The Good: The depth chart of the Cubs has definitely improved over the past few years.  With a good combination of older players and rookies, the Cubs definitely have the potential to create a new Chicago dynasty within the next couple years.  The addition of rookies Kris Bryant (#17, 23, Infielder) and Kyle Schwarber (#12, 22, Left Fielder, Catcher) have proven to invaluable assets on the field and are quickly turning into fan favorites. Bryant has been labeled as one of the most valuable power-hitting prospect in the game and it has clearly shown during the season and the post-season with his ability to hit homers in the clutch(MLB.com).  Now, let’s not forget about the star pitcher, Jake Arrieta (#49, 28, Pitcher) who was very consistent during the season with his stellar performance.  As many recall, Arrieta came very close to a no-hitter for quite a few games, always having someone hit it in the last few innings.  That was until the Cubs played the Dodgers in L.A. where Arrieta threw his first career no-hitter and which greatly contributed to the game being won and a resurgence of support from fans.  

The Bad: The potential for the Cubs was clearly shown during the season and the early post-season, but potential without execution is worthless.  The Cubs looked strong in the playoffs.  And then the played the New York Mets.  For whatever reason, the energy that had carried the Cubs into the Playoffs had worn off and fans were subject to watching the Cubs lose game after game to the Mets.  It just didn’t look like they were trying to make moves on the ball at all and small mistakes began to cumulate to large issues within the team.  One mistake was during the last game where it looked as if the Cubs were going to make a comeback from a four deficit and with only one out left, Starlin Castro (#13, 25, Infielder) approached the plate with a wink to the crowd and a cocky grin on his face.  The pitcher read him like a book, a book for children ages six and under.  He promptly swung hard and missed, every time.  His strikeout stole whatever momentum the Cubs were gaining during those last few innings and cost them a chance at not being completely swept by the Mets in the playoffs.  

The Ugly, kinda: Although it seems as though a dynasty is brewing in Wrigley Field, the bleak shadow of the World Series Champion hiatus will continue to engulf the Chicago Cubs’ reputation for years to come.  However, all that means is that when they do win the World Series, which might be sooner than you think, the reaction by Chicagoans will be extreme.  If the media thought the riots in Chicago were extreme when the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup (the first couple times) one can only imagine what kind of an uproar Cubs fans are going to create.