With the month of May and the second month of the 2016 Major League Baseball campaign coming to an end, there’s just one team that stands out from all the others. That team is the Chicago Cubs. With a league leading record of 35 wins and 14 losses, some baseball writers are even saying that they are on pace to set an all-time record for most wins in a single season.
So with all those impressive numbers and praise set aside, why are these Chicago Cubs the best team in baseball? It all goes back to 2011 when the great Theo Epstein, general manager of the Boston Red Sox, who put not one, but two World Series championship teams together in Boston as the youngest general manager in baseball history, left for the windy city and the Cubbies.
Bringing in a certain swagger and a massive change in how they do business into the front office is just what the last place Cubs needed in 2011.
Instead of a philosophy of playing the free agent market and buying talent, which is what they did with the last regime, they built a future through the draft, building the best farm system in Major League Baseball, and making smart off-season trades. That was the single most effective change to the ball club, and it’s shown every season since.
Playing in the always-tough National League central division, with teams like the strong and confident St. Louis Cardinals and a young but very skilled Pittsburgh Pirates, the Cubs had a lot to overcome. But, that’s exactly what they have done.
They’ve overcome all odds in the last five seasons, to now be the most dominate team in Major League Baseball and perhaps the favorite to win it all. They have become a model franchise with all these right moves, and many teams are starting to follow in their footsteps.
Of course though, the praise shouldn’t go toward Theo Epstein and his star studded front office. It truly goes to the players and the manager. With players like the reigning National League rookie of the year Kris Bryant, the NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta, all-star Anthony Rizzo and young phenom Addison Russell would be enough star power to make the playoffs.
But, with great off-season moves, bringing in the two-time World Series champion Jon Lester, all-star Jason Heyward and reigning world series champion Ben Zobrist, it shows this team is deep, hungry and ready to win. The team has the offensive that will not let up, and it has the pitching that Cub’s fans haven’t seen since the ever-so -famous 2003 season.
With Joe Maddon at the helm, calling the shots on the field and creating a team atmosphere that truly has not been seen before in baseball, it’s safe to say that this team will be around and ready to win for a long time. Yes, I know what you’re thinking about: how the Cubs always choke at the last minute and have not won anything since 1908. You don’t have to tell me that, believe me, I know. This is baseball; you never know what could happen. But, if you can this summer, tune in because this team is making baseball popular and most of all fun again.
