Three billion, three hundred ninety-two million, six hundred sixty eight thousand, eight hundred seconds. That's 56,544,480 minutes or 942,408 hours or 39,267 days. In layman's terms that's 107 years six months and three days since The Chicago Cubs have won their last World Series which was back in 1908. With a drought like this, one would be left to believe that the thirst for and desire to carry home a trophy in October would be the largest driving force for a team, and one would more than likely be correct.
"The wolf climbing the hill is far hungrier than the wolf already atop."
This old proverb has truth to it, in that while many teams like the Yankees, Cardinals, and Giants have gracefully rose on top of the league for a time, forgotten teams are rising in their wake.
Two years ago, the United States saw the Kansas City Royals rise out of nowhere, destroying any team in their path to the World Series, and though they did not win in 2014, they proved threatening.
In 2015, they came back to win everything and bask in the glory of the World Series spoils. In just the same way, the United States saw the Chicago Cubs rise out of nowhere among giants and fight their way into the playoffs, defeating two of their Division rivals along the way.
And in just the same way, even though they did not win the World Series in 2015, they are looking better than ever, clobbering every team in their path.
The MLB is now two weeks into the 2016 season and the Cubs are looking as they did in the early 1900s, mowing over most all teams in their way. According to the Las Vegas Odds, the Cubs are at odds of 9/2 to win the World Series.
That being said, the Cubs still cannot count out the rest of the MLB, especially their Division rivals the Cardinals and the Pirates. In 2015, the Cubs placed third in the National League with 97 wins, but they also placed third in their division with the Cardinals in first at 100 wins and the Pirates in second at 98 wins.
The Central Division they reside in has become by far the "group of death" in recent years. With so much competition and so many strong rivalries within this one Division, it's hard to ever predict who will come out on top. For us Cubbies fans, though, we are more than optimistic this year.
This year the Cubs have signed Jason Heyward, John Lackey and Ben Zobrist, for you baseball fans out there, you know why this is important, for those of you who aren't however,and explanation is due. Zobrist is not just any Second Baseman, but the reigning champion, as he won the World Series with the Royals in 2015. You could say he's kind of a big deal, but the better of the acquisitions came from the Cubs division rival the Cardinals. Heyward and Lackey were both signed from the 11-time World Series winning Cardinals to the Cubs, further making the Cubs the 2016 MLB behemoth to beat... if anyone can.
So whether you're a baseball fan or not, 2016 may be the historic year in baseball to watch. While it's been 107 years since the last time the Cubs won the world series, this may be their year to end the drought, but since we won't find out until October, there is plenty of baseball to watch until the playoffs... Cubbies baseball that is.
