Chicago Cubs: How the franchise has changed their course

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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Chicago Cubs
Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Everything begins to change

Entering the 2015 regular season, the Cubs were well on their way to success under Epstein. The team was in the midst of three-straight losing seasons. However, things were about to change, and there was no looking back.

After Andrew Friedman left Tampa to join the Los Angeles Dodgers, Joe Maddon opted out of his deal with the Rays. The stars aligned and, after one season, Chicago parted ways with Rick Renteria, to be replaced by one of the most high-profile managers in the game.

The 2015 team found immediate success. The Cubs finished 97-65, winning the Wild Card game over the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Division Series over the St. Louis Cardinals, before running headfirst into a New York Mets rotation that proved too strong to overcome in the NLCS.

The following season, magic happened. Epstein accomplished his goal of bringing a World Series championship to the North Side after a fantastic 103-58 regular season and an epic postseason run that  included defeating the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Indians along the way.