For the first time since 2008, the Chicago Cubs are going to the playoffs! If you are a Cubs fan like myself, then you have been waiting for this moment since Theo and Co. came into the fold back in 2011. I understand how hard it is to be patient when the Cubs haven’t won a World Series since 1908, but this 2015 Chicago Cubs team has proven to be worth the wait. Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have done a masterful job of making this team relevant again. Whether it was trading pieces of the club for prospects, reclamation projects, or international draft slots, signing high upside free agents or hiring one of the best managers in the game, Theo and Jed have left no stone unturned to improve this ball club for years to come.
The hiring of Joe Maddon has accelerated the Cubs' rebuild. He brings an element of swagger and fun to a team filled with inexperienced talent. He has done this before with the Tampa Bay Rays, grooming top talents to reach their potential. Nobody expected the Cubs to compete this year. Most baseball minds believed it would take at least another year to allow these youngsters to get accustomed to Major League Baseball. But here we are in early October, and the Cubs have already clinched the wild card. This year is different than 2008; we knew that the window was closing for that aging team of veterans. It is safe to assume that the current Cubs roster will be able to compete for years to come. In a sense, they are playing with house money this year. No one expected them to be in this position; there is no pressure to win now.
At the very least, the Cubs will see some real playoff experience. The Cubs have five rookies who are serious contributors: Kris Bryant, Kyle Shwarber, Jorge Soler, Addison Russell, and Javier Baez. That is a lot of inexperience for a team that might be playing the Cardinals -- who have a ton of playoff experience -- as the playoffs progress. Anthony Rizzo is 26 and Starlin Castro is 25, and they are considered seasoned veterans by the Cubs' standards. These young guys are coming into the right environment. They don’t need to be the face of the franchise right away, like Starlin Castro was. They don’t need to play for a team that is going to lose 100 games. They are put in a position to compete in a lineup where the next guy can pick them up if they fail. There is no added pressure and lofty expectations and that will allow this team to mature at the natural rate.
I think the Cubs have what it takes to make a run at a World Series this year. Is it a long shot? Maybe, but October baseball is a magical thing. Last year's World Series consisted of two wild card teams. The young talent on the roster, coupled with Joe Maddon managing and Jake Arrieta being almost unhittable might just be a recipe for postseason dominance. One thing is for sure, and that is that this year's playoffs will be a thrill ride. Stay tuned.
