The expectations for this Chicago Cubs team were, well, astronomical. It was more than the fans with the optimistic talk. The baseball world was having a hard time NOT jumping on the Cubs’ bandwagon. And the Cubs came out of the gate with 107-year anger. Joe Maddon told them to “embrace the target”. They left no question to that. The target was fully embraced.
The hot start to the season brought comparisons to other great teams. Only three teams had won more games in their first 35 than the Cubs. The Yankees in 1939 (28) and the 1928 Yankees (28), as well as the 1984 Tigers (30).