The Cubs are clearly favored sons to win the World Series.
With a national expectation of greatness, it will put more pressure on the young core.
The 2016 Cubs are built around young power hitters: Anthony Rizzo (26),
Kris Bryant (24), Jorge Soler (24), Kyle Schwarber (23) Addison Russell (22) and Jason Heyward (26). Many think Javy Baez (23) will be Joe Maddon's new version of Ben Zobrist, the super-utility player. Baez has experience at second, short (his best position) and third. The team may try him as a center fielder in winter instructional league.
The world knows that the young core guys are good. But can they push through another full season of league adjustments, and not cave to the pressure?
Young fielders plus veteran arms seems to be the plan. A rotation of Jake Arrieta, John Lester and John Lackey, on paper, appears solid. But most think Arrieta and Lackey will probably have a lesser year from 2015, while some want Lester to have a much better 2016. The back end of the rotation is still unsteady with Jason Hammel (who has to work out of Maddon's doghouse) and Kyle Hendricks. Adam Warren, acquired in the Starlin Castro trade, makes more sense as a 5th starter instead of Hammel. But that is pretty much it in the pitching department. The Cubs current management has failed to draft, develop and promote a starting pitcher to the majors.
Will it have to be the young fielding corps to lead the Cubs to the playoffs?
As in the Mets series showed, quality pitching can dominate quality hitting. Beating the Cardinals in the playoffs may have been the "victory" that mattered since the Cubs have been looking up at the St. Louis dominance for years. But now, they have to win the toughest division in the NL. So far, the Cardinals, Pirates and Brewers have not made significant moves, while the Reds are still working their garage sale rebuild.
Probably the biggest factor in 2016 will be whether Maddon can keep all the pieces together. Will certain players read their rave reviews and back down a notch or two. Will the dreaded sophmore slump hit half the line up? Will the new Chicago celebrity status (endorsements, clubbing, bar hopping) for players become a distraction?
2016 will be a critical year for the Cubs.
