It has been a long time since both Chicago baseball teams have been put in a "win now" mode.
The Cubs are soaring on 2016 expectations of greatness after getting to the NLCS championship game.
The White Sox won the 2015 off-season, but failed to connect on the field. Instead of sitting back and hoping for change, the Sox went out and corrected three glaring position holes: third base (Frazier), second base (Lawrie) and catcher (Avila/Navarro).
The problem with both the Cubs and White Sox is that they may be playing the hardest divisions in baseball.
The White Sox have to contend with World Series champion Royals, another re-loaded Tigers squad, the young rotation of the Indians, and the quickly improving Twins.
The Cubs finished third with 97 wins. The Cardinals and the Pirates may not have made splashy off-season moves, but most of their key core players are still on the roster. The Cardinals will get Wainwright back from injury. The Pirates have a very good young outfield corps.
It would be a rare feat to have both the Cubs and White Sox in the post-season. But 2016 could be one of those rare occasions if both teams do not stumble out of the April gate.
