Jan. 16--If adding prized left-hander Jon Lester and manager Joe Maddon didn't bring enough optimism, first baseman Anthony Rizzo fueled more hype on the eve of Cubs Convention.
"We're going to win the NL Central," Rizzo said Thursday at Jacob Beidler Elementary School, where Rizzo, selected teammates and employees painted murals and chatted with students and staff members.
"I guess you'll all quote me on that. With all due respect to every team, they're just as good, talent-wise. But we're going to do some things this year. That's what we're expecting, and that's what we're putting out sights on and we're not going to accept anything else.''
The additions of catcher Miguel Montero and pitchers Jason Hammel and Lester and Maddon have put last season's 73-89 record in the distance. But there's still the task of closing the gap with two-time defending division champion Cardinals and the Pirates (a wild card entrant the past two seasons).
But Rizzo isn't shy about the Cubs' prospects.
"I was saying it to my family when everything was going down to get Lester and Maddon and signing the other guys," Rizzo said. "For the rest of my career, I should be on a contending team now. That's exciting. There's no more going into a season, which you never do, but the expectations are set this year and every year on out.''
Rizzo believes the acquired talent will take pressure off their younger players.
"The good thing that we have with the talent on this team and the talent we're going to have on this team is that one guy could go through a little rut while the other seven or eight (players), even the pitchers, pick him up," Rizzo said. "And that's a good thing. But everyone is going to be young. I'm still young. (Starlin) Castro is still young. But what's going to be great is that we're going to do this together and grow up together and keep growing up together.''
