Chicago Cubs: Building an all-decade starting lineup

The Chicago Cubs saw their share of ups and downs this decade. With just weeks left in 2019, I took a crack at assembling an all-decade team.

In the first five years (2010-14) of the decade we saw a lot of upsetting seasons and a lot of good potential going somewhere else. During this stretch, the Chicago Cubs went 346-464 under four different managers. We also saw the fall of some great players for the organization like Carlos Zambrano who finished his 11-year career with the Cubs in 2010.

After 2014 the Cubs hired a new skipper, former Tampa Baya guru Joe Maddon, who promptly led the Cubs to four postseason appearances in five years with the club. In 2016, Maddon led the Cubs to an impressive record of 103-58-1 and a World Series title over the Cleveland Indians in seven games. Their World Series title ended the 108-year drought for North Siders.

That same year, we saw the talents of Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant, otherwise known as by the term Bryzzo, steal the show. Bryant won the National League MVP that year hitting 32 home runs and driving in 102 runs to go with his league-leading 121 runs and a 146 OPS+.  Rizzo turned in a great year as well, hitting 32 home runs and driving in 109 while also winning a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger.

Below, you will find a list of players who we all can believe that improved the Cubs and help them to get to the postseason time and time again. Also, you will see players from earlier in the decade that planted the root for stars today.