5 Bold Predictions for the Chicago Cubs' 2017 Season
Last season was kind of a big deal for the Chicago Cubs.
They won their division, the National League Central. Kris Bryant won National League MVP honors. They won the pennant.
Then, the Cubbies did the impossible and won their first World Series since 1908. For those keeping score at home, that's a long time.
Now Chicago has to figure out what it'll do for an encore.
The Cubs could vault over the 100-win mark once again, but where's the fun in predicting that? Instead, let's make five bold-yet-plausible prognostications about the coming season, with the caveat that most won't come to fruition.
Ben Zobrist Will Be Supplanted
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Ben Zobrist has been a key piece of the puzzle since arriving in Chicago prior to the 2016 season.
The 35-year-old jack of all trades has logged innings at second base and in the outfield while providing veteran leadership and an offensive boost.
He figures to play the same role this season but will be pushed at second base by brash defensive whiz Javier Baez and in left field by slugger Kyle Schwarber.
Zobrist will get his reps early under manager Joe Maddon, who loves a versatile player and was Zobrist's skipper during their days with the Tampa Bay Rays.
At a certain point, however, the young talent will force the issue and possibly limit Zobrist's innings.
If it keeps him fresh for the postseason, it could be a blessing in disguise. But the guess here is he takes back-burner status into October while the whippersnappers get their day.
Kyle Hendricks Will Regress
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Kyle Hendricks led the majors with a 2.13 ERA and 188 ERA+ and finished third in National League Cy Young Award voting in 2016.
He drew glowing comparisons to Hall of Famer Greg Maddux from Clayton Kershaw and Maddux himself, per ESPN.com's Jesse Rogers.
That said, Hendricks posted a 3.59 xFIP , a stat that accounts for factors beyond a pitcher's control. Essentially, it indicates the right-hander was a solid mid-rotation arm rather than a borderline ace.
That mark was partly due to the Chicago Cubs' league-best defense, which should again boost Hendricks.
Cubs fans hoping for another top-three Cy Young finish, however, might want to temper their expectations.
Jason Heyward Will Bounce Back
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Jason Heyward hit .230 and set career lows in on-base percentage (.306) and slugging percentage (.325) in his first go-round with the Cubs after signing an eight-year, $184 million deal.
Sure, he won a Gold Glove for his reliably superlative play in right field, but he spent most of the season swinging a moist washcloth.
On the plus side, he's just 27 and proved his mettle as a hitter during his days with the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals.
His apex came in 2012, when he clubbed 27 home runs with an .814 OPS. Marry that to his glove work, and you're talking about a player who picks up MVP votes.
I'm not predicting that type of rebound, but Heyward will swing it better in 2017. He's off to a solid small-sample start, with two hits and an RBI in his first two games.
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Kris Bryant Won't Win NL MVP
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This isn't a knock on Kris Bryant, who is fast emerging as one of the game's elite players.
It's simply a statement about how many good players there are in the National League.
Here's a list of plausible contenders to snag MVP honors from Bryant, the 2016 winner: Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado, Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper, Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw and, as Bleacher Report's Danny Knobler suggested, Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo.
That's right: Not only could Bryant be undone by stars on other teams, but he could also be undone by a star on his team.
If it means another ring for Chicago, he'd surely take it.
The Cubs Will Repeat as Champions
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Speaking of which, the Cubs are trying to become just the second team since 1979 to repeat as World Series champs in back-to-back years.
It's a tough thing to do, no matter how talented and well-rounded you are.
The Cubs will face stiff competition in the NL from the Dodgers and Nationals, among others, and could run into the potent Boston Red Sox or revenge-minded Cleveland Indians in the Fall Classic.
We're gazing way ahead. It's April; a lot can happen.
This Chicago squad is incredibly balanced, however, with a mixture of young and seasoned players, a deep offensive attack, a good rotation, stout bullpen and superlative defense.
Despite the odds, a second straight title isn't merely doable—it feels likely.
All statistics current as of Wednesday and courtesy of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.
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