This is the fifth installment in what will be a series of articles that will cover all 30 teams, going in alphabetical order
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Despite what the folks at The Sporting News, desperate to sell issues of their 2015 MLB preview, would want you to believe, the Chicago Cubs are not a World Series contender in 2015. They aren’t even a contender for the 2015 National League Central Division title. They aren’t a 2015 NL wild card contender either. They will probably be better than they were in 2014, but better is a relative term. Being punched in the face is better than being decapitated. This team will still be terrible in comparison to the real contenders in the NL in 2015. Let’s examine the insanity that would have to be true in order for the Cubs to contend with the NL’s best in 2015 using a simple tally of the Cubs or the field.
1) Cubs’ rotation vs. Washington Nationals‘ rotation. Washington’s expected rotation has an average career earned run average of 3.35. The same statistic for those five expected Cubs starters? 3.92. Beyond that, Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks are still considered unproven at the major league level. All five of Washington’s starters would be considered front-of-the-rotation guys on any team. The Cubs’ rotation is not equal to, much less greater than, that of the Nationals. Chalk one tally to the field.
2) Cubs’ every day lineup vs. St. Louis Cardinals‘ every day lineup. In order for this to be true, Chris Coghlan would have to have an entire season close to his 2009 NL Rookie of the Year campaign, Jorge Soler would have to prove that he can sustain the start he got off to in 2014, Javier Baez will have to figure out a way to not strike out as frequently as Taylor Swift dumps a boyfriend and Arismendy Alcantara has to be more than Cameron Maybin 2.0. All those things happening at the same time aren’t likely. That’s two for two for the field.
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3) Cubs’ bullpen vs. Los Angeles Dodgers‘ bullpen. An argument could be made that Kenley Jansen and Hector Rondon are of similar value if Rondon can replicate his second half of 2014. That’s about where the similarity ends, however. There is no Joel Peralta or Juan Nicasio for the Cubs. Their counterparts in Cubbie blue are a recovering from Tommy John‘s Jason Motte and a pitcher who contends for worst contract in baseball, Edwin Jackson. Make it three for three for the field.
That’s as far as we need to go. The Cubs are not a contender in 2015. This team is better than it was in 2014, but in comparison to a festering pile of manure, even moldy food looks appetizing. Start thinking about 2016. Next up: the Chicago White Sox. Interested in the Boston Red Sox edition?
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Filed under: Chicago Cubs, Edwin Jackson, Jason Motte, Javier Baez, Kyle Hendricks, Uncategorized Tagged: Arismendy Alcantara, Chicago Cubs, Chris Coghlan, Edwin Jackson, Jake Arrieta, Jason Motte, Javier Baez, jorge soler, Kyle Hendricks
