ST. LOUIS — As the 2016 World Series trophy was hoisted throughout the visitors clubhouse at Progressive Field last November, so were the expectations for the Cubs in 2017.
"I don't want to sound like a (jerk), but that bar always has been there for me," said ace Jon Lester, who opens the Cubs' effort to become the first franchise to repeat as champions since the 2000 Yankees when he opposes the rival Cardinals at Busch Stadium today.
"I came from Boston, where if you didn't make the playoffs, it was all hell breaks loose. I love that. That's why I wanted to come here. That's why I wanted to be a part of this and wanted those young guys to experience that. Once you win, you don't want to go back the other way. And baseball is so funny and fickle about things to where you have unexpected years where people get hurt and that's part of the game."
This season, the stakes again are high with starting pitchers Jake Arrieta and John Lackey potentially leaving after this season, as well as closer Wade Davis.
The Cubs are hoping that reclamation project Eddie Butler can bolster the rotation in the near and long-term future, but they openly recognize their lack of major league-ready starting pitching depth.
Anthony Rizzo, one of the oldest pillars of a franchise that was rebuilt starting in 2012, maintains 2017 isn't an all-or-nothing season.
When reminded that he and his teammates rallied around David Ross' impending retirement last season, Rizzo replied, "Every year we want to win the World Series. To say it's all or nothing, it's kind of unfair.
"We're favored to win the World Series. So it's going to be a long grind. We know that, and it's about us coming together and doing it."
Manager Joe Maddon, who declared the Cubs would be "talking playoffs" in his introductory news conference in November 2014, carefully explained what a successful season would look like.
"Win (today's) game," Maddon replied. "And then try to win Tuesday's game, and then try to win Wednesday's game. That's successful."
Simply, Maddon prefers to stay in the present and illustrate only some of the past achievements, such as winning Game 7 of the Series after a 17-minute rain delay, on T-shirts that deliver a message about the process rather than the ultimate goal.
"The trap always has been to talk about this in a larger sense," Maddon said. "I really trained myself, and I want our guys to do the same thing. That is to really focus on what's going on right now and what is controllable."
The Cubs recognize that a fast start is only part of the journey to the title. At some point — likely in May — they will opt for a six-man rotation to relieve some of the workload Lester, Lackey, Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks have compiled over the past two seasons.
Because of their Series triumph, the target on their backs has expanded. They could be perceived as vulnerable as they needed three consecutive victories to avoid elimination in the 2016 Series after winning 103 games during the regular season.
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Explore all your options"It would be a disappointment," catcher Miguel Montero replied in response to a scenario of the Cubs failing to repeat. "You're built to win, and you want to win. We have what we need to win here again. We have to play good baseball again and have to do everything right again.
"We know we can do it. But if it doesn't happen, we have the talent under control to go again the next year."
Lester, who is signed through 2020 with an option for '21, places his trust in president Theo Epstein's ability to acquire championship-caliber talent. The signing of Lackey before the 2016 season, according to Lester, raised the Cubs' talent level as well as their mind-set about being prepared to win.
"The unfortunate part about the game is important pieces retire or move on and you have to find that next guy to replace them. Hopefully (Arrieta and Lackey) don't go anywhere, and we're fine for the next however many years.
"But at some point, 'Lack' is going to go home and not show up, and you hopefully move on to next guys and replace (Lackey) with a quality guy."