5 BOLD Predictions For The 2019 Chicago Cubs

With just one day to go until Opening Day, the time has come for my annual "5 bold predictions" article for my beloved Chicago Cubs. This will be the fourth installment in my favorite series of articles that has featured some big hits (calling the 2016 World Series) as well as some big misses (whiffing on Willson Contreras being the team MVP in 2018.) 2019 hasn't even officially begun yet and it's already shaping up to be an unusual year. I say that it'll be unusual because even though we haven't seen a game that counts yet, fans have been pissed off since January for a smorgasbord of reasons -- the lack of off-season moves (Bryce Harper), a shaky bullpen, the NL Central bulking up their rosters, Joe Rickett's emails, the entire Addison Russell fiasco and the list goes on. I can understand fans frustration to a certain degree but let's call it what it is -- this team won 95 games last season despite the fact they never really seemed to click on all cylinders. Health and an anemic offense plagued the Cubs in 2018 yet they still managed to limp into the Wild Card game before getting ousted by the Colorado Rockies. How much better can they be this season if they can stay fully healthy and get even half the offensive production we're used to seeing? If you know me, you know that I'm an eternal Cubs optimist. The days of "these guys are going to find a way to lose this game" washed away after the 2016 season and since I witnessed how great the Cubs can play that year, I truly believe they can return to that 2016 team that we all fell in love with. Are they perfect? No. But they have one of the best young cores in baseball and a solid rotation so I truly believe that 2019 will be a special year for the Cubs. With that said, here are my five bold predictions for the 2019 Cubs. (Note: These are my opinions. It's OK to disagree with them but try to avoid hunting me down on Twitter to tell me how big of a moron you think I am.)

5. Pedro Strop Will Be The Team's Closer

With former closer Brandon Morrow still on the shelf to begin 2019, nobody is quite sure who the Cubs closer will be to start the season. Morrow missed the entire second half of 2018 because of a bone bruise in his right arm and eventually underwent arthroscopic surgery Nov. 6 to repair cartilage and remove bone debris. Joe Maddon has not gone public with the team's 2019 closer but all eyes have to be on Pedro Strop. Strop filled in beautifully for Morrow last year with a 6-1 record, 13 saves, a 2.26 ERA and a WHIP of 0.99. Even with Morrow's probable return in early May, Strop is in a great position to solidify himself as the team's closer in the first month of the season. He clearly has the stuff to be an elite closer and I believe that even with a healthy Morrow back in the Cubs pen, it will be Strop's job to lose in 2019. Especially when he throws shit like this.

4. Yu Darvish Will Lead The Team In Wins

There probably isn't another Cub that will be under a bigger microscope than Darvish. The big free agent signing of last year struggled to stay healthy and missed the majority of the season because of it. In addition to the frustration of not playing, Darvish was battling the fans and media's image of him being mentally soft and somewhat of an outsider. There was a clear language barrier that hindered Darvish from being fully embraced by his team and the media so Darvish has taken it upon himself to fix that issue by doing something that most of us take for granted -- speaking in English. Darvish surprised people by following up his talks with Japanese reporters early in Spring Training to speaking in English with the US reporters -- minus a translator.

"The most important thing is you guys understand what I'm saying because pitching can be hard to explain sometimes," Darvish said this spring. "I'll have to take my time [explaining]."

His English skills won't help him get his cutter over the plate but it speaks volumes about his character. His level of comfort with the team this Spring has been different than last year and that has translated very clearly onto the field.  In early March, Darvish hit 97 mph and had a devastating slider which he told reporters was "best stuff in my life." With all pitchers, health will be the issue with Darvish this season but if the big righty can stay healthy, I see him leading the team with 17 wins.

3. The Cubs Will Have The 2019 NL MVP

I'll admit this is kind of a chickenshit statement solely for the fact that I didn't specify what player it would be. The problem is my optimism gives me the ability to legitimately argue that any Cubs player could win the MVP this year (Yes, even Daniel Descalso) but deep down I truly believe it comes down to two Cubs -- Kris Bryant and Javier Baez. Baez finished second in the NL MVP voting last season after literally carrying the Cubs offense 75% of the season. In addition to his offensive output, he played Gold Glove defense all over the infield and was a goddamn maniac on the base paths. Even though 2018 was magical for Baez, he still sees ways that he can improve from last season.

"I'm just trying to get more walks," Baez said of his goals for 2019. "Obviously, people are talking about my walks and strikeouts. It's only going to make me better if I walk more and I see the ball better."

All I heard last year from the anti-Baez MVP party was how low his OBP was so if he can find a way to improve upon that, I can really see Javy making another run at the MVP in 2019. Full disclosure: if you held a gun to my head and told me to pick between Baez and Bryant for NL MVP in 2019, I'd go with Bryant. Bryant appears to be back to his 2016 MVP form now that his injured shoulder seemingly has fully healed. There's no doubt that it's Bryant's bat that drives the Cubs offense and when he went down last year, well, you saw the results. However, I'm curious to see how much time KB will spend in the lead off spot since we all know how much Joe Maddon loves to tinker with his lineup. As crazy as it sounds, I think Bryant is probably the team's best lead off hitter going into the season and since I'll always buy into the philosophy of "get your best guys the most at-bats," Bryant in the one hole doesn't sound bad at all. Also, for what it's worth -- you can't watch this and tell me this guy isn't going to mash NL pitching this season.

[caption id="attachment_79520" align="aligncenter" width="705"] MESA, AZ - MARCH 4: Manager Joe Maddon of the Chicago Cubs looks on before the game against the Los Angeles Angels during a spring training game at Sloan Park on March 4, 2016 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joe Maddon[/caption]

2. Joe Maddon Will Be Extended At Seasons End

I've written extensively on the growing contingent of Cubs fans who believe manager Joe Maddon should be fired. The same guy that led the team to break the longest championship drought in professional sports history somehow is still trying to prove himself as a coach going into the final year of his contract. Mind boggling. Look, Maddon is far from perfect and if you really want to read my feelings on him, you can check it out here. Maddon's been asked by the Cubs front office to be more "hands on" this Spring and be more active in the coaching role.

Say what you will about the man's tactics but you can't deny that he knows the game of baseball and I believe that knowledge will drive him to have his best year as manager of the Chicago Cubs. When I say have his best year, I don't necessarily mean it in terms of wins and losses (I think the Cubs win 93 this year) but I believe the players in that clubhouse will be playing for their skipper in 2019. Numerous players have openly voiced their support for Maddon and his approach to managing and with a clubhouse that is "looking like the 2016 team," this could be a special year.....

1. Your 2019 World Series Champions

Call me a homer all you want but I don't see any reason why the Cubs can't go all the way in 2019. This off season has been so funny because while all the fans are bitching and moaning about random stuff, players have stated how this year's team is getting back to the mindset of 2016. Javier Baez referenced how last year's team didn't have the same drive as the 2016 team did and they were going to get back to that mindset. Pedro Strop recently shared some interesting insight into this years team that made my ears perk up,

Look, I get it. Guys are supposed to say stuff like that. There will never be an athlete on the face of this Earth that would say, "We'd really just love to get to the playoffs this year. We're not concerned with winning a championship at all." Strop's comments do hold weight to me though. I think when you look at the overall picture, this year's team is coming into the season with a different mindset and a healthy sized chip on their respective shoulders. Why is that chip so big this year? Let's review -- the PECOTA projection of 79 wins, the championship window is closing, the rotation is too old, the bullpen will be bad, another year of offensive struggles, the NL Central is the toughest division in baseball.... Blah. Blah. Blah. I think Joe Maddon will be a man on a mission this year and will use the aforementioned issues to his benefit and will have the 2019 Cubs partying in Grant Park in early November again. I can't wait for tomorrow.