Do You Consider 2025 to Be a Successful Season?

[Rcal10]

10 hours ago, chibears55 said:

Yea it hard to say owner/management had WS aspirations when they failed to upgrade the team at the trade deadline and basically stayed as is, especially after losing 7 of 10, 2 of 3 against Milwaukee, and going from 1 up to 1 back in that span.

2025 was successful for Ricketts/Hoyer because they competed and made the postseason, but as a fan it was disappointing because they gave you high postseason hopes up to the deadline and then basically just hung on the last 2 months. 

Cubs won 92 games in 2025. And they did so after losing their best pitcher in early April. So, would it have been better if they went 29-25 their first 54 games and then went 63-45 after? Who cares how they got to 92 wins. BTW your version of “hung on” has then playing to an 87 win pace over 162 games. Not great, but good. And not “hung on”. All teams have good streaks that propel them to the record they end up with and then have a long period of time where they hang on. That said, of course the fans were disappointed. No matter if they won 98 games and beat out the Brewers, once they lost fans would be disappointed. But that is not the question. Neither is did Tom spend enough to win or does the FO care about winning. The question was if the Cubs had a successful 2025. Unless the only way that question could be answered yes is by winning the WS, by all accounts they did have a successful 2025. 6th most wins in baseball. Won a playoff series and were a few well timed hits away from winning another and going to the NLCS. Growth from PCA, Busch, Palencia. Shaw and Horton stepping up as rookies. How is that not success in 2025 as well as setting themselves up for better years ahead? Had they traded for Bieber at the deadline and had to give up Wiggins but still lost in the NLDS would that have made you feel they had a good season? Had they traded for Suarez at the deadline and he hit under .200 for them, and they lost in the NLDS would that have made you feel they had a good season. With each of those deals they would be worse now. Also, for those complaining about the deadline lack of movement, who did the Brewers acquire at the deadline? Did that indicate they didn’t care either?
I understand those who complain about the spending. Suggest they should win the division every year by outspending the opposition, but that isn’t the question. The question is do you consider 2025 successful? To that simple question based on the reason I gave above, my answer would be yes. Doesn’t mean I wasn’t disappointed losing when they did and doesn’t mean I am happy with the budget. 

[Geographyhater8888]

11 hours ago, chibears55 said:

Yea it hard to say owner/management had WS aspirations when they failed to upgrade the team at the trade deadline and basically stayed as is, especially after losing 7 of 10, 2 of 3 against Milwaukee, and going from 1 up to 1 back in that span.

2025 was successful for Ricketts/Hoyer because they competed and made the postseason, but as a fan it was disappointing because they gave you high postseason hopes up to the deadline and then basically just hung on the last 2 months. 

The upgrading should’ve been done before the season. Unless you believe Meryl Kelly or Mitch Keller made any difference. Burnes (I know he had a season ending injury), Snell and Fried were all available and TOR starting pitchers that make a true impact. With Tucker that team would’ve had potential, especially in an alternate universe where either Horton or Steele are healthy for the playoffs. 
 

Even Bregman would’ve added a couple extra wins and Shaw was overmatched in the playoffs. The offseason is where they failed by pocketing the $ from bellinger.

Edited December 27, 2025 by Geographyhater8888

[Geographyhater8888]

22 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Cubs won 92 games in 2025. And they did so after losing their best pitcher in early April. So, would it have been better if they went 29-25 their first 54 games and then went 63-45 after? Who cares how they got to 92 wins. BTW your version of “hung on” has then playing to an 87 win pace over 162 games. Not great, but good. And not “hung on”. All teams have good streaks that propel them to the record they end up with and then have a long period of time where they hang on. That said, of course the fans were disappointed. No matter if they won 98 games and beat out the Brewers, once they lost fans would be disappointed. But that is not the question. Neither is did Tom spend enough to win or does the FO care about winning. The question was if the Cubs had a successful 2025. Unless the only way that question could be answered yes is by winning the WS, by all accounts they did have a successful 2025. 6th most wins in baseball. Won a playoff series and were a few well timed hits away from winning another and going to the NLCS. Growth from PCA, Busch, Palencia. Shaw and Horton stepping up as rookies. How is that not success in 2025 as well as setting themselves up for better years ahead? Had they traded for Bieber at the deadline and had to give up Wiggins but still lost in the NLDS would that have made you feel they had a good season? Had they traded for Suarez at the deadline and he hit under .200 for them, and they lost in the NLDS would that have made you feel they had a good season. With each of those deals they would be worse now. Also, for those complaining about the deadline lack of movement, who did the Brewers acquire at the deadline? Did that indicate they didn’t care either?
I understand those who complain about the spending. Suggest they should win the division every year by outspending the opposition, but that isn’t the question. The question is do you consider 2025 successful? To that simple question based on the reason I gave above, my answer would be yes. Doesn’t mean I wasn’t disappointed losing when they did and doesn’t mean I am happy with the budget. 

It was successful in terms of relevant and entertaining baseball for 6 1/2 months and the emergence of Shaw, Busch, PCA and Horton all proving to be valuable future contributors.

Its also a success if you consider Boyd, Keller, Carson Kelly and other relievers over performing projections but that’s not always predictive of future performance, so it’s a wash for me. 
 

But the idea it was a failure because they traded cam smith to me is nonsense. Was 2024 a success because he was mashing in AA while the ML roster finished 83-79? If you’re a Cubs fan who lives in the current reality where we’ll never be the Dodgers than winning a playoff series is a success. They had a single postseason series win since 1945 until 2015. 

Edited December 27, 2025 by Geographyhater8888

[chibears55]

53 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Cubs won 92 games in 2025. And they did so after losing their best pitcher in early April. So, would it have been better if they went 29-25 their first 54 games and then went 63-45 after? Who cares how they got to 92 wins. BTW your version of “hung on” has then playing to an 87 win pace over 162 games. Not great, but good. And not “hung on”. All teams have good streaks that propel them to the record they end up with and then have a long period of time where they hang on. That said, of course the fans were disappointed. No matter if they won 98 games and beat out the Brewers, once they lost fans would be disappointed. But that is not the question. Neither is did Tom spend enough to win or does the FO care about winning. The question was if the Cubs had a successful 2025. Unless the only way that question could be answered yes is by winning the WS, by all accounts they did have a successful 2025. 6th most wins in baseball. Won a playoff series and were a few well timed hits away from winning another and going to the NLCS. Growth from PCA, Busch, Palencia. Shaw and Horton stepping up as rookies. How is that not success in 2025 as well as setting themselves up for better years ahead? Had they traded for Bieber at the deadline and had to give up Wiggins but still lost in the NLDS would that have made you feel they had a good season? Had they traded for Suarez at the deadline and he hit under .200 for them, and they lost in the NLDS would that have made you feel they had a good season. With each of those deals they would be worse now. Also, for those complaining about the deadline lack of movement, who did the Brewers acquire at the deadline? Did that indicate they didn’t care either?
I understand those who complain about the spending. Suggest they should win the division every year by outspending the opposition, but that isn’t the question. The question is do you consider 2025 successful? To that simple question based on the reason I gave above, my answer would be yes. Doesn’t mean I wasn’t disappointed losing when they did and doesn’t mean I am happy with the budget. 

Winning 92 games was great BUT....

I said it was disappointing AFTER the deadline because of no real upgrade to the roster and YES they hung on by going 4 games over 500 the rest of season since the DEADLINE.

So my answer to the question, do I think Winning 92 games and a playoff round loss was successful is No because it ended up being disappointing after the start they had because of failing to build up the roster at the deadline and they ended up playing basically 500 (4 over) ball the final 2 months, that to me is hanging on.

Ok, maybe they didn't need to hang on in the end for that playoff spot because they had finished with a big lead against the Reds and Mets, but it was close at one point, and had to hold off the Padres for HF in WC round.

 

[Rcal10]

38 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Winning 92 games was great BUT....

I said it was disappointing AFTER the deadline because of no real upgrade to the roster and YES they hung on by going 4 games over 500 the rest of season since the DEADLINE.

So my answer to the question, do I think Winning 92 games and a playoff round loss was successful is No because it ended up being disappointing after the start they had because of failing to build up the roster at the deadline and they ended up playing basically 500 (4 over) ball the final 2 months, that to me is hanging on.

Ok, maybe they didn't need to hang on in the end for that playoff spot because they had finished with a big lead against the Reds and Mets, but it was close at one point, and had to hold off the Padres for HF in WC round.

 

So to be clear, 92 wins is not a good season. That is not successful. They have to win the WS for you to call it a success. 
I just think people are confusing disappointment at the end of the season as an unsuccessful season. And if that is the guide, not being disappointed at the end of the season, the only way anyone would ever call a season a success if if they won the WS. I also was disappointed. Of course we all were. But 92 wins and winning in the playoffs is success. So if growth in many young players. If the question was asked about being disappointed at how the season ended my answer would be the same as yours. Yes, I was disappointed. But 2025 will go down as a successful season to me. 
let me ask you this. Had they built on the roster by adding Bieber and Suarez and lost Wiggins and Cassie in the process, but still lost in the NLDS after winning 96 games, would that have been a success? They would be worse off now, but won 4 more games and, apparently, tried at the deadline. So success? Is there a scenerio where you would call 2025 a success that doesn’t have them winning the pennant, at least. Is that the bar for success? 

[Soul]

I don’t understand how winning a playoff series and coming within a game of the NLCS is setting expectations extremely low.  I consider it successful because I see improvement from the year before and so the trajectory is heading in the right direction.  It was a playoff team with some success once they got there.  Yes, I’m expecting more moving forward but the question was confined to this season.

If we win 92 next year and the same question is asked I probably give a different answer.

[thawv]

16 hours ago, Soul said:

I don’t understand how winning a playoff series and coming within a game of the NLCS is setting expectations extremely low.  I consider it successful because I see improvement from the year before and so the trajectory is heading in the right direction.  It was a playoff team with some success once they got there.  Yes, I’m expecting more moving forward but the question was confined to this season.

If we win 92 next year and the same question is asked I probably give a different answer.

Your first sentence doesn't make any sense.  How is actually doing something have anything to do with setting expectations low? 

[Manny Trillos Brother]

I think the Cubs really made most to all of the right moves this year, with the one big exception of not making something happen for a starting pitcher at the deadline.

The Steele & Tucker injuries both really hurt, but not as much as losing Horton for the playoffs. I'm just not sure how you account for that kind of bad luck. We still ended up 1 game from the NLCS which I'm pretty certain would have happened with Horton and/or a healthy Tucker. 

We didn't win the WS, but I'm not sure how you don't call 2025 a successful season on the whole. Especially in light of how we did in 2024.