Chicago Cubs: Five reasons the team’s dynasty isn’t over just yet

Despite a rough 2019 season and inconsistent results since winning it all, the Chicago Cubs have the pieces in place to make a run at another title.

If you stopped The Lion King halfway through, would it be a happy ending for Simba, Nala or Pride Rock? The answer is unequivocally “no.” What does this prove? Not much, in and of itself, but extrapolated out, it means that you can’t always judge something when you’re in the middle of it. Whether good or bad, it’s impossible to see the forest through the trees when you’re in the middle of a dense bramble of vines and thorns.

Replace Simba from The Lion King with the Chicago Cubs and you might just have an idea where I’m going with this. The Cubs could make the postseason in 2020, win the World Series or struggle to another 84-78 mark. As much as we’d like to believe pundits, media personalities or even us lowly bloggers, a lot can happen on the way to October 2020. My take it a bit more optimistic than most, but for good reason.

To paraphrase Mark Twain, I believe that “reports of the Cubs’ death have been greatly exaggerated.” Whether or not this era of Cubs baseball will go down as a dynasty or just a blip on the radar depends on where you choose to settle in with your perspective. Looking back at the last five years from one perspective, it’s impossible not to be disappointed in the way the last couple years have gone.

That being said, from a general standpoint, they were extremely successful years where the Cubs made the playoffs four out of five seasons, including four in a row. Every single Cubs fan was was also ecstatic in November 2016. The end of 2019 was clearly disappointing for all, but if the Cubs are able to make the playoffs the next three seasons and win another World Series, wouldn’t history define that as an extremely successful run.

Perhaps, some would even throw out the word “dynasty” the way it was being tossed around in the winter of ’16. Here’s how it will be possible.

Chicago Cubs: These guys are still around

You’ve heard it before and you’ve heard it again: the core of the Cubs is still in place and they’re still really good. They may have had injuries and some may have had inconsistent starts to their careers, but the pieces are still in place to make not just one run, but a sustained run if they are kept together.

The Cubs have a ton of pieces that other teams envy, regardless of records or outcomes the last couple seasons. Kris Bryant is a former National League MVP, Anthony Rizzo is one of the most consistent sluggers in baseball, Javier Baez is the most exciting player in the game and Willson Contreras is by far the best offensive catcher in the game.

Those four, generally included as the most important core pieces, are joined by Kyle Schwarber, who had a breakout second half in 2019 and decided to go to all fields more than ever before. Those five could be the best extended middle of the order in baseball. Add a legitimate leadoff man who gets on base 35-40 percent of the time and they’re cranking out runs at a record pace.

On the defensive side, the Cubs are only a couple years away from being one of the best defensive clubs in baseball. Granted, Addison Russell and Baez likely won’t be turning double plays anymore, but add a defensive center fielder and shift Jason Heyward back to right field and you have the possibility of a good defensive group. Put them behind a mix of Kyle Hendricks, Yu Darvish, Jon Lester and maybe a new top-of-the-rotation guy and there are some solid pieces in place.

Chicago Cubs: Grandpa Rossy would look great on these guys shoulders again

Joe Maddon was the best Cubs manager any of us have ever seen. Unfortunately, making the postseason is now a prerequisite for keeping your job in that role given the expectations and resources being funneled into the team.

With the departure of Maddon, who was not tendered a new contract and is now with the Angels, there is the possibility that a new manager can pick up where Maddon left off. A new voice, a fresh start, a new coat of paint. Sometimes those things can have a bigger effect than any of us can imagine, despite seeming to be very minor or superficial changes.

Enter David Ross, he of the “Grandpa Rossy” moniker. While everyone knows who Ross is and what he’s all about, a new voice and younger yet old-school approach could breathe new life into the husk of the 2019 Cubs. Ross will hold guys accountable in a different way than Maddon and navigate the landscape of coaching/managing on the fly with many guys he already knows well. And, if you’re worried about him being too chummy with the team- remember that the team may feature fewer than 10 players from that 2016 World Series team.

Or, enter Joe Espada, he of Houston Astros fame. Espada is one of the hottest names in baseball right now and would bring a different vision, new ideas, as well as break from the “winner’s trap” model that many take exception to. If the Cubs desire cutting all ties from 2016 and starting anew, Espada might be the guy.

Also in play are the experienced Joe Girardi, 2019 Cubs bench coach Mark Loretta, and Cubs first-base coach Will Venable. These options are considered more of a longshot with Ross and Espada in the two pole positions, but no one really knows what direction the front office wants to go with the new skipper.

Chicago Cubs: These guys still aren’t that old yet

When talking about “primes” in baseball years, the gist is that hitters have to reach a maturity in years of experience and an understanding of hitting while also still being in peak physical shape.

Too old and your body starts breaking down or your fast-twitch muscles and reactions aren’t as good. Too young, and there’s not the patience or understanding of the strike zone or how pitchers will attack. Generally speaking, this “prime” time for baseball players occurs somewhere in the late 20s and early 30s, with 27-31 years of age serving as a pretty good point of reference.

Guess how old most of the core will be next year?

People forget that even though these guys have been playing Major League Baseball for half a decade, they’re still barely entering their prime right now. Anthony Rizzo, the elder statesman of the group, is only 30. Willson Contreras and Kris Bryant are 27, Javier Baez and Kyle Schwarber are 26. Heck, David Bote is also 26 and Albert Almora and Ian Happ are only 25.

The point is, these guys are just coming into their own as players, despite numerous years and opportunities at the major league level. Look what happened when Baez finally got 600 PA in 2018: he finished second in the NL MVP voting. Schwarber started displaying the approach and consistency every fan has been waiting for after being given regular playing time and not sitting him against lefty.

People forget these guys are still youngsters adjusting and fine-tuning. Given a fresh voice at manager, a solid guy to lead off, and some new influx of role players and you could be looking at a blossoming flower rather than the wilted plant most saw at the end of the season.

Chicago Cubs: A full season of Kimbrel could work out much differently

One of the more incendiary or volatile pieces on a Major League team is and has always been the bullpen. Turnover, injuries, guys having bad years, dumpster-diving, and some pieces getting older created the imperfect storm for the Cubs in 2019, but there’s no reason why that can’t be turned around for a great pen in 2020.

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With the probable departure of guys like Pedro Strop, Steve Cishek, and Brandon Morrow, the Cubs pen will look totally different in 2020. Anchored at the back-end by Craig Kimbrel, the 2020 bullpen will feature a younger and (hopefully) harder-throwing core that could be primed to have a bounce back year.

Younger arms like Rowan Wick, Brad Wieck, Kyle Ryan, Duane Underwood Jr., Justin Steele, Alec Mills, Dillon Maples, James Norwood, and even Adbert Alzolay are all in the mix for a bullpen that could be more powerful and a lot cheaper.

With that power-armed pen and less of a hit in the wallet, Theo Epstein might be able to use that savings for a free-agent rotation ace like Cole, or an elite position-player pick-up like Anthony Rendon or Nicholas Castellanos.

With a likely “Iowa Shuttle” in full effect in 2020, the influx of younger and cheaper arms can’t be a whole lot worse than the pen at times in 2019. Plus, with a full season of Kimbrel, who should be able to get himself ready with a normal ramp-up, 2020 could look like a polar opposite.

While 2020 may seem like a long way away and 2019 still a bitterly close memory, just remember that how you view the team’s current “window of contention” depends on your perspective. The idea of this group of group creating a dynasty is still within reach and could still very well happen with the right tweaks and additions for 2020. Buckle up and get ready for the most important offseason the Chicago Cubs have had since 2015.