Did you know the Cubs scored 10-plus runs more than any other team last season? Their Pythagorean record was 90-72 because of run differential, but their record in games decided by one or two runs tanked that in reality. In those games, Chicago was a miserable 26-44 (.371), including a stretch at the end of the season where they lost six consecutive games to the Reds and Cardinals by two runs or less.
So as much as the talk about lineup changes is exciting and could help reverse those trends this year, the Cubs are really going to need their bullpen to be more of a force at the end of games.