When looking at this year’s front runners for the World Series, it is easy to look to one of the perennial favorites or a team that has been dominant all season. But, the fact is that those teams have hit the wall when it comes to October the past few seasons.
Last season, the Cardinals limped into the playoffs and wound up taking it all. The Yankees and Red Sox were large favorites to run the table, but Detroit emerged out of the American League.
So, needless to say, the MLB playoffs are more than unpredictable. In keeping with that idea, my pick to win the World Series is literally coming out of left field.
Alfonzo Soriano and the Chicago Cubs will win the World Series. I realize that it has been over half of a century since they last even played in the Series and we are approaching the century mark for their last banner, but this is their year.
When looking at the recent long droughts to have ended, referring to the Red Sox’s win in 2005 and white Sox in 2006, one main factor influenced both: A change at manager that energized the team.
In the offseason, the Cubs hired proven veteran manager Lou Piniella. Piniella’s knowledge of the game and on-field outburst during the Cubs road loss to Milwaukee on June 4th lit a fire under his team. Before Piniella’s outburst, for which he received a 4-game suspension, the Cubs were struggling. They were nine games below .500 and were looking as though they were going to be heading for another long winter. But the Cubs seemed reenergized, going on a winning streak and playing 17 games over .500 for the rest of the season.
Another factor that seems to show the Cubs’ potential for success is their high-priced and, now, over-achieving line-up. The Cubs currently have six players who finished the season batting over .285, remarkable for a team that has struggled for run support over the past few seasons. Soriano, who the Cubs gave a substantial salary in the offseason, hit a team-record 14 homeruns in September, Derek Lee is once again hitting for a high average and Aramis Ramirez is finally living up to the potential that the Cubs thought he had when they traded for him in 2003.
Add the Cubs’ starting rotation into the equation, and they are a viable contender.
This finally is “the year” for Cubs fans. The Cubs will win the World Series, and end the 99 years of suffering for their loyal fans.
