21st Century World Series Champions: Ranking the Top Teams, with the 2016 Cubs at No. 2
As we look at the 25 World Series champions since 2000, where do the 2016 Cubs rank among them? Spoiler alert: They secure the No. 2 spot, despite not gaining any additional credit for ending a lengthy 108-year championship drought. Just take a look at their impressive roster and remarkable season, and you’ll see they truly deserve this ranking. net88
The MVP Performance of Kris Bryant
Third baseman Kris Bryant stood out as the National League MVP, and rightfully so jili free chips. He not only led the senior circuit in wins above replacement but also belted out 39 home runs. While Anthony Rizzo could have easily been the star player on many other teams, he was, in this case, “merely” the second-best player on the Cubs’ roster. Their lineup also boasted the talents of Dexter Fowler, Addison Russell, Ben Zobrist, and Javier Baez, all of whom were well above-average position players. And let’s not forget David Ross, who proved to be a wizard behind the plate, hitting a solid .446 with 10 home runs in just 67 games — a perfect match for rookie catcher Willson Contreras, whose batting skills were so impressive that he often played in the corner outfield when not catching.
A Deep Rotation
The Cubs’ pitching rotation was just as deep and talented as their lineup. Jon Lester had arguably the best season of his 16-year career, which is truly remarkable given that he finished in the top four of the Cy Young voting three times — including a second-place finish in 2016 — and maintained an impressive 3.34 ERA with an average of 206 innings per season from 2008 through their championship run. Kyle Hendricks led the majors with a 2.13 ERA but had fewer innings and strikeouts than Lester, earning him third place in the NL Cy Young race. Jake Arrieta, the club’s third-best starter, still managed a commendable 3.10 ERA across nearly 200 innings, while John Lackey, in his second to last season, turned in one of his finest campaigns with a 3.35 ERA in 188 innings.
Postseason Perfection
The regular season was fantastic, yet for a team that hadn’t won a championship since 1908 and hadn’t appeared in a World Series since 1945, it was not sufficient. The Cubs stepped up their game in the postseason: despite the World Series going seven games against Cleveland, Chicago easily defeated the Giants and Dodgers in the earlier rounds.
A Comeback for the Ages
In a dramatic World Series finale, the Cubs faced an uphill battle after falling behind 3-1 against Cleveland, losing Game 1 (6-0), Game 3 (1-0), and Game 4 (7-2) without much fight. However, Lester led a pivotal Game 5, keeping the Cubs in contention. betso88 sign up Game 6 saw Chicago dominate with a 9-3 victory, setting the stage for an unforgettable Game 7.
With late lead changes, a rain delay before extra innings, and rookie Kyle Schwarber hitting a crucial leadoff single in the 10th that put the Cubs ahead, history was made. taya777 slot download The Cubs clinched their first championship in over a century, marking their place in the inner circle of 21st-century baseball teams.
