Are the Cubs Legit?
The Chicago Cubs
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Cubs will join the Cleveland Indians in this year’s World Series. The Chicago Cubs have not been in a Word Series since 1945 and haven’t won one since 1908. The unfortunate truth about the Cubs is that they are one of the most historically relevant and important teams in MLB history, but have always been the joke of the league. The Cubs play their games in Wrigley Field and didn’t play with lights until the 1970s. They have had a number of superstitions unlike any other team. And finally seem like a winning team. For back to back years, they have gone to the playoffs with one of the best managers and rosters in the big leagues. It might seem relevant now to list their best players, but in truth, the whole entire team could be put on that list for one reason or another. For example, Jason Heyward has played awful at the plate, but is one of the best defenders for the Cubs. The pitching rotation is unanimously the best rotation in the league. They have two starters that are fighting for the NL Cy Young and two position players fighting for the NL MVP. This team isn’t lacking in any degree and is the clear favorite for this year’s World Series.
Game 1 of the World Series starts tonight at 5:00pm PT and will continue for at least the next week. This World Series in some regard was somewhat unexpected. I mean, most people would agree that the Cubs were going to the World Series, but the Indians, the Indians? It seemed like the predicted AL World Series team could be the reigning champs, the Kansas City Royals, a refreshed Boston Red Sox team, or even the powerhouse that is the Toronto Blue Jays and of course, the Texas Rangers. There was even some talk that the New York Yankees might be able to make a run for the championship. The Indians were regarded as just another sub-par team within the AL. People didn’t believe in Corey Kluber, former Red Sox, Mike Napoli, or even young superstar, Francisco Lindor. There are a number of other great players that will definitely show up this World Series. Unlike previous World Series, we are watching two unfamiliar teams in the World Series. Like I said before, the Cubs haven’t been to the World Series in over 50 years and the last time the Indians got to the World Series, it was 1997. The previous World Series’ have seen somewhat established teams that are used to going to the World Series like the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and San Francisco Giants. This World Series will be very exciting because we are going to be able to watch a team that was expected to win it from the beginning of the season and a team that no one believed in.
The main reason why I predict this World Series will be decided after the 4th game will be because of the notable stars on each team. To say that the pitching for the Cubs is good is an understatement, from starting pitchers like Kyle Hendricks to closer Aroldis Chapman, this pitching will keep the Indians hitless for a number of innings. On the other side though, the Indians might make Joe Maddon use his bullpen early on. The most important thing to be looking for when watching these games is early game pressure. Both sides are going to try to jump onto the ball early in the games. I suspect that the games will slow down once the games come to a close because of solid bullpens on each side. Not to say that the starting pitchers on each sides are ineffective, it is just difficult for a pitcher to keep down such good players for a number of innings.
I predict the Cubs will win this World Series just like most of baseball has predicted, but I think it might be decided in Game 6 or 7. The Indians are in no way a bad team and this isn’t just a fluke, they are a legitimate team that can overcome the superstar Cubs.
Final Prediction of World Series Game 1 [Chicago Cubs v Cleveland Indians]: 4 - 3
