In their never-ending quest for value, the Cubs built a roster around defense up the middle that could turn grounders from their low-velocity pitching staff into outs. The big problem with that concept, and with the broader avoidance of superstars in general, is that it lowers the ceiling while also raising the floor. The result is a cramped living area with far too much unused space in the attic.
It felt at the time that they’d perhaps overcorrected from the previous era in which their production was too volatile. What’s ironic about the whole thing is that the 2016 team may have been the best defensive unit of all time.