Chicago Cubs: Three reasons for optimism about this season

As the Chicago Cubs get set to begin the 2019 season, many fans are justly frustrated at the team’s lack of moves in the offseason. Despite that, this is still a talented team that fans can be optimistic about.

The Chicago Cubs will travel to Texas for Opening Day against the Rangers on Thursday. It’s going to be tough for the Cubs to make it to the playoffs for the fifth season in a row, but the team seems confident they’ll rebound from last season.

It was a rough ending to the 2018 season when the Cubs saw the Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies come to Wrigley Field on two consecutive days for the NL Central one-game playoff and the eventual NL Wildcard game, respectively.

The Cubs went from clinging to a razor-thin NL Central lead to their season being over in the span of five days. It seemed as if maybe this team would be a contender in the Bryce Harper sweepstakes after this stunning end, but that didn’t happen.

Cubs fans were left wondering how exactly the team would improve next season without adding any significant talent. That remains to be seen, and Cubs fans have voiced their dissatisfaction with the situation.

I’ve been one of those vocal Cubs fans who has criticized the team’s direction this offseason. From their lack of signings or trades to the controversies involving the Ricketts family, it’s been a rough few months.

Despite all of this, I’m trying to be positive by focusing on the things to be optimistic about for the 2019 Cubs season. It’s not all doom and gloom, and here are three reasons for optimism as proof.