Yardbarker
x
Three reasons why the Chicago Cubs could make (or miss) the World Series
Joe Maddon of Chicago Cubs is having a Manager of the Year season by guiding his team with a steady hand all season. Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Three reasons why the Chicago Cubs could make (or miss) the World Series

The Chicago Cubs have been playing as if they are a team of destiny thus far in 2016. And thus far in the year, all things have gone their way. With the exception of Kyle Schwarber’s season injury in early April, they have avoided any crippling injuries, only twice lost more than three games in a row and never spent a day outside of first place. Things have gone incredibly to plan in their season of destiny thus far, as they prepare to host Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Saturday.

With that said, anything can happen in the game of inches that is baseball. This was nearly proven to Joe Maddon’s team as they attempted to close out their National League Division Series matchup. The favor shifted to the San Francisco Giants for the majority of Game 4, before the Cubs furious comeback in the ninth inning. This proved that even the best teams are susceptible to losing control of things in the postseason, and the Cubs are that exact class of the MLB this year. 

It took two final at-bat major moments to win two of their three victories in the NLDS to get the Cubs to this point. And the competition will do nothing but get stiffer, as their 4-0 series loss last season at the hands of the New York Mets in the NLCS proved. But with the experiences of both victory and defeat in hand for them, this Cubs team is awfully prepared for battle as they get ready to head into the NLCS  with only four wins separating them from their first World Series appearance since the Truman administration. 

What are the key elements that can either propel the Cubs into the World Series? As well, what could send them packing amid what could be the biggest disappointment in team history? Here is what can make or break the Cubs destiny in the NLCS. 

Keys to the Series 

Javy Baez

Baez was Mr. Clutch against the Giants, delivering the decisive home run in Game 1, then singling to drive in the go-ahead run in Game 3. He has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he needs to be in the mix on an everyday basis now and has even bumped All-Star Ben Zobrist to left field. If he continues to deliver in the big moment has he has so far, he could be the most fearsome Cub bat of all. 

Aroldis Chapman

Chapman closed out each game of the Giants series, but was noticeably less sharp than he was during the regular season. He allowed three hits and walked one, before ultimately overwhelming opponents to escape the jam. He will need to be less Houdini and more precise going forward, because late inning let ups carry wounds that have little time to heal during this part of the year. 

Kyle Hendricks

He lasted only 3.2 innings of Game 2 of the NLDS, after being hit by a line drive on the mound. Luckily enough, the Cubs pen bared down and helped to deliver the victory still, allowing only two hits and no runs over the next five plus innings. However, Kendricks making a healthy return is of the utmost importance to the Cubs winning the depth battle on the mound that they have benefitted from all year. He will also need to be sharper in his return to the hill, as he allowed two runs on four hits, including a pair of RBI doubles to Joe Panik and Gregor Blanco. 

Anthony Rizzo

It is truly a testament to the depth of the Cubs lineup that it was able to sweep the Giants out of contention with virtually no contribution at all from their most important hitter. Rizzo only worked out one hit in 17 at-bats during the NLDS, and is a career .149 hitter in 52 postseason plate appearances. He’ll need to find a way to break out of that slump soon, because Rizzo’s presence is vital to assuring that Kris Bryant sees pitches ahead of him.

Three Reasons Why They Could Win It

1. Everybody doesn’t have to be ‘on’ at once

The Cubs boast incredible depth. In addition to that, it is well placed depth as well, as they are able to get many of their most important bats in the lineup, despite some playing the same position. Utility man supreme Ben Zobrist has been uncommonly settled this year, playing 119 games at second base, with only 27 in left field and 24 in right field. However he started all three NLDS games in left field so that Baez could be in the lineup everyday at second base. As a result, Baez’s .375 average led the series in hitting, as well as set the table for his game-winning homer off Johnny Cueto in Game 1. 

2. They have a near-impenetrable starting staff

The Cubs will send a pitcher that won at least 18 games to the mound in likely six out of a possible seven games in the NLCS. Jon Lester won 19, and is in line to pitch games one and five for certain. Following him in some order will be Jake Arrieta and Hendricks, each of whom won 18 games on the year. The sole starter to not approach 20 victories? John Lackey, who is a veteran of 16 postseason series and has pitched 131 playoff innings. They have the upper hand on the mound from the onset of nearly every possible matchup.

3. Never say die

The Joe Maddon factor is real. He has been relentless in trusting his guys and keeping them in places that they are comfortable in, regardless of recent returns. On one hand, this rigidness could see the team fail to make necessary adjustments and ride it out too long. But on the other it inspires a confidence in players that they will get another shot to break through. Confidence is a big component in the success of this team, and the swagger that the guy calling the shots carries is the tone setter for it all. Everyone on the team is ready when called upon, and more often than not delivers as needed. 

Three Reasons Why They Could Lose It

1. As a team, they stay cold at the dish

They won their NLDS matchup mostly in-spite of themselves and heavily rode their pitching, because they were terrible at the plate. As a team, they hit .200 against San Francisco pitching, while striking out 38 times and walking only eight. Kyle Hendricks had as many hits as Anthony Rizzo, Addison Russell and Jason Heyward, and he only had one at bat. Pitching wins championships, but Cub hitters have to pick up the pace at the plate or else they too could be washed out the playoffs in a hurry by a hotter swinging club. Let last year’s NLCS be a testament to this: in their sweep at the hands of the Mets a year ago, they hit .164 as a team.

2. Kris Bryant is avoided

It is tough to pick one’s poison between Bryant and Rizzo usually, but thus far in the postseason, Rizzo has provided absolutely no reason to pitch to Bryant at this point. Bryant only walked 75 times on the year, which is a shockingly low amount for a guy that is likely to win the NL MVP this year. Much of that is due to the fact that he was protected by Rizzo and Zobrist, who combined for 177 RBI on the year, many of which being Bryant. Rizzo in particular hit .310 with runners on base and carried a 1.078 OPS with runners in scoring position. However, with Rizzo and Zobrist carrying a combined .129 average (4-for-31) this postseason hitting behind Bryant, and Dexter Fowler only 2-for-15, it may behoove pitchers to make virtually anybody else than Bryant prove they can beat them.

3. The magic runs out

Often times in baseball, the biggest dog doesn’t have the last bite. The Cubs were the sole 100-game winning team in baseball this year, and only 50% of the time historically has that team gone on to win the World Series. It has been since 2009 that a team was the sole 100-game winner and went on to win the Series as well. Just last season, the Cubs brought the 100-win St. Louis Cardinals’ season to a close in the same fashion. It is a game of parity and one where the underdog often has his way. So what was accomplished early, has less and less baring as the year wears on.

X-factor: Wrigley Field is the biggest home field advantage in the playoffs

The Cubs were an MLB-best 57-24 at Wrigley Field this year, and tacked on another two wins in the Division Series. They have not lost consecutive games at home since August 13 and 14 and only once in the second half as a whole. An important part of protecting one’s postseason hopes is cashing in on home-field advantage. And the Cubs have a decisive one in their possession.

VERDICT

They are baseball’s best team for a variety of reasons and are coming out of a series where they won by and large by throwing punches until a decisive one finally landed. The odds are that they will hit much better as a team this round and that they will be able to support their starters much better than they have to date. It has been 71 years since they last won a National League Championship, but all indications point towards them breaking that streak – and getting a shot at ending a much longer one as well. Cubs win in six games.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

+

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.