If the Cubs win 90 games this year it'll be because

[David]

(rather than have yet another thread labeled finish this sentence)

 

Arrieta was better than Lester.

[UMFan83]

Javy makes a positive contribution

[ctcf]

Kyle stops posting.

[SouthSideRyan]

Health.

[ctcf]

Also if Mike Olt lives up to his potential.

[Guest]

Health.

 

I like where your head's at.

[Guest]

They lost 72

[champaignchris]

...the Cubs lead the Majors in homers as 8 different guys each hit double digit home runs.

[UMFan83]

They lost 72

 

I was going to make a joke like 'because they outscored their opponents in ~55.6% of their games this year" but I figured it would get nothing but groans.

[Clem Fandango]

[Guest]

They lost 72

 

I was going to make a joke like 'because they outscored their opponents in ~55.6% of their games this year" but I figured it would get nothing but groans.

I'm okay with groans.

[d_money]

Montero returns to all star form

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The rotation stayed healthy and productive.

[Derwood]

They lost 72

 

They could also lose 100 because they lost 72

[toonsterwu]

Arrieta was better than Lester, and they made a big mid-season splash for a top tier arm.

[bigkid66]

Lester, Arrieta and Hendricks stay healthy and pitch like they did last year

[Coach.]

...they limped home with a 20-30 record over their last 50.

[Guest]

baseball

[seanimal]

maddon got the most out of them

[Tyrant]

reasons

[muntjack]

Also if Mike Olt lives up to his potential.

 

If this happens they are going to win 100. Olt's potential to me is a.380 OBP and 35+HRs. Put that in here:

 

Fowler CF

Castro 2B

Rizzo 1B

Bryant LF

Soler RF

Olt 3B

Russell SS

Montero C

 

That's absolutely disgusting.

[Guest]

Also if Mike Olt lives up to his potential.

 

If this happens they are going to win 100. Olt's potential to me is a.380 OBP and 35+HRs. Put that in here:

 

Fowler CF

Castro 2B

Rizzo 1B

Bryant LF

Soler RF

Olt 3B

Russell SS

Montero C

 

That's absolutely disgusting.

So his potential is easily the best 3B in baseball?

 

There was one 3B with an OBP of .380 and none with 35 HR. Nobody was at all close to putting both together.

[Guest]

adrian beltre has done it once

[Guest]

adrian beltre has done it once

In a very different era.

 

ARod did it in his prime multiple times.

Miggy did it a couple times.

Chipper in the height of the steroid years.

Glaus did it once

 

They're the only ones I can find since 2000.

[muntjack]

I feel like Olt has as much power potential as anyone, really. He put up OBPs of over .390 throughout the minors. I'm not saying he hits his ceiling often, I'm just saying it's a damn high ceiling.