Cubs young core envisioning playoff run
ST. LOUIS -- Chicago Cubs President Theo Epstein sits atop the visiting dugout bench at Busch Stadium, stares across the field and can't help but feel like a father watching his kids grow up before his eyes.
This wasn't supposed to be happening.
Certainly not now.
The Cubs were designed to be a contender next year, giving the St. Louis Cardinals all they can handle in 2016 and just being competitive this year, but the kids refuse to listen.
They believe they can win now, and if they're envisioning a playoff berth, who is Epstein to squelch their dreams?
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"There's a respect of how good St. Louis is, knowing they're the standard on winning baseball," Epstein tells USA TODAY Sports, "but there's no fear. I really like the identity the players have formed for this team. They believe they're good.
"This kind of feels like a big series for us, as big as it can be in May."
The Cardinals are off to their best start in franchise history, 20-6 entering Wednesday, but the Cubs, at 13-12, refuse to be intimidated, believing they're the heir apparent to the National League Central crown.
"We don't look up to any other team," All-Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo says. "We just want to be ourselves."
This wasn't meant in a condescending way, nor was it intended to disrespect the Cardinals. It simply represents a new aura in Chicago, with players wearing T-shirts that read: "We are good."
"The defining face of this team is that we're talented, and we're young," Epstein said, "and we're going to grow together into something that's pretty special. They're very respectful, but at the same time, there's good energy.
"It's a cool vibe. I wouldn't trade it for anything."
Yes, and like any parent knows, kids will do the darndest things. They can jump out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning against the Cardinals on Monday, give back four runs in the bottom half, lead 8-4 in the sixth inning and ultimately lose 10-9.
These are called growing pains.
"We are," Epstein said, "embracing the struggle."
Walking into the clubhouse Tuesday, the Cubs acted no differently than if they lost a game of checkers to their grandfather. The chatter is loud. The music is blaring. No one brings up the past.
"These guys are a lot more professional than I gave them credit for," says Cubs 38-year-old catcher David Ross, who is almost old enough to be several of his teammates' dad. "They work hard. They're polite. They're humble. They play the game right.
"I've been really impressed how they handle themselves on a daily basis with all of these expectations. Nothing seems to bother them."
The Cubs, who recognize the burden created by the surreal expectations surrounding Kris Bryant and their kiddie corps, have added security detail to the team.
"We hadn't even had to think about it in the past," Epstein said, "but with all of the autograph hounds out there, there's definitely a buzz around the team.
"It's indicative of the attention these guys are getting now."
You know it's getting crazy when Rizzo is having the best season of any Cub -- hitting .313 with a .458 on-base percentage and .530 slugging percentage -- but is overlooked because he'll be 26 in August.
"Everybody wants to find the next superstar, put them up on billboards and everything else," Ross says, "but Rizzo is probably the least talked-about guy on our team."
Rizzo was the first piece to Epstein's master plan of overhauling the Cubs. Along came starters Kyle Hendricks and Jake Arrieta. And then, the crème de la crème in prized shortstop Addison Russell, arriving from the Oakland Athletics last July for starters Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel (who has since returned to the Cubs).
Of course, there was the selection of Bryant with the No. 2 pick in the 2013 draft, with the Houston Astros providing a huge favor by taking Stanford pitcher Mark Appel with the No. 1 pick.
And perhaps the best hitter of all might be catcher Kyle Schwarber, the No.4 pick in the 2014 draft out of the Indiana University. He could be a September call-up if the Cubs are in the pennant race.
"We definitely thought (Schwarber) was the best college player in the draft. And knowing the kid, the position, and the makeup," says Jason McLeod, the team's senior vice president of scouting/player development, "he was a no-brainer for us. He's different than Kris Bryant. He's a blue-collar kid from Ohio. He's more your neighbor next door that you can go to the bar with and talk baseball.
"Kris is a guy that when we sat down with before the draft, we all said, "Wow, this guy is so impressive The way he sees himself. The way he sees the game. Everything.'
"We knew that if somebody could step into this market with the expectations and handle it, it would be him."
Bryant might be 23, but his maturity makes him seem like he's 53. He has shown stunning plate discipline, walking 16 times with a .458 on-base percentage to go with his .293 batting average. Monday, he became the youngest player to walk four times in a game within his first 16 games in 19 years.
"I feel for him," Epstein said, "especially the way he's been pitched. I've never seen a guy come in and seen fewer fastballs. Usually it's once around the league, and then they start to adjust. But with all of the attention he's gotten, he's had to deal with more than most ever do before they make their major-league debut."
The Cubs, with an infield 25 years or younger, have been impressive with their maturity at the plate. They are seeing the most pitches (3.99) of any team in the National League, drawing the fourth-most walks, and ranking third in on-base percentage. The pitching staff, in turn, has permitted the fewest walks in all of baseball.
"The biggest surprise is how we've done a nice job seizing the strike zone on both sides of the ball," Epstein said. "Our hitters, traditionally, we've been pretty undisciplined. But once Bryant got up here, the whole lineup has done a really nice job seeing pitches, not chasing. We can be a really tough team to pitch to."
Now, after being a fifth-place team for five consecutive seasons and going through five managers, the Cubs can sit at the big boy's table in the NL League, knowing they're coming on strong, with even the Cardinals hearing their footsteps.
"We know they have a lot of talent on that team," Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong says. "They're a good ballclub. We know they're coming."
The Cardinals are the gold standard the Cubs want to become in the NL Central. They have 11 World Series championships, 19 pennants and have reached the postseason 11 times in the last 15 years, with four consecutive NL Championship Series appearances.
"In order to win the division, you've got to beat the Cardinals." Cubs catcher Miguel Montero says. "To be honest, to go to the World Series, you've got to beat the Cardinals."
For the Cubs, well, it's been 70 years since they won the pennant and 107 years since they were World Series champs.
"They've (the Cardinals) created this culture, this method," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "Then, you layer that with this fan base, baseball fans who support this team and know the game. So bully for them.
"We're in the process of doing the same thing with the Cubs."
Who knows when it will happen? But Chicago is convinced there will come a time when the Cardinals no longer bully the Cubs, and it might be now.
"It feels like this is just the beginning," Epstein said. "Even though we haven't accomplished anything yet, I think they will stay together and continue to get better, year after year.
"We'll see what we're made of. The hard part begins now."