Chicago Cubs looking forward to a more assertive role in the Division – MLB News
The National League Central is currently being dominated by the Cincinnati Reds, a team that has outshone the rival in almost all the departments of the game. While other teams compete equally persistently to outrival each other, it is the Chicago Cubs that want to play a bigger role.
The Cubs are in position to possibly make it to the playoffs as they stay at fifth in the ranking. However, they can make and ruin the prospect of any team vying to make it to the next phase. From the Milwaukee Brewers to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals, all the teams are to overcome the Cubs to book their place for the playoffs.
That is where the Cubs figure in. They have all the potential – given the new inductions in the team, to determine the outlook of the standings at the end.
Chicago Cubs' manager Dale Sveum has his perspective to share on this matter. Knowing full well that the Cubs are in no way set in to make it to the playoffs, he knows that the Cubs can potentially reset everything in the National League Central.
"At this time of year, when you're really not in the pennant race or not really looking forward to the postseason, when you do play the better teams, you do want to step it up," Sveum said. "You want to be spoilers, but at the same tone, you're just playing the game as hard as you possibly can. I'm just going by my nature, when I was out of the pennant races, these are the teams you really wanted to beat to help somebody out."
The Cubs have a lot of motivation. The recent move to trade a number of veterans and to bring in the younger players will have its dividends in the days to come. The club has opted to have long-term plans instead of the short-term as it is in the rebuilding phase.
The ever increasing confidence to assert itself in the Division is one infallible example of the club’s gradual transformation. Their performance may not have been confidence-inspiring in last few years, but they can gradually attain what the best teams have attained over the years.
As the season is progressing and entering into playoffs, the Cubs will have abundant opportunities at hand to reassert themselves. One of the biggest rivals to compete will be the Cincinnati Reds.
"Not that you have anything against the Cincinnati Reds or whoever is in first place," Sveum said. "But that's one motivating factor is knocking people out the playoffs."
Days ahead will see the Cubs competing fiercely against the rivals and the fans looking forward to bigger surprise as far as the spoiler role is concerned.
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