tough to get past in the AL, but three straight World Series appearances won’t be easy for the Royals and it might finally be the Astros year. On the NL side, it will be a lot of familiar faces but the Nationals will break out despite having Dusty Baker as their manager. It will be a tough road for both, but the Cubs will surge through the playoffs, on their way to their first World Series appearance since 1945. A battle of two historically bad teams in the World Series would be fantastic for the MLB…and the Cubs time will finally arrive.

NL Central Standings

1. Cubs (100-62)
2. Cardinals
3. Pirates
4. Reds
5. Brewers

Nicholas Blazek – Co-Editor

Closing out our picks, I too believe the Cubs have filled the holes they had and can power through to a World Series championship. The Cubs got something special out of Jake Arrieta last season, and the good news is I don’t believe it will take a season like that, or Kris Bryant’s  Rookie of the Year season to get back to it. With the additions they made, they filled in “weak spots”. They have more depth on the roster and even in the minors with veterans like Shane Victorino for an October push.

It’s not just that the team has the talent, but Joe Maddon has sold them on being winners. They believe they can win it, and Maddon expects nothing less out of them. No more sneaking up on teams. The target is on their back this year. But that’s okay. Embrace the target. Do simple better. Let’s make 2016 a year Cubs’ fans won’t forget.

NL Central Standings

1. Cubs (103-59)
2. Cardinals
3. Pirates
4. Reds
5. Brewers

Next: Award winners and playoff picks

Playoff Predictions

Now that you’ve gotten a little insight on to what our staff thinks of this Cubs team in 2016, it’s time to reveal our LCS and World Series predictions. Only two didn’t pick the Cubs, and they didn’t have them making it to the World Series. Most odd to me is no one had the “even-year” winning Giants taking it all. Here’s a look at who we think you’ll see in late October.

Award Winner Picks

There’s a handful of players in the league that you just know are going to be good. This year we seem to think that Paul Goldschmidt and Chris Sale are two of them. We also seem to feel that the AL MVP is a two man race between Carlos Correa and Mike Trout. No doubt there will be some surprises before it’s all said and done–like Jake Arrieta last year–but hopefully we’ll be right on some of these.