North: World Series on the horizon for Cubs
The Cubs have added and subtracted players and are playing some money ball, spending millions to break the losing spell of 108 years.
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts and his president of Baseball Operations, Theo Epstein, have sent a warning to the National League with their recent moves. It looks like their latest acquisitions of John Lackey, Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist will make beating the Cubs much more difficult.
Lackey, 37, is a strong leader and the ground ball pitcher that the Cubs need at Wrigley Field and other small parks.
The 26-year-old Heyward, who the Cubs signed to an eight-year deal, seemed to come alive playing in St. Louis. He was a good player in Atlanta, but his offensive and defensive stats make him one of the best all-around players in the game. His arm and glove in right field are rock solid.
And I know Cubs fans especially enjoyed weakening the best team in their division by taking two of the Cards' best players in Lackey and Heyward
Let's not forget their addition by subtraction. They got rid of Starlin Castro, a fine hitter but a nightmare in the field, and improved the team.
A few years ago, I said the Cubs would never win a championship with Castro at shortstop. Moving Castro to second last season was a brilliant move.
Castro played OK there, but replacing him with the 34-year-old Zobrist, who just wins, hits, fields and is a leader for his team, was another strong move.
Joe Maddon wants his people, and Epstein and Ricketts are listening.
A newly renovated ballpark, a great fan base, sound front office, and tough players with good character all adds up to success.
It doesn't seem that long ago the Cubs were years away from a sniff at a World Series, but they are now the hunted and looking darn good - at least on paper.
Of course we all know where expectations can lead, but I don't see that many holes. This team also has an owner who wants to win as much as the fans.
On a personal note my mother, a Cubs fan, just celebrated her 86th birthday. I told her the Cubs will still win in her lifetime. I'm feeling good about that prediction.
Program notes:
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