The 2015 Chicago Cubs entered the season under a wave of cautious excitement, mixed with a tad of obscurity. They were 17-15 on May 12 and wound up winning 97 games.
The 2016 Cubs came into the season as everyone’s favorite World Series pick. There was no hiding from the immediate pressures, and it did not matter. They were 25-8 on May 12. They won 103.
A lot of people probably figured the 2017 Cubs would be much more like that 2016 iteration. Sure, they lost some pieces along the way, including Dexter Fowler, Jason Hammel, and Travis Wood.