Cubs will win it all soon

Remember the last time the Chicago Cubs won the World Series?  Let me guess, you don't?  That is because it has been 105 years since the Cubs won it all.  In fact, they haven't even been to the Series since 1945.  The closes the Cubbies ever came to returning to the World Series was in 2003, when they were only one win away.

Ever since that controversial 2003 National League Championship Series, it has not been very pretty for the Cubs, besides when they won back-to-back division crowns in 2007 and 2008.  Unfortunately in both trips to the playoffs, they were never able to get out of the first round.

The Cubs are now in rebuilding mode, but better days are ahead, as management has done an exceptional job rebuilding their farm system in just a short time.  Now they have a solid farm system, with many young prospects expected to be part of the Cubs core for the years to come.

According to MLB.com, the Cubs have five players ranked in the top 100 prospects.  These five players are shortstop Javier Baez (9th), outfielders Albert Almora (21st) and Jorge Soler (25th), and third basemen Kris Bryant (35th) and Mike Olt (57th).  All of these players are expected to be in the majors within the next two to three years, along with some young, talented pitching prospects.

If most of their talented prospects are able to find success in the majors, along with some veteran pieces, the Cubs could realistically be World Series contenders.  Theo Epstein, President of Baseball Operations for the Cubs, was the General Manager of the Red Sox in 2004 when they broke their 86 year drought of winning a World Series, and was with them when they won it all again in 2007.

The reason they were able to do this was because of their player development, and ability to acquire veteran players to fill out their roster.  This is exactly what the Cubs are doing and will be doing within the next couple seasons.

The sky is the limit for the Cubs, with their wealth of talent, young prospects.  This team can be competitive within the next few seasons.  As long as they have some luck on their side, they will finally break there over century long World Series title drought by 2018.

What are your thoughts of the Chicago Cubs?  Can they win a World Series by 2018?  Leave your thoughts below.  

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2013 MLB Predictions: National League Central

Every team starts the season tied for first place, and in baseball anything is possible.  For the players and fans there are hopes, and even for some, dreams, that their team will be a top their division at the end of the season. With Opening Day less than a month away, here is how I see the National League Central shaping out to be:

1st - Cincinnati Reds:

The biggest news the Reds made this offseason was their decision to move flame throwing closer Aroldis Champman to the starting rotation.  This move is an interesting decision because he was a lights out closer last season, (38 saves in 43 opportunities, 1.51 ERA, 122 strikeouts in 71.2 innings), and he has no experience has a starting pitcher.  This season the Reds will have Jonathan Broxton, who they resigned this offseason, as their closer.  Broxton does have experience as a closer, and throughout his nine year career he has been an average relief pitcher at best; with an ERA of 3.10 with 111 saves in 149 opportunities in 450 innings.  

Besides the news to move Champman to the rotation, the Reds resigned Ryan Ludwick to play left field, and acquired Shin-Soo Choo from the Indians.  This fills a huge need at the top of the batting order and in center field.  If he is able to stay healthy the entire season he will make a significant impact with the Reds.  The Reds pitching staff needs to have another solid season, and if the Reds' core players are able to remain healthy, the Reds will win the NL Central . 

2nd - Milwaukee Brewers:

Throughout the last decade the Brewers have struggled to develop young pitching besides, Ben Sheets and Yovani Gallardo.  This season the Brewers have decided to go with a younger and inexperience pitching rotation behind Gallardo, and this decision by Doug Melvin, has led to a lot of criticism from baseball fans.  This is one of the smartest decisions Melvin has made in his tenure as Brewers GM because instead of over paying for veteran hurlers, they are allowing their highly touted pitching prospects to develop. 

Instead of over paying for starting pitching, the Brewers have used the money to revamp their awful bullpen from last season, with the acquisitions of Burke Badenhop, Michael Gonzalez, and Tom Gorzelanny.  Their bullpen was so bad last season, that they had 29 blown saves in 73 opportunities, with a 4.66 ERA, which was the worst in the majors.  If the Brewers bullpen would have converted half of those blown saves, they would have made the playoffs for a second consecutive season. 

With a young, but talented starting rotation, a revamped bullpen, and the best offense in the National League expect the Brewers to surprise everyone and win one of the National League Wild Cards.

3rd - St. Louis Cardinals:

The Cardinals did not need to make many moves this offseason, and their few needs were to sign a left handed relief pitcher and improve their bench.  The biggest free agent the Cardinals signed was left handed specialist Randy Choate to a three year deal worth $7.5 million.  They also improved their bench by signing two utility men, Ty Wigginton and Ronny Cedeno.  The Cardinals will be competing for a Wild Card spot the entire season, but they will come up just short because their pitching staff will be to inconsistent throughout the season.

4th - Pittsburgh Pirates:

The Pittsburgh Pirates are still trying to have their first winning season since 1992, after two straight late season collapses.  The Pirates acquired multiple veteran players, including the signings of Francisco Liriano and Russell Martin.  Russell Martin will be an improvement over Rod Barajas, offensively and being able to handle the pitching staff.  

The Pirates traded away All-Star closer Joel Hanrahan to the Red Sox, for a group of average veteran players.  Jason Grill will start the season as the Pirates closer, even though he has no experience at closing out the ninth inning.  Closing games will be a major weakness for the Pirates, and it will hurt their chances at being competitive this season.  The Pirates will have an average pitching staff and batting lineup, and expect the Pirates to be around .500 this season.

5th - Chicago Cubs:

The Chicago Cubs are in a rebuilding mode, but this offseason they made it a priority to improve their starting rotation.  Their biggest move was signing Edwin Jackson to a huge four year deal this offseason.  They also signed Scott Feldman, Scott Baker and Carlos Villanueva to short, team friendly contracts.  Besides their improvement to the starting rotation, the Cubs signed Japanese closer Kyuji Fujikawa, as a back up plan to Carlos Marmol.  

Veteran outfielder, Nate Schierholtz and Scott Hairston, were signed this offseason to platoon in right field and provide an experience bat off the bench.  The Cubs signed some quality pitchers, but these moves will not drastically improve their team, and they will finish last in the NL Central.