Chicago Cubs: Five predictions for the 2017 season

Oct 8, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Fans hold up "W" flags after the Chicago Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants in game two of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Fans hold up "W" flags after the Chicago Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants in game two of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
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Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Bryant wins a playoff series MVP

I’m going to be a little bit vague on this one so I don’t go and do any jinxing before we even get 2017 started. But after Kris Bryant won the college player of the year, minor league player of the year, NL Rookie of the Year and NL MVP in consecutive seasons, where can you go? I think Bryant stamps all of those with an MVP in a playoff series this season.

I won’t be shy in saying I believe the Cubs will once again win the division. No one else took a step forward, and the Cubs at worst held ground. So that puts the Cubs in the playoffs for at least the NLDS. Now, it’s not always the best player on the team that wins the MVP of a series–just whoever gets hot at the right time. But Bryant has proven he isn’t intimidated by the big stage. So 2017 may just be another page in the book of greatness for Bryant in his career.

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