Wisdom of the Crowd

 

Just when you thought it was safe for the Pirates to wander out of last.

The Cubs, with only a small amount of retained talent, have managed to come off to a great start this season. I think this is similar to 2008 where they came out blazing as 'The Team With Kosuke Fukudome On It', only this time things might last a little longer since Kosuke Fukudome was really only a thing for 2008 [sidenote, HE'S STILL PLAYING? KOS-FU IS 45 AND HE'S STILL PLAYING IN JAPAN??]. Seiya Suzuki is IMMEDIATELY looking like the real thing, with fantastic contact energy, nice power, and the sort of fun versatility that reminds us of another outfielder named Suzuki.

Other than Suzuki and the traditionally-lethal Marcus Stroman, a lot of the rest of this team is operating on the strangest logic. We've got a 30-year-old sophomore in Patrick Wisdom, and everyone's hoping he has a season that measures up to his mid-2021 run. Right now he is 1-for-11, and has struck out 4 times. Interesting to note that Seiya Suzuki has also struck out 4 times, but at least he has 3 hits and 6 RBIs to show for it. There's a similar concern with Frank Schwindel, who's 2-for-10. 

The other hangers-on are at least acting like a fuller core, even without all the guys they lost last year. Ian Happ is off to a really nice start, hitting .714 through 2 games, with 5 hits and 4 RBIs. Jason Heyward's even gotten a few hits, though it's yet to be seen if he's actually going to hit through the entirety of a season again. Hoerner and Madrigal have gone from rivals for 2nd to a decent double play combo, and both are at least nice defensively as they wait for their averages to fully develop. And while I thought he was cooked last season, Kyle Hendricks had a pretty awesome Opening Day start. As a matter of fact, all three Chicago starters so far have put in great work, including Hendricks, Stroman, and longtime relief option Justin Steele who evidently makes a great starter too; hopefully Drew Smyly will follow suit.

This sort of impressive start, especially against a team I thought would contend in the Brewers, could be a sign of things to come. It could also be a false omen, and the team could get back to being steamrolled. But I genuinely think there's a lot more talent in this team now than there was late last season, and I think they at least have a shot to compete. The Cardinals may have the highest probability to take the division, but the Cubs can't be counted out yet.

Coming Tomorrow- From the man who had to take over for Kris Bryant to the man who had to take over for Carlos Correa.