The Beginning of a Cubs Season of Possibilities |
From watching baseball early in the morning to staying up late as the Cubs took on the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Athletics, it certainly feels nice to have the Cubbies back home in friendly confines. The record may not be what we, as Cubs fans, want at the moment, which, if we were honest, would be 162-0. It's unrealistic, I know, but one can dream. Imanaga’s strong performance kept the Padres in check for most of the game and also resulted in their first defeat of the young season.
There are plenty of questions and answers that happen throughout a long and grinding season. I will start with some personal observations about the things that are going right for the Northsiders. Kyle Tucker has come as advertised, and for the first time in his career, he hit four home runs in four straight games. Roll out the red carpet because it's time to sign the man to an extension. With Tucker in the lineup, it has tremendously helped Seiya Suzuki have the protection he needs, and he has showcased his hitting talent hitting behind Tucker. The one area that has been a concern during this young season is the bullpen. It's early, so take the early results with a grain of salt, especially that game out west against the Athletics. The bullpen will be better than it has shown, and while Ryan Pressley has not had quite the start everyone envisioned, his track record states he will settle down and become a vital part of this bullpen. The fact that he has not pitched anywhere close to his level and has already secured three saves is undoubtedly a good sign. This team is expected to make the playoffs after going all in on acquiring Tucker, and the free agent signings the team made have fostered a belief that this is a playoff team. The NL Central is wide open for the taking, and this needs to be the year we watch postseason baseball for the first time in four years. Another person who needs a playoff push this season is Jed Hoyer, a brilliant executive, and disciple of Theo Epstein. Still, the results during his presidency have been lacking. It is a contract year for him, and if he wants to stay around on the Northside for the foreseeable future, it will be playoffs or bust. There is no home opener in baseball like the one at Wrigley Field every season. The sights, sounds, and frigid temperatures are always a pleasant experience, as the dog days of summer are on the horizon, and the ivy is about to start turning green shortly. This team has the talent to compete and win a division title, and once in the playoffs, it’s a crap shoot where Wrigley plays a distinctive home advantage. Step one was completed today with a home-opening victory. Let us all buckle up and enjoy this rollercoaster of a ride called the season, where we get to experience endless possibilities. Go Cubs!
