How many games will the Cubs win?

[lukethedrifter]

It's not like Cubs haven't been here before. Plenty of playoff performances.
Last year, beat the Cards (then swept by Mets). 2008, won the division by 7.5 games (then swept by Dodgers). 2007, won the NL central by 2 games (then swept by Diamondbacks). 2003, had it in the bag, DOH!. 1998, Sosa!! Wild card (then swept).

[lukethedrifter]

in case you were wondering, the Cubs are 4-15 in postseason series. 30-60 postseason W-L.

/i did the adding it up so i might be off by a game/series or two

[Radbird]

89. Cubs are always going to be the Cubs.

Just like the Red Sox were always going to be the Red Sox?

[Cheddar Tom]

I'm surprised most of the picks are with 100-104....I think it is being underestimated how hard it is to win that many games, even when 1/3 of your schedule contains 5 teams in a rebuild. I think it is a good bet that the Cubs pitching staff could allow around ~600 runs. That means the offense would have to produce 785-825 runs. I don't anticipate that happening.

[JL21]

I'm surprised most of the picks are with 100-104....I think it is being underestimated how hard it is to win that many games, even when 1/3 of your schedule contains 5 teams in a rebuild. I think it is a good bet that the Cubs pitching staff could allow around ~600 runs. That means the offense would have to produce 785-825 runs. I don't anticipate that happening.

Exactly. That's exactly where I'm coming from.

A ton of stuff has to go right to win 100 games, even for truly great teams. Health, maximizing base runs, BABIP luck, strand rate, not taking a hit from the floor of the roster, underperformance from established vets or stagnant development from the kids... there are so many things that can ding a team. I don't dispute that the Cubs have enough talent to ride a lot of those things out if they go wrong, and I could even see them winning 100 or more if things go right. But the more likely outcome is below that.

[Hoot45]

I'm surprised most of the picks are with 100-104....I think it is being underestimated how hard it is to win that many games, even when 1/3 of your schedule contains 5 teams in a rebuild. I think it is a good bet that the Cubs pitching staff could allow around ~600 runs. That means the offense would have to produce 785-825 runs. I don't anticipate that happening.

Exactly. That's exactly where I'm coming from.

A ton of stuff has to go right to win 100 games, even for truly great teams. Health, maximizing base runs, BABIP luck, strand rate, not taking a hit from the floor of the roster, underperformance from established vets or stagnant development from the kids... there are so many things that can ding a team. I don't dispute that the Cubs have enough talent to ride a lot of those things out if they go wrong, and I could even see them winning 100 or more if things go right. But the more likely outcome is below that.

The 2015 Cardinals winning 100 games, fresh in our memory, probably has a strong influence on how many games people believe the Cubs can win. I completely agree that winning 100+ games is special, but then I also look at last year's Cardinals and think, what the hell.

[Tim]

I picked 100-104 basically because the Cubs are good and most of the NL isn't even competing.

[JL21]

They're averaging 6.15 runs per game, and giving up 2.7 runs per game. That's... ridiculous.

[jim]

I did read before the season started that the Cubs had the easiest early schedule (or second easiest) of any team. I figured they would come out of the gates smoking. Not taking away anything they have done, but they will a stretch where they cool off.

[CardsofSTL]

89. Cubs are always going to be the Cubs.

Just like the Red Sox were always going to be the Red Sox?

No. Red Sox have the DH; an anomaly that eventually overcame the curse.

Now if the NL ever adopts the DH...anything could happen including the Cubs actually winning a World Series. God forbid.