Some pundits are viewing the NL Central as a two-horse race between St. Louis and Milwaukee, but don’t sleep on the Cubs.
After a surprising 74-win season last year, the Cubs made several additions this offseason around the diamond. Dansby Swanson headlines the group with Cody Bellinger, Trey Mancini, and Jameson Taillon as possible key names as well.
Former Cubs pitcher and current TV analyst Ryan Dempster was a guest on the “Fly The W” podcast and shared why he believes Chicago can win the NL Central this year.
“Honestly, when I look at it I think there’s a chance to win the division,” Dempster said (21:55 in player above). “I think the Cardinals are going to be tough, obviously. They’re always tough, that’s just how it is. I think Milwaukee has starting pitching that’s going to keep them in games and the Reds are kind of in that rebuild mode. The Pirates are always in a rebuild mode.”
The Cubs finished last season strong and Dempster is a fan of their offseason additions as well.
“You go get Jameson Taillon. You go get Cody Bellinger on a one-year deal, which I think is a great move. You get Dansby Swanson, proven winner, Gold Glover, All-Star, MVP-type candidate player up the middle,” he said. “You add all these other little pieces along the way. Getting a guy like Michael Fulmer and Tucker Barnhart. All these little things that you do you just create depth.”
The PECOTA projections came out recently and give the Cubs less than a 5% chance to win the division. But as a former player, Dempster said that guys inside the clubhouse just laugh at that.
“You don’t know. You can predict it,” he said. “We get it, there’s data that says this is how this person’s going to be. But if guys have above-average years, now all of a sudden you go from 77 to 87 or you go from 77 to 89 wins or 90 wins and you’re in the playoffs. It doesn’t matter…
“I think they have a chance to win the division. I truly believe that. I’m not blowing smoke. I mean that. I said it before those ratings ever came out. I echo what Cliff Floyd said. 77 wins would be a failure for this team because they’re better than that.”
Spring training is underway and the Cubs are looking to build off their 74-win season last year to get back over .500 – and possibly into the playoffs – in 2023.
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