Spring has sprung

By Michael Hugall

Spring is defined by the wonder it brings to the western world. The buds on the trees are blossoming to represent a new lively year, everyone’s favourite ice cream shop is going back into service for another calendar year, and the great game of baseball providing excitement and exuberance in another season.

April 3, 2016 marks the 113^th year of Major League Baseball existence and for many fans it is a time to enjoy the warm weather and cheer on their favourite teams (not to mention eat their fair share of ballpark hotdogs and crack a cold-one). Indeed 2016 is looking to be like any other year and not disappoint the fans, in this offseason particularly we have seen some pretty worth-while changes around the world of MLB.

From big free-agency signings:

Zack Greinke signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks (6 yr – $ 206.5million)

Justin Upton to the Detroit Tigers (6yr – $132.75 million)

To controversial rule changes throughout the league, it will be a season which will take a brief digesting period before we the fans can accept the great pastime that is baseball.

This offseason also saw two more players enshrined in the baseball hall of fame located in Cooperstown, N.Y. as Mike Piazza and Ken Griffey Jr. were respectively elected to represent MLB’s greatest on Jan. 6. And with that said we had to say goodbye to some journey-men in the offseason

Those we bid farewell:

Chone Figgins: 12-year veteran for three teams, 2009 All-Star and holds a career batting average of .275

Rafael Soriano: 14-year veteran for seven clubs, 2010 All-Star and holds a career ERA of 2.89 while saving 40-plus games in the 2010, 2012 and 2013 seasons.

Adam Laroche: 12-year veteran for six clubs, 2012 Gold Glove winner also 2012 Silver Slugger recipient.

As teams take the field to begin the 113^th season begins there is one big storyline to watch for. It is not the Blue Jays’ rebound from last year’s American League Championship series nor will it be the collapse of the AL West Powerhouses, the biggest storyline to keep an eye on come April 3 will be the Chicago Cubs.

Last year saw the best Cubs record since 2008 however it could not reverse the World Series drought which is now entering its 108^th season nor could it reverse the “curse of the goat,” which has lasted as long as the 1945 world series against the Detroit Tigers.

Although the past is shady, there is a new hope in the windy city. After a breakout season from starting pitcher Jake Arrieta and the acquisition of Jon Lester, the rotation is looking like it once did with Carlos Zambrano, Kerry Wood, and Mark Prior.

In addition to the pitching prowess, the young stallions Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant and Jorge Soler combined with veteran’s Anthony Rizzo and Ben Zobrist is certain to turn heads around the league. Going to be exciting to watch Joe Maddon’s Cubs take the field.

Finally, the article would not be complete without extremely early World Series predictions, so here is the Converged Citizen’s sports staff with their ideas. Let the 2016 season begin.

 

Michael Hugall:

World Series: (AL) Texas Rangers vs. (NL) Chicago Cubs  — (W) Chicago Cubs.