Top 25 MLB stories of 2017, from Aaron Judge to Houston Strong

6. The Cubs World Series Hangover

After ending a 108-year drought, the only question that needed to be answered regarding the Chicago Cubs was not when they would win their next title, but rather how many they would reel off in a row. While the Cubs may still win multiple titles with their current core, the talk of a dynasty in the making proved to be premature. The team did make a third trip to the NLCS in a row, but it was a monumental struggle to make it that far.

The 2016 Cubs made quick work of the NL Central and eclipsed 100 wins. The 2017 version was below .500 at the end of May were 43-45 and in second place at the All-Star break. At times in the first half, the Cubs appeared to be sleepwalking and there was little Joe Maddon could do to inject life into his ballclub.

The Cubs eventually figured things out and raced past the Milwaukee Brewers by going 17-12 in August and 19-9 in September. Kris Bryant finished with MVP-type numbers and Anthony Rizzo topped 30 home runs and 100 RBI again. Kyle Schwarber’s swing was an atrocity at times, but he still managed to finish the year with 30 home runs in 129 games.

Baseball has not had a repeat winner since the New York Yankees won in 1999 and 2000. On paper, the Cubs were poised to end that long string without a back-to-back winner but their starting rotation struggled to duplicate the near-perfect results of 2016. This is still a very young team with a well-rounded core. If Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer can fill out the rotation and bullpen with solid veterans, the Cubs will still have what it takes to make it back to the World Series in 2018.