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07:54 AM ET 01.08 | To some degree, the sheer size of any rebuilding effort on the North Side would buy Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer some time. What would have been hard to foresee was that just 15 months later, there are already signs of short-term light, never mind long-term life, at Wrigley Field. The Cubs likely won't be a winning club in 2013, but they could well be one of the most improved teams in the Majors. A series of upgrades to their starting rotation has solidified an area of major need, and turned a 101-loss team into one that could push .500. And they've accomplished that while continuing to tend to the most essential job: building the talent core for the next legitimately good Cubs team. "It's a line we're committed to walking," said Hoyer.

MLB.com

Theo Epstein, Icon Sports

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January 8, 2013 08:41 AM ET

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It won't matter for a while, if at all!

Not4Nutten

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January 8, 2013 08:53 AM ET

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It is easy to say you are ahead of schedule in January when not even a spring training game has been played and everybody is tied for first in the standings.

Hatrunner

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January 8, 2013 10:07 AM ET

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Since Houston are gone your flag will fly real low on the pole in Wrigley because the basement is yours and the Cubs fans will be saying by the fourth again wait until next year.

toad

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January 8, 2013 12:09 PM ET

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the cubs ahead of schedule and who says so??

alacran

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January 8, 2013 01:33 PM ET

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Really? I'll believe it when I see it. Try not losing 100 f*cking games again and then I'll buy into that

DaCoach619

San Diego, CA

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January 8, 2013 02:35 PM ET

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Wow! Pushing .500? Catch the fever!

THE BISHOP!

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January 8, 2013 05:27 PM ET

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Yawn.

AllStarz Ruinating…

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January 8, 2013 08:27 PM ET

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The Cubs and Brewers - now that the Astros are going to be the AL West punching bags - will battle for last place in the NL Central.

...the best policy

Harrodsburg, KY

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January 8, 2013 09:03 PM ET

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"It's a line we're committed to walking," said Hoyer.

More like "dead team walking."

CLE fan

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January 8, 2013 10:27 PM ET

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It's not April 1st, is it? Are any of their new pitchers anywhere close to as good as Zambrano? I don't think so! Watch Jed hurt himself patting himself on the back for a last place NL Central finish. It's a good think Cubbie fans are infinitely patient.

KenoshaMark

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January 9, 2013 03:04 AM ET

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wiseup: the Cubs Have upgraded their pitching, but their offense is still basically the same. Is their pitching enough to overcome the still basically the same offense to escape the cellar this year. The Cubs will probably not lose 100 games this year. my guess would be 90 to 95 losses.