Pete Rose, Frank Thomas weigh in on Cubs and possible World Series hangover
After finally reaching the pinnacle and winning the World Series last year, the Cubs have gone from lovable losers to the most popular kids in class.
And that could prove to be a problem for Joe Maddon's club in their quest to win back-to-back World Series championships -- at least if you ask Fox Sports analysts and baseball legends Pete Rose and Frank Thomas.
Rose and Thomas, both World Series champs themselves, joined The Herd with Colin Cowherd on Monday to preview the Cubs' 2017 season and talked about the possibility of the team suffering from a World Series hangover.
"I just worry about them mentally being fatigued, that's the only thing I worry about with the Cubs this year," Thomas said. "They've been dynamite the last two years straight and they're about to turn it up again, but they're the hunted this time."
Thomas went on to say that the Cubs have spent much of the offseason doing "the banquet circuit," as the reigning World Series champions are often asked to attend various events, serve as award show presenters and appear at parties.
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
"Emotionally, physically, it's draining when you're on top of the world and everyone wants a piece of you," Thomas added.
Rose agreed that the young team could be emotionally fatigued, especially considering the nature of how their 2016 season ultimately ended, but said that coming back to win the series will help the Cubs more than anything.
"Emotionally more than anything, because to be honest with you, they shouldn't have won that World Series," said Rose.
"You've got a team up on them three games to one with two home games left, Cleveland, and they didn't beat them. I mean, the Cubs had to feel just overjoyed that they won that World Series. They're a young team, no question about it, but winning that last year will help them this year."
While you can make an argument for either side of the coin, there's no doubt that things will be drastically different for the Cubbies this year as they enter the season with a huge target on their backs.
