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From the moment the Chicago Cubs hired Joe Maddon as their new skipper after the 2014 MLB season, every single fan out there at least had their hopes lifted that a winning team was on the way. Maddon was not the only reason for that, however. It was also the mindset and direction of management that seemed to be a great sign going forward. The recent signing of Rafael Soriano to bolster the bullpen shows that the Cubs are still climbing in the right direction.
Anyone who knows how MLB works knew that the Cubs were not going to run away with the NL Central division as long as the St. Louis Cardinals were around. The Pittsburgh Pirates are substantial competitors on a regular basis as well. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that while the Cubs have one of the better records in baseball, they have a lot of ground to make up if they hope to win the division.
How they plan to do that is to do what all good teams that want to win do: adjust with the changes of the baseball season. Few winning teams over the past decade have ended the season without making at least a couple of changes that gave them that extra boost. Signing Soriano not only gives them a proven relief pitcher who has closer stuff as another option, but it also shows that this team is committed to competing this year and beyond.
Great teams have a good farm system and the Cubs have that now. Winning teams compete on a daily basis and the Cubs certainly refuse to quit. Repeat winners like the Cardinals always strive to make the right changes at the right time to be able to reach the highest level. This move to sign Soriano and continuing to look for more relief assistance should be a sign to all Cubs fans that the good times are here and should be here to stay.
David Miller is an MLB Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
