Chicago Cubs: Familiar faces and foes headline Spring Training schedule

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Soon, pitchers and catchers across the league will be reporting to training camps following a long and cold offseason. Before you know it, we’ll be celebrating the return of Chicago Cubs baseball.

Saying that it’s been cold across the Midwest of late would be an absolute understatement. But knowing we’re inching closer to some Chicago Cubs action is keeping me in positive spirits. Despite the forecast reading a high of -16 and low of -32 in recent days.

What is happening with our planet right now. Anyone? Anyway, while Bryce Harper and Manny Machado attempt to find new homes, fans are gearing up for a new season. With the Boston Red Sox aiming to defend their crown, the Cubs are still considered a favorite to compete.

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It has been this way since Theo Epstein’s blueprint came to life back in 2015 when the Cubs reached the NLCS as a Wild Card contender. Since that postseason appearance, things have been looking up for this team.

Not just the team but the fanbase in general. We’ve experienced heartbreak in our years of fandom. Something that has made us stronger in the long run. Also, a little spoiled based on some Twitter posts scattered throughout the 2017-2018 campaign.

Passion is great but there’s no need to bash and call for someone’s head over a missed play or injury. Let’s try keeping it positive this season, Cubs fans.

Moving forward, there are questions that will receive answers by the time the Cubs begin 2019 campaign against the Rangers. A place where Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish pitched together for several years. Let’s not forget former Cub reliever Jesse Chavez who returned to the Rangers over the offseason.

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Familiar faces and foes

On Feb. 22, Sloan Park will play host to the Milwaukee Brewers. A matchup that will have more eyes on it than ever after last years division title battle. Unfortunately, it would be the Brew Crew celebrating following a one-game showdown, setting the Cubs up with a Colorado Rockies date.

The two division foes will meet up with each other three times prior to an early 2019 campaign set which is scheduled for April 5 at Miller Park. It’ll great to see two National League MVP’s in Cubs infielder Javier Baez and Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich slugging it out early on.

Meanwhile, former Cub Daniel Murphy and the Rockies visit Sloan Park on March 7. In both games against Milwaukee and Colorado, Murphy finished 1-for-8, ending his brief Cubs tenure on back-to-back losses.

He later signed a two-year deal with Colorado on his 33rd birthday. Despite spending a short time with the Cubs, fans in attendance should provide a warm welcome to a veteran who tore this team apart as a member of the New York Mets and Washington Nationals.

(Photo by Kayana Szymczak/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Clash in Boston

Rounding out camp will be a matchup with the defending champions in their own house. This marks another return for Theo Epstein and Jon Lester; two individuals who helped the Red Sox capture two World Series titles.

Surely, these two will eventually meet up in a Fall Classic of their own in the future and March 25 and 26 could be a preview of just that. Since the teams will be finalizing their Opening Day rosters, it’ll give us an idea of how that series would end up looking like.

Imagine Chris Sale pitching to Javier Baez, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo just to name a few. Or Kyle Hendricks dealing against reigning AL MVP Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, and J.D. Martinez.

Can Lester continue to adapt?. dark. Next

How cool is it going to be for both Joe Maddon and David Price coming together for this exhibition? Two men who helped each other grow and later became world champions. I’m already excited just thinking about it.

Prepare to Fly The W soon, family.

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