The Cubs' Young Stars are the Beginning of the End to the Billy Goat Curse

It’s been 70 years since the Chicago Cubs kicked the famous William “Billy Goat” Sianis out of Wrigley Field on October 6, 1945 because of the goat’s “stink.” Since, the “Billy Goat Curse” has been a baseball myth for the ages, denying the Cubs a World Series bid since. For the skeptical person out there, this curse has simply been looked at as the Cubs becoming an unreliable team, but for Cubs fans, this curse has destroyed the franchise for nearly 70 years.

The Cubs have looked like a lost cause ever since Game Four of their World Series collapse of 1945 to the Detroit Tigers. The seasons that looked promising since then have all ended the same way, in disappointment. Even the years that looked like they might beat the curse, it didn’t happen. Not even inviting Sam Sianis, William’s son, and his goat into Wrigley Field on opening day, lifting the curse, was able to help the suffering Cubs.

It seems like there’s a never-ending trail of failure for the Cubs. Some say they may have done it to themselves by taking so long to invite, then denying Sam and his goat into Wrigley Field once again in 1994 until fans began to chant, “Let the goat in!” It has been an up and down ride, all ending with the same result of defeat.

It’s now 2015, almost a full 70 years since the curse began and the Cubs finally look to be on the upside of things. Not so much of their record and winning success has changed, considering they’re sitting middle of the National League standings. They do seem to have three of the biggest young players in the MLB.

Rookie third baseman, Kris Bryant, first baseman, Anthony Rizzo, and top prospect catcher, Kyle Schwarber, look like the future of baseball and the Cubs’ future success. They aren’t the entire team, but these three seem to be the best young infield in the MLB over the next few seasons. With these players, the Cubs are trying to build an even younger and talented team to grow together, hopefully becoming the team to break the Billy Goat Curse.

This “get young” strategy seems to be attracting more and more young talent. It’s taken a little longer than most teams hope, but the Cubs have developed a team that can compete with most MLB competition. It isn’t just Bryant, Rizzo, and Schwarber that are leading this uprising Cubs team. Starlin Castro, Dexter Folwer, and Kyle Hendricks are all a part of the young rebuilding roster of Chicago.

This is just the beginning of this Cubs takeover. Prospects Carl Edwards Jr., Albert Almora, and Gleyber Torres are all upcoming talents that can have a significant impact on the Cubs as soon as they need them. The Cubs may have the best lineup of young players in the MLB, and taking their time to gather this group of guys is going to pay off much sooner than later.

The impressive part of this strategy is that the Cubs can continue to keep this team together in years coming. Their current payroll of $115,579,383 ranks the 14th lowest in the MLB. The only reason this payroll isn’t in the top-10 is that starting pitcher, Jon Lester, signed a 6-year/$155 million deal, paying him $20 million this season. That’s fine, though, because having a superstar pitcher is perfect for a young group to be able to fall back on.

This rebuilding strategy has finally started to pay off for the Cubs. It may not be this season or the next, but the Cubs rebuilding will eventually pay off. Their careful budgeting and recruiting/drafting has given them a team of young talent that can take over the MLB in the near future. Nearly 70 years after the dreaded Billy Goat Curse of 1945, the Cubs are finally on the right track to break the hated Chicago curse.