Take Two: Rozner and Ostrowski debate the MLB contenders

Rozner: Joe, there are a million reason to pick the Cubs to win the World Series again. There are so many guys who can actually be better than they were last year. Plus, they add Schwarber, who didn't even play last year and he could hit 40 home runs. But history says they will not repeat. Of course, the Cubs are no longer scared of history.

Ostrowski: We haven't seen a repeat champ in the last 16 years. Over that span, only the 2009 Phillies made it back to the World Series after winning it. Fowler was missed when he was gone for a month with an injury. But now Schwarber is back. We don't even really know what he can do. He hasn't even played half a season yet. But we did see Schwarber go from a torn ACL rehab to the World Series and hit some of the best pitching going.

Rozner: If forced to pick between the Cubs and the field, I'll take the field. Between the Dodgers, Giants, Mets, and Nationals, there are a lot of good teams taking aim at the Cubs. The Cubs are still the best team on paper. I have no reason to pick against them except that nobody repeats anymore.

Ostrowski: I'll also take the field. The Cubs don't have a weakness going into the year. But they've had back-to-back long seasons with a healthy starting rotation. I'm not worried about veterans like Lester and Lackey. Lester has at least 31 starts the past 9 years and Lackey has averaged over 30 starts the past 13 seasons he's pitched. But if you include the playoffs, Arrieta and Hendricks have combined for 140 starts the last two seasons. At some point, this will catch up to them.

Rozner: If it's not the Cubs, I think there are two really good teams in the National League that could contend for the pennant. I think the Dodgers probably have the best team one through 25 not named the Cubs. But there is no team in baseball that can compete with the Mets rotation if those guys stay healthy. That's a very, very scary team if those young starters stay healthy.

Ostrowski: We seem to always forget about the Nationals. They aren't a perfect team, but they're as good as anyone in the NL. Washington won 95 games in a year in which Bryce Harper no longer looked like the 2015 MVP. He'll bounce back. They traded for Adam Eaton, one of the best defensive outfielders last year, but he's back in center field. Trea Turner finished second in the rookie of the year voting and this will be his first full season. The problems: they don't have a closer; Stephen Strasburg has thrown 200 innings only once in his 7 seasons; and there's Dusty Baker.

Rozner: The other team you should never overlook is the Giants. If the Giants get in, they're always a frightening postseason opponent.

Ostrowski: Those are the five teams are on my list of NL contenders. With two from the East and West divisions, the Central looks to be another cakewalk for the Cubs.

Rozner: The White Sox had a great offseason. They obviously have much more they want to do. They are stock piling young pitchers and should have a lot to choose from for the rotation over the next few years. I'm sure GM Rick Hahn would like to add position players in his next big deal if he can. It's going to be a rough couple years on the South Side, but you have to be encouraged by the start of this rebuild.

Ostrowski: Even though we won't be able to avoid the comparisons of the Cubs and Sox rebuilds, they are very different. The Sale and Eaton trades were a great way to jump start their new plan and get fans to buy in with all the new talent added to the organization. The changes are exciting and there is no longer any confusion about the path the Sox are taking and who is in charge.

Rozner: You're right about the buy in. Let's hope White Sox fans show patience because this could get pretty ugly once they finish making deals.

Ostrowski: Sox fans should hope it gets pretty ugly. Another high draft pick would be great for the long-term focus. And 2017 is all about guys such as Moncada, Anderson, Rodon, Giolito, Kopech, Lopez, Fulmer, Collins, and Burdi.

Rozner: Like the Cubs, the Indians have a very easy path to the postseason. That's a big advantage. Obviously, the Red Sox are a huge contender. I will like the Astros a lot once they add a starting pitcher. I'm surprised no one is talking about the Blue Jays. Even with the guys they lost, I think Toronto can be very good.

Ostrowski: The minute Boston traded for Sale, they became the clear AL favorite. But Cleveland is right there. The Indians didn't have Carrasco, a fully healthy Salazar, Encarnacion, or Brantley and they lost the World Series in an extra-inning Game 7. Houston's lineup is scary good. But even if they add a top starting pitcher, they don't have enough pitching for the playoffs.

Rozner: I'm exhausted by the pace-of-play conversation. When the games are good, baseball fans don't care. Make the games good and affordable and nobody talks about pace of play.

Ostrowski: Even though you think Rob Manfred is the worst commissioner of all-time, taking a look at the long-term health of the game in a changing world is a healthy conversation. It's just not healthy for you because some of these foolish ideas are going to give you a heart attack.

• Catch Barry Rozner and Joe Ostrowski throughout the season on their "Hit & Run" baseball show each Sunday morning from 9 a.m. to noon on WSCR 670-AM. Follow Barry and Joe on Twitter@HitAndRun670, @barryrozner and @joeO670.