Jon Lester

Two reasons Chicago Cubs fans should be terrified in October

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:55 p.m. ET

Chris Bahr

For weeks, it has been a question of when – not if – the Cubs would wrap up the NL Central and then secure home-field advantage in the National League.

As the franchise now turns its attention once again to October and that pesky 108-year title drought, the last thing Cubs fans want to hear about it what could go wrong. Unfortunately, that just isn’t realistic. So here’s a little more nightmare fuel:

* The team with the best regular-season record has won the World Series just three times since 2000.

That short list includes the 2013 Red Sox, who tied with the Cardinals with 97 wins (and who featured current Cubs Jon Lester, John Lackey and David Ross); the 2009 Yankees, who finished with 103 wins; and the 2007 Red Sox, whose 96 wins were matched by the Indians. Worth noting: All three of the teams that bucked this trend had home-field advantage in the World Series – a luxury the Cubs won’t have thanks to the AL’s win in this summer’s All-Star Game. For the record, Chicago has the best winning percentage at home this season.

* Teams with 100-plus wins during the regular season have won just one World Series this century.

That would be the aforementioned 2009 Yankees. However, the list of 100-win teams that have fallen short during that span is quite a bit longer: 2015 Cardinals (100 wins), 2011 Phillies (102 wins), 2008 Angels (100 wins), 2005 Cardinals (100 wins), 2004 Cardinals (105 wins), 2004 Yankees (101 wins), 2003 Braves (101 wins), 2003 Yankees (101 wins), 2003 Giants (100 wins), 2002 Yankees (103 wins), 2002 A’s (103 wins), 2002 Braves (101 wins), 2001 Mariners (116 wins), 2001 A’s (102 wins).

Of course, there’s no direct connection between this season and the previous 16, just as there’s (probably) no such thing as a curse. Not even the most superstitious Cubs fan is calling for the team to tank over the next couple weeks, but perhaps Chicago shouldn’t tempt fate. A 99-win season would still be special, especially if it’s paired with a World Series championship.