Hey ESPN: Keep sleeping on the Cubs

For months, ESPN and other outlets have been convinced that the Dodgers are the team to beat in the National League. LA traded for Manny Machado after the All-Star break, which apparently put them over the top in the NL playoff race.

My Cubs had other plans.

If the playoffs started today, the Dodgers (72-62) wouldn't even be in. They're sitting 3 games back of one of the Wild Card spots currently held by the Brewers and Cardinals, respectively. LA is in third place in their division behind Arizona and Colorado.

The Cubbies, meanwhile, are sitting pretty comfortably atop the Central Division while also holding the best record in the National League. Javier Baez is a serious contender for the NL MVP award, Jason Heyward is finally starting to justify his 8-year/$184 million contract (took him a couple seasons), David Bote has seamlessly stepped into Kris Bryant's position at third base, and Willson Contreras might be the best catcher in the NL.

Theo Epstein is up to his old tricks as always, picking up Daniel Murphy from the Nationals to add some depth to the already stellar infield. Cole Hamels was also added, the former Phillies ace who claimed World Series MVP honors in 2008. The Hamels pickup seemed a little shaky when it happened, but it's paid off big time. Since joining the Cubs, Hamels has posted a 4-0 record, not to mention an unreal 0.69 ERA. Brandon Kintzler was also brought in from Washington, who seems to be cleaning house with the departure of Bryce Harper looming. Kintzler adds some more depth to the bullpen while closer Brandon Morrow is on the DL.

And yet, ESPN shows the Cubs no respect. This is a team that's been to the NLCS every year for the past three seasons, won the title in 2016 and has a great mix of young and experienced guys. So why do they think the Dodgers are still the favorite? Beats me.

In the National League, it's pretty clear to me that the Cubs are the top dogs. I'm not saying that as a Cubs fan; I'm saying it as a baseball fan and watcher. Colorado has a lot of bats but not a lot of pitching. Arizona has the same thing going on. The Cardinals could be trouble, the Brewers play the same song every year (start out hot, fizzle out near the end), the Phillies and Braves are still a year away from contending and the Dodgers aren't even on my radar right now.

The American League is a different story. In a similar fashion, ESPN wanted you to think that the whole season was leading up to a Yankees-Dodgers World Series. But the Red Sox decided to win 93 games before September 1st, so that prediction is looking grimmer by the day.

The Sox are definitely the favorites in the AL, but I can see the Astros or Indians putting up a solid fight come playoff time. As for the Wild Cards, it's looking like the Yankees and A's will be squaring off. Oakland is another team that people are sleeping on as Billy Beane has put together another solid squad and a team that has proven it can beat the Yanks.

Two things are for sure. One: the Cubs will be in the NLCS yet again, knocking on the door of another title. Two: the playoffs are going to be unbelievable this October.

To ESPN, I say this: keep sleeping on the Cubbies. It'll make it that much more satisfying.

Image credits: Chicago Tribune, nypost.com

Stats: Baseball Reference