Heading into the 2016 season, the Cubs can be found at, or near, the top of many preseason power rankings, and rightfully so. With expectations for the team high, Joe Maddon has adopted a slogan for this year’s edition of the Cubs.
“Embrace the Target” was chosen by the Cubs manager with hopes his team would thrive knowing they are now seen among the best teams in baseball instead of the lovable losers they have been known as for so many years. On Saturday, Maddon wore a shirt during spring training with the words “Embrace the Target” on the front along with an image of Maddon’s customary glasses and an arrow pointed at the center of a bullseye.
Joe Maddon breaks out new #Cubs shirt; Embrace The Target pic.twitter.com/ilwYDm2EgN
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 26, 2016
The Cubs won 97 games last year and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 2008. They won the wild card game over the Pirates and defeated the Cardinals in the division series before ultimately losing the Mets in the National League Championship Series.
With a roster that includes Jake Arrieta (last year’s NL Cy Young Award winner), Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant (last year’s NL Rookie of the Year), Jason Heyward, Jon Lester, and Kyle Schwarber there is certainly enough talent to carry the Cubs to one of the top five records in the National League. A year ago, the postseason was an unexpected surprise. In 2016, that isn’t the case and Chicago will have to handle the pressure to make it two years in a row.
