CHICAGO — The predictions are in.
Cub fans look like they're going to have a great summer.
Sox fans, perhaps not so much.
So say the national baseball writers who, just days away from Opening Day, are weighing in on the upcoming season.
A sample:
• Sports Illustrated:
Cubs, first in the NL Central.
"The return of converted catcher Kyle Schwarber to left and the loss of Dexter Fowler in center are reasons for concern in 2017."
Sox, last in the AL Central.
"I think they'll be better in 2018, but it's probably the following season when they really establish these guys."
• Baseball Prospectus
Cubs, first in the NL Central. 92 wins.
Sox, 4th in AL Central. 76 wins
• Bleacher Report
Cubs, 1st in NL Central
The "Cubs are still going to be great at catching the ball, and maybe even better at hitting it. Bottom line: This is still a great team."
Sox, 4th in AL Central
"Their lineup still has solid individual parts. But let's not get too carried away here. If they are [traded] it's going to be an ugly finish for the South Siders."
• USA Today
Cubs, 1st in NL Central
"A 99-win season is the expectation for the Cubs. And why not? So long as their 1-2-3 of Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks stay healthy, they’re deep enough to absorb body blows elsewhere. "
Sox, 4th in AL Central
"At least a fourth-place finish this year will come with both eyes on the future."
• Fivethirtyeight.com
Cubs, 1st in NL Central
"Let’s keep in mind that the Cubs are not only smart, but rich — so they’re a good candidate to bring a pitcher in at the trade deadline if they need one."
Sox, last in AL Central
"I don’t think much of the prospects they got, and I think that a Hall of Fame-caliber pitcher on a reasonable contract (Chris Sale) and an All-Star outfielder on a ridiculous one (Adam Eaton) are players you want to keep around."
• Associated Press
Cubs
1st in NL Central
"The Cubs strengthened their bullpen by trading for Wade Davis and signing Koji Uehara in the offseason. In [Mike] Montgomery, Davis and Uehara, they have the pitchers who got the final out of three of the last four World Series — likely not a coincidence given their goals for this year."
Sox, 4th in AL Central
"Many White Sox fans might keep a closer watch on the [AAA Charlotte] Knights than the big league club. The development of the franchise’s suddenly rich minor league system will help determine the trajectory of Chicago’s new rebuilding project."
The Cubs and Wrigley Field are 95 percent owned by an entity controlled by a trust established for the benefit of the family of Joe Ricketts, owner and CEO of DNAinfo.com. Joe Ricketts has no direct involvement in the management of the iconic team.
