Cubs long for repeat of historic title
The 2016 season ended with the Chicago Cubs breaking through in Game 7 to win their first World Series title in 108 years. They, again, will be at the center of the top National League story lines to follow in 2017.
CAN THE CUBS REPEAT?
The Cubs were extremely strong in all phases of the game last season. They scored the thirdmost runs in the majors and gave up the fewest, thanks to their combination of dominant pitching and elite defense. A couple of key pieces from last year’s team have departed, most notably closer Aroldis Chapman and outfielder Dexter Fowler, but Chicago might not miss a beat.
Wade Davis was brought in to take over the closing duties, and the return of outfielder Kyle Schwarber, as well as a full season from catcher Willson Contreras, should provide plenty of offensive support behind first baseman Anthony Rizzo and third baseman Kris Bryant.
The Cubs’ lone area of concern appears to be starting pitching depth, but Mike Montgomery, the projected fifth starter, offers upside, and the front office has a lot of young talent to deal if it needs to make a trade.
METS’ HOPES HINGE ON HEALTH OF BIG ARMS
A year after making it to the World Series, the New York Mets took a step back in 2016, finishing eight games behind the Washington Nationals in the NL East and falling to the San Francisco Giants in the wild-card game. They ranked third in the majors in preventing runs and could have been better if not for the rotation being hit hard by injuries.
Getting the staff back close to full strength could be a major factor in their quest to return to the top off the division.
Matt Harvey made 17 mostly ineffective starts and had a 4.86 ERA and 7.4 strikeouts per nine innings before deciding to have surgery to treat thoracic outlet syndrome. Jacob deGrom was limited to 24 starts and was shut down in early September because of an elbow injury. Steven Matz’s season also ended early because of an elbow issue.
The return of Zack Wheeler, who looked like a front-of-the-rotation starter during his first two seasons in the majors, is also a key. He has hit a few snags in his comeback from 2015 Tommy John elbow surgery, and his workload will be monitored.
FUTURE STARS
A new wave of youngsters has reached the majors and could be ready to make a significant impact in short order.
The Nationals’ Trea Turner burst on to the scene in 2016, batting .342 with 13 home runs and 33 steals in about half a season. He’ll be hard-pressed to maintain that pace, but he appears to be on the fast track to becoming one of the game’s bright young stars.
Josh Bell’s power is still developing, but the 24-year-old’s approach at the plate is advanced. In 152 big-league plate appearances in 2016, he walked more than he struck out. Bell is likely to get most of the starts at first base with the Pittsburgh Pirates and should provide a strong batting average and on-base percentage. He has the potential for 20-plus homers down the road.
The Atlanta Braves’ Dansby Swanson, the first overall pick in the 2015 draft, ascended quickly through the minors and more than held his own in the majors. The shortstop hit .302 with three home runs and three stolen bases in 38 games and is a building block for an up-and-coming organization.
FUTURE MIGHT BE NOW
The rebuilding Braves, Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers have accumulated a healthy share of young talent and could find success sooner than expected.
Atlanta had, by far, the worst offense in the league during the first half of 2016, but the Braves scored the sixth-most runs in the majors after the All-Star break. They boast a strong core featuring Freddie Freeman, Ender Inciarte and Swanson and have brought in veterans Bartolo Colon, Jaime Garcia and Brandon Phillips to help in the short term. In all likelihood, the Braves are a year or two away, but they look like a team worth watching.
In Philadelphia, Odubel Herrera took a step forward in 2016 and should have a little more help in 2017. Maikel Franco and Tommy Joseph could both hit 30 home runs, and prospects J.P. Crawford and Roman Quinn should get an opportunity to contribute by this summer. Pitchers Aaron Nola and Vincent Velasquez offer top-ofthe-rotation upside.
Jonathan Villar had a huge year for the Brewers in 2016, and his success should carry over to 2017. Keon Broxton boasts an exciting power-speed combination, and he cut down a bit on strikeouts late in the season.
Eric Thames hit 87 homers over the last two seasons in South Korea, and most projection systems are optimistic that he’ll be much better than his previous stints in the majors. Shortstop Orlando Arcia, 22, is still in growth mode, but he should be a force on the basepaths.