Happy New Year from Chicago Cubs Online to the Cubs Faithful
The calendar has flipped and as I do every New Year’s Day, to quote the great John Lennon, it’s hard to believe another year is over and a new one has just begun. And what a year it was and what a year it could be in 2016 for the Chicago Cubs.
Baseball is just around the corner and before we know it, the off-season will be over and it will be time to watch games again.
It is only 14 days until the 31st Annual Cubs Convention (Jan. 15-17), pitchers and catchers report to Mesa in 49 days (Feb. 19), the Cubs first Spring Training game is March 3 versus the Brewers and Opening Night in Los Angeles versus the Angels is April 4, just 94 days away.
Realizing so many things went the Cubs way last season, the front office tweaked the roster since the NLCS to put the team in the best position possible to win the National League Central Division Crown and make a return trip to the post-season tournament. On paper, the Cubs have one of the strongest lineups in the Senior Circuit. The keys in Two Thousand Sixteen will be to keep the players healthy and to avoid the dreaded sophomore slumps.
Joe Maddon wants his players to embrace the pressure and expectations. All of the pre-season hype will kick into high gear shortly. And it will be up to Maddon to deflect as much of the noise from the players as possible.
Thank you to all of our readers and posters for a tremendous and unforgettable year. I hope everyone has a happy, healthy and prosperous Two Thousand Sixteen.
A tip of the cap goes to Tom, Chris, Brian and Jim, the CCO would not be what it’s become without you guys, I don’t know the words to properly express my gratitude, and to my wife Abby for her unwavering patience, support and understanding.
The CCO will be at the Cubs Convention in two weeks providing first hand recaps and reports for the 11th straight year. And the annual trip to Mesa for Spring Training is being planned.
Two Thousand Sixteen has a chance to be The Year for the Chicago Cubs. It is a process, one that has several steps and each one should be enjoyed and embraced along the way.
For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning. – T.S. Eliot
