Chicago Cubs eager to put a disappointing offseason behind them

Chicago Cubs: Winning is no longer enough – we want more

Well, they’ll certainly have the opportunity to make a statement. In recent days, Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA projections picked the Chicago Cubs to finish last – that’s right – last in the National League Central. After coughing up the division in a winner-take-all Game 163 last year to the Milwaukee Brewers, the team seems to have a bit of a chip on their shoulder, as they well should.

We’re talking about an offense that features a former National League MVP in Kris Bryant, last year’s MVP runner-up in Javier Baez and a bevy of young players – many of whom played integral roles in the team capturing its first World Series championship in 2016. And don’t forget about first baseman and unofficial team captain, Anthony Rizzo, who rebounded from a dreadful start last year to eclipse 100 RBI for the fourth-straight season.

Expectations are clearly changed in the wake of said championship.  The Cubs won 95 games and ended the year with the league’s second-best record. Making the postseason four consecutive years? That hadn’t happened in over a century. But for Maddon and his club, that’s not enough – not even close.

"“We want to get back on track — meaning, of course, making the playoffs — but the goal every year is to play the last game of the season and win it. And that’s no different again this year. So, in order to get to that point, we have to own each moment.”"