Given time, Cubs will find their 2017 identity
ST. LOUIS - The 2015 Chicago Cubs found their identity during an August sweep of the San Francisco Giants. They then went on to the National League championship series.
Last year's team identity evolved over time, but it was shaped by Kyle Schwarber's knee injury during the first week of the season and a slump before the all-star break. That team had more than enough wherewithal to overcome those two challenges and go on to win the World Series.
This year? Even though the Cubs have brought back essentially the same cast of characters from last year, team identities always change.
"This is a new journey, a new group," first baseman Anthony Rizzo said Sunday, before the Cubs lost their season opener 4-3 to the St. Louis Cardinals. "I know we're pretty much all the same, but it's completely new.
"This is Game 1 of 162-plus. We've got to find out our identity again this year the same way we did last year and the year before. You come together. Obviously we want to win the division and get back, but we have a lot of things to take care of before that."
Notice Rizzo said "Game 1 of 162-plus."
The Cubs fully expect to return to the postseason this year, Sunday's result notwithstanding. As an aside, the Cubs have reached the point with their fan base much as the Boston Red Sox have done. In other words, reaction to any one win or loss can make it seem like the team plays 162 seasons a year, not 162 games.
Over the upcoming 162 seasons, er, games, the Cubs' identity will develop. After an off-day Monday, the Cubs and Cardinals will resume their three-game series Tuesday night at Busch Stadium.
"Every year an identity emerges, a new challenge emerges," said team president Theo Epstein. "Every year you face adversity in baseball. We didn't find out what ours was until the third game of the season last year. It started to reveal itself. The same thing will happen this year. There is no lack of urgency or freshness or desire out there. Once we get into the rhythm of the season after Opening Day, it will feel normal, and we'll have our 2017 identity."
The team chemistry has changed with the departures of Dexter Fowler (to the Cardinals), Travis Wood, Jorge Soler, David Ross, Aroldis Chapman and Jason Hammel, and with the additions of Jon Jay, Wade Davis, Brett Anderson and Koji Uehara.
But the core group of Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Jason Heyward, Addison Russell, Ben Zobrist, Javier Baez and others is back, and Schwarber anticipates a full and healthy season.
"I know it's not good for storylines, but this group of guys needs no motivation, they need no maintenance or management," Epstein said. "They're self-starters. They're totally connected, really selfless, hungry to win. We're lucky to have this group of guys. They run themselves. They want it bad. They've put a ton of work in during the off-season. It was a great spring training. They're going to do all the little things to get the most out of their ability as a team, emphasis on team. We're just lucky to be here while this is going on."
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