Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo didn't go as far as Back to the Future II on Thursday, but he has high hopes that the improved Cubs will be much better in 2014.
Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo: ‘We’re going to win the NL Central’
Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Speaking at a Cubs Caravan event in Chicago on Thursday, Rizzo predicted a division win for Chicago.
“We’re going to play, we’re going to win the NL Central. You guys will quote me on that,” Rizzo said, per Carrie Muskat of MLB.com. “We should be the team — with all due respect to every other team, they’re just as good talent wise — but we’re going to do some things this year and that’s what we’re expecting, that’s what we’re going to put our sights on and we’re not going to accept anything less.”
There is reason to be excited on the north side in Chicago. New manager Joe Maddon and free agent starting pitcher Jon Lester are on board, joining one of the best collections of young talent in the game. But the Cubs were 73-89 in 2014, with a lot of improvement needed. Perhaps the 31-28 finish over the final two-plus months gave Rizzo reason to be excited for 2015, even before adding Maddon and Lester.
In Back to the Future II, released in 1989, the Cubs were predicted to win the 2015 World Series, in a sweep of Miami.
The Cubs last won the NL Central in 2008, the second of back-to-back division titles. The club has averaged 90 losses in the six seasons since, including five straight years with losing records.
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