Okay, so I’ve been digging into the Cubs’ 2016 season because, well, who hasn’t? It was epic! I started by going back to the beginning. It was nuts, this was the year they finally broke the curse, right? 108 years! I had to see what the team looked like.
I first pulled up the roster, just to see who was on the field. They had Jon Lester pitching, which was huge. Then there was Miguel Montero catching, and Anthony Rizzo at first base. That’s a solid start. I mean, these guys were the foundation, no doubt. And of course, they were managed by Joe Maddon. I remember watching some interviews with him; the guy’s a character and a genius, no question.
I spent hours, honestly, just going through game recaps. I watched clips of the regular season, and wow, they were dominant. They won 103 games! They scored way more runs than they allowed. Their run differential was +252, which is insane. So they were crushing it, but it meant they didn’t have to come from behind very often. I remember thinking, “Where’s the drama?”
The World Series
Then came the playoffs. I relived the World Series against the Cleveland Indians. Man, that was a rollercoaster. They went down 3-1 in the series. I was freaking out even though I knew how it ended! It was crazy to think they were so close to losing. It reminded me of those old games where a team makes a huge comeback. Cubs were only the sixth team ever to come back from 3-1 down to win it all. It was pretty special.
Game 7 was wild. I watched the whole thing again. It went into extra innings, and it was a tie game! They won 8-7 in the 10th inning. It was only the fifth time a Game 7 went into extra innings. And the rain delay before the 10th? Talk about a nail-biter. And they lost to the Indians last time Game 7 went into extra innings. But this time they pulled through!
Reflecting on the Team
After watching all that, I just sat back and thought about what made that team so special. They had this young core that seemed like they’d be good for years. It seemed like they were set up for a dynasty. But by 2022, only Kyle Hendricks was left. Time flies, I guess.
I also started reading about what the players had to say about the new manager for 2024, Craig Counsell. They haven’t even played a game under him yet, but it’s interesting to hear their thoughts. Change is always a big deal, especially in sports.
It was a trip down memory lane, going through the 2016 season. I got totally absorbed in it. It’s one of those stories you can revisit over and over, and it still feels amazing. Cubs fans, or any baseball fan really, knows what I’m talking about. That 2016 team was something else. Just had to share this whole experience, it was too good to keep to myself!
