From a journalistic view, the trouble with the Cubs is that we’re going to run out of things to say. Soon.
There are only so many synonyms for “great,’’ and we have used most of them less than three weeks into the season. Worse, we’ve been headed off at the pass.
Jake Arrieta threw a no-hitter last week, his second in his last 11 regular-season starts, dating back to last year. Lots of public praise followed, as it should have. But pitching coach Chris Bosio already had predicted in spring training that Cubs pitchers would toss three no-hitters this season. Three! It’s tough when a media willing to hype anything in camp gets out-hyped by a coach.
One sports talk show host has changed his prediction from 101 victories for the Cubs this season to 108. He did that after they had started 2-0. I don’t know what happened in those two games to precipitate a seven-victory swing, but if I had to hazard a guess, it would be an inside tip that Babe Ruth had invaded Jorge Soler’s body.
A 108-victory regular season would tie for ninth for most ever, along with the 1975 Reds and the 1970 Orioles.
There’s nowhere to go. We’re already shouting from the top of the mountain, and the season is still in its infancy. Please don’t get me wrong: This is an extremely talented, extremely fun team that is going to win a lot of games this season. It’s just that they haven’t won them yet.
It feels like we’ve written the book without the whole story.
Shifting gears, whom do you see the Cubs facing first in the postseason?
