As thousands of Chicago Cubs faithful descended upon the Windy City for the team’s annual fan convention, Anthony Rizzo greeted them with an encouraging prognostication.
‘‘We’re going to win the NL Central,” the All-Star first baseman said. “‘I mean it’s going to happen this year…it’s what we’re going to do.”
From worst to first is one thing…it’s happened before and everyone loves those stories. But to go from fifth place the last five years (an average of 25 games behind the division leader in that same time) to first?
That’s a pretty lofty goal.
“We should be the team,” Rizzo continued. “With all due respect to every other team [in the division], but we’re going to do some things this year. That’s what we’re expecting…that’s what we’re going to put our sights on. And we’re not going to settle for anything less.”
But here’s the thing…Rizzo’s not the only one thinking the Cubs have a shot. Not long after the “Loveable Losers” brought in new skipper Joe Maddon and inked pitcher Jon Lester to a six-year $155 million contract, Las Vegas bookmakers changed their minds on how they thought the team would perform…dropping the odds on the Cubs’ chances to win the World Series from 50-1 to 12-1.
“I know in ‘Back to the Future’ we won it in 2015, which is kind of crazy, to say the least,” pitcher Jake Arrieta said echoing Rizzo’s sentiments. “So we’ll do our best to make sure that happens.”
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