By Bob Zayas, MLB Correspondent
3/5/20
In October 2019, as the MLB regular season was coming to an end, I wrote a blog regarding the Cubs and their 2019 postseason chances. I wrote…“Cub fans saw the Cubs come apart with injuries, one run losses, bullpen disasters and lots of frustration. The heartbreak intensified because the Cubs were within a couple of games of catching the St Louis Cardinals (who held first place in the NL Central), only to end up in a 9-game losing streak!...Wait till next year”.
Well, “next year” is here, and while the Cubs' Opening Day roster looks almost the same as in 2019, there is hope that the Cubs can play well enough to reach the postseason.
Offseason talk pointed out that it seemed the Cubs gave up towards the end of the season and weren’t playing with enthusiasm. That they didn’t have the will to win. However, injuries and poor pitching didn’t help either! One significant change, though, for 2020 will be the new Cubs' Manager, David Ross.
Ross, a fan favorite when he played for the Cubs (2015-2016), is now the skipper as Joe Maddon is coaching the Los Angeles Angels. With a quiet demeanor, Ross should be able to relate to the rookies as well as the veterans considering he played in the MLB for 14 years and has earned two World Series rings (2013 Boston and 2016 Cubs). With hope, he'll be able to add to that collection as manager, and become just the second in Cubs history to win a World Series title as a player then as manager of the team.
The Cubs' season opens with a three-game series starting March 26th in Milwaukee. The home opener will be played March 30th versus the Pirates.
How are the Cubs predicted to do in 2020? The consensus is .500 ball. Possibly 82 wins. But as we all know, once the season begins, there's no telling how a certain team will do. Time will tell as the Cubs seek to return to October and claim a spot in the postseason in this year filled with expectation. Go Cubs!
Sources: ESPN.com, Bleacherreport.com and USAToday.com
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