By: Jake

If I am being completely honest, the most terrifying thing about the 2016 Cubs is that they are so goddamn talented. I’ve even read some idiots that think they might be too talented, which of course, is asinine. Teams can’t have too much talent. They can be too left-handed. They can be too right handed. They can have too many egos. They can have too many injuries. They can have not enough 14 year old team leaders who are no longer allowed in the clubhouse. But, you can’t have too much talent.

That said, the expectations are enormous. This is a World Series Championship or bust year. Everyone knows it. This isn’t the first time there’s been a ton of pressure on the Chicago Cubs, but let’s not act like it’s that common. Outside of last year, think back to the last Cubs teams w ho have filled us with lofty expectations, whether pre-season or mid. 2003 was a great year until it wasn’t. Ditto 2007 and 2008.

As a tortured Cubs fan, I am emotionally obligated by my stupid brain to think back to those teams as the benchmark for Cubs great-ishness. Last year, I of course fooled myself into thinking that a lineup stocked with (staggeringly) talented rookies, mostly young other guys, a Cy Young winner, a great #2, and a solid bullpen could get us to the top of the mountain. You know the rest.

So, instead of sitting around and hoping that the rookies wouldn’t regress in their second year, Arrieta would improve on a virtually unimprovable season, Lester would improve in year two in the NL, Dexter Fowler would be easily replaceable and everything would work out famously, Theo and Jed decided to, how do you say, not fuck around. They passed on Jordan Zimmerman and David Price. They let Dex walk and told him to get paid elsewhere, which was the prudent thing to do at the time. For a minute, I was anxious when it looked like they might stand pat and only make a few minor moves. Hey, you won 97 games last year, how much better can you get? Hows about a LOT.

In the matter of a couple days (I think. My head was spinning in euphoria for like a week or two, so I’m not positive) they signed John Lackey, Ben Zobrist, and Jason Heyward. Meanwhile, moving Starlin to the Yanks for Adam Warren. Everything was set. They didn’t even have to move Jorge Soler, which a lot of people thought was a no-brainer after the Heyward signing. Then this happened.

A little more footage from #Cubs SURPRISE this morning at camp. pic.twitter.com/7X1skZmOSD — Kelly Crull (@Kelly_Crull) February 25, 2016

Remember when Joe came out last season and told the media that he told Dex, “You go, we go”? All of the sudden, the band was back together. The guy who fueled the ‘15 Cubs from the top of the lineup, particularly in the second half, was back.

But, FUCK!!! What will they ever do with Schwarber and Soler and Baez?!?!? That’s where the genius of Joe Maddon comes into pl ay. Most managers want 8 real guys and a couple of other guys to fill in the gaps. That’s not Joe. He’s the best kind of boss. He’s the kind of boss that can see you’re worn down at work and you just don’t have the energy to bring your best. The kind of boss that grabs you on a Thursday on your way out the door and says, “hey, get out of here and relax tomorrow.” And, yes, I realize that NO ONE is lucky enough to have that kind of boss. Except the Cubs, of course. This team is going to be well rested, and more importantly, they won’t be put in situations where they will not be able to perform their best. You face a guy who is tough on lefties, Soler-Dex-Heyward across the outfield. Guy throws a great changeup in any count? Jorge, relax until the 6th and then get ready in the cage. I trust Joe Maddon to keep this team in the best possible position to win the Central, NLDS, NLCS, and the Series.

After all that, the expectations still make you worried, because we’re Cubs fans. I mentioned the 2003 and 2008 Cubs earlier. Now, what you should realize is what these teams look like when compared side by side…

Position 2003 2008 2016 C Damian Miller Geovany Soto Miguel Montero 1B Eric Karros Derrek Lee Anthony Rizzo 2B Mark Grudzielanek Mark DeRosa Ben Zobrist SS Alex Gonzalez Ryan Theriot Addison Russell 3B Aramis Ramirez Aramis Ramirez Kris Bryant LF Moises Alou Alfonso Soriano Kyle Schwarber / Jorge Soler CF Kenny Lofton Jim Edmonds Dexter Fowler RF Sammy Sosa Kosuke Fukudome Jason Heyward

One could make the argument, which is exactly what I am doing, that you would take every player in the 2016 lineup outside of Sammy Sosa (and even still I think it’s not that far of a dropoff to Heyward) over the rest of them.

So long story short, we’ve got a better lineup, a better manager, a significantly better front office (FUCK Jim Hendry) than we’ve had in the past. Bring on the expectations, this fucking team is built to win it all.