They hit 191 as a team last season, if my quick math is right. If they hit right around 200 in 2017, I think that would be outstanding.

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Not accurate on 50 HR guys snce testing but point taken

White Sox had over 200 in 2005. Shwarber will put them over 200 this year.

Oh man....you can certainly tell baseball season is almost here.

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IF they don't get bored (big if), I think the Cubs could have three 20-game winners and one 15-game winner.

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Cubs will win at least 90. Barring a plane crash involving the whole team. Not expecting another WS Championship this year but they sure as hell are a playoff team at the very least.

I'm assuming you have Hendricks penciled in for 30 then?

If they stay healthy, which is always a big 'if", they should be dominant and should have a great shot at repeating.

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They have a real good lineup. But its not that far fetched that 2-3 starters go down and they win 83 or something

Its almost impossible to build a team so deep you can guarantee 90 wins

Which is why I will always have flashbacks to the 85 cubs when it seemed as if the whole starting staff went down in May after getting off to a good start.. Or the year when Dunston and Sandberg missed extended time and they had a terrible middle infield.

I'd like to think the Cubs can win 90+ again but the age of Lackey and the innings of all of them plus whomever they put into the 5th spot has to give you pause.

2016

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Hawaii (fuck) You

Hey hey! Holy mackerel! No doubt about it!

12

This is a better younger team with a smart front office and way more pitching depth. Larry Gura is not going to come out of mothballs to start in June for this team.

This is a reasonable estimate, provided they all stay healthy. Sure one of them could hit 50 (Bryant would be my guess, but Schwarber has that potential too). But Rizzo is more likely to be around 30 than 50. Should be a lot of fun watching this trio this season in any case.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Four is a quartet. Trio is three. Maybe you are only counting the white guys?

Russell is not going to put up a big HR total. The 3 named will, provided they stay healthy. If Russell tops the 21 he hit in 2016, I'll be a bit surprised. I don't see him topping 25 in any case.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Put Addy down for 30 HR right now and 88 RBI. Light em up Chicago.

From 21 HR to 30? Do you know how fe guys hit 30 or more over the past few years? Not at all likely. I hope you are right though.

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Go Cubs!!!!

You need to use better bait if you are trying to catch the big fish.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Arrieta in his contract year, Hendricks coming off a year he won the ERA title and with an offense that should be even better if Schwarber can stay healthy....Lester coming off a 19 win campaign...all are guys who could win 20. But I would say all will win 17 or more.

I do believe the PECOTA projection of just 90 wins is too low though. How things work out with the 5th starter will have a significant impact. Hendricks may have faded in the 2nd half....again, but he still won 15 games and logged 166 innings. They may miss him in the first half if whoever takes that spot struggles. I would make a conservative estimate of 95 wins in the regular season.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Dude, you're so misinformed, stupid, or both it's painful.

Last year 37 dudes hit 30+ HRs. That's not a "few" guys, on the contrary, that is a "lot" of guys.

For reference in 1998 when every dude in MLB was on roids, 30 dudes hit 30+ HRs.

I don't know if all 37 were dudes though. Some might have been bros or jamokes.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Swoot point Brocephus.

Mlb shrinking the zone and losing that low strike this year, more runs, hits and home runs favors the Cubs.

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How many played SS? Would you like to bet on it? I say he will not hit 30 in the 2017 regular season. Do you want to wager he will?

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Go Cubs!!!!

Why don't you accept my wager, you liar?

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You talked about "guys" hitting 30+ homers, you didn't mention anything about shortstops hitting 30+ homers.

You were talking out of your uninformed ass and got called on it. Please go away.

Also, just to close the loop on this, point out where I said that Russell would hit 30 bombs in 2017. It shouldn't be too difficult, just use the quote function. I wouldn't look to hard though because I never said that. All I said is that your assertion that not many guys tagged 30 bombs is completely and totally incorrect.

Thanks for playing though.

I'm not sure the pitching is better, can Hendricks and Lester improve from last year? I expect Jake to be about the same as last year, Hammells is probably slightly better than Montgomery. I don't really care what their record is, just make the playoffs and I like their chances to advance.

Also the Defense was ridiculously good last year, have to expect a slight step back from that Defense.

I'm thinking 92 wins

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