The core wants more
Schwarber: ‘This has been a special 6 years ... We want to keep doing this thing.’
They will enjoy their share of free meals and refreshments and will not have any trouble earning some side money for signing memorabilia.
But the remaining core players from the Chicago Cubs’ 2016 World Series title team do not want to be remembered as one-hit wonders as their window for winning could close soon.
“This has been a special six years,” left fielder Kyle Schwarber said Saturday. “We don’t want to be known for breaking the curse. We want to keep doing this thing.”
The Cubs clinched a playoff spot Tuesday for the fifth time in six seasons — a franchise first. Their magic number for winning their third National League Central title in five years was at one entering their game Saturday against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Returning to the World Series would alleviate the sting of the last two seasons.
In 2018, the Cubs blew a five-game Central lead in the final four weeks before losing the NL wild-card game to the Colorado Rockies. They collapsed down the stretch last September, failing to reach the postseason for the first time since 2014.
“It would be fantastic,” Schwarber said of a strong finish. “We go out there and take care of business, especially with what’s happened the last two years. In 2018, we let it slip by. In 2019, going home early, it did not feel too good.
“We want to take care of business. If it’s a win (Saturday) or (Sunday), we want to take this thing.”
David Ross is aware some fans have expected more success, such as at least another World Series title.
He has embraced the challenge in his first season as manager after being part of the turnaround when he joined the organization as a player in 2015.
“My predecessor (Joe Maddon) said it well: The expectations are a good thing,” Ross said. “What this group has done is really taken the narrative of this organization and turned it upside down. That started with the top like (President) Theo Epstein and (general manager) Jed Hoyer and the front office and their plan and vision and getting the right guys.
“Being a part of it as a player and now as a manager, you realize all the hard work that goes into it and behind the scenes that nobody sees. You realize the hard work that the players put in, the coaches put in. It’s real. It’s something to be really proud of.”
Ross said everyone associated with the success of the last six years will have a greater appreciation of it in the future.
“They’re going look back and say, ‘Man, we’ve done something,’ and I don’t think that the end of the script is written yet for this group,” Ross said.
The Cubs are nearing the distinction of going undefeated in one important category in this 60-game regular season: Entering the finale Sunday, not one player tested positive for COVID-19.
The Cubs relied heavily on their 13-3 start while watching teams such as the playoff-bound Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals play numerous doubleheaders because of COVID-19-related postponements.
“This is definitely different,” Schwarber said. “It’s unprecedented. We’re living in history, especially baseball history. It’s been great we went through the whole season. There hasn’t been a hiccup on our side. This virus can pop up out of nowhere.
“It’s been very ideal on our side. But for other teams, like the Cardinals and Marlins, I can’t imagine being them, playing all these doubleheaders to fit in these games.”
Schwarber praised his wife, Paige, and the wives and families of his teammates for making sacrifices. Players and their families will remain in a “bubble” under stricter rules through the playoffs, whether it’s being quarantined in their Chicago hotel or — should the Cubs advance — traveling to Texas under similar restrictions.
“I wouldn’t want to go through a screwed-up season like this without this group of guys in this
clubhouse into an expanded season,” Schwarber said. “I want to be rolling with these guys.”
The commitment also stretches to Jon Lester and Anthony Rizzo, two cancer survivors who elected to play instead of opting out.
“We appreciate them,” Schwarber said. “Those are our two leaders. You can’t say enough about them.”
Schwarber acknowledged hearing coaches Tommy Hottovy
and Mike Napoli give harrowing details of their bouts with COVID-19 only reinforced the team’s pledge to follow health and safety protocols.
“We’re all at a point where you don’t want to make that mental lapse and not follow that protocol because we’re at that time of the year where we need everyone,” Schwarber said. “We’re going to need everyone on board through these playoffs.”