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Chicago Cubs
Overall: 77
Title track: 87
Ownership: 39
Coaching: 10
Players: 50
Fan relations: 50
Affordability: 99
Stadium experience: 52
Bang for the buck: 120
Change from last year: +40
Just last year, the Cubs were 117th in these rankings -- fifth worst overall and second worst in MLB (sorry, Mets). This year? The Cubs are winning! And the fans are thrilled -- even with voting in mid-July, before a playoff spot and the team's highest win total in seven years were sealed, Chicago jumped a full 40 spots in the rankings. And with playoff games at Wrigley and many years ahead for their talented rookies, the Cubs certainly seem to be headed in the right direction.
What's good
After years of the Tribune Co.'s faceless, nameless ownership, the Ricketts family has made massive inroads with fans since buying the team in 2009. Initially, Tom Ricketts and his family were unpopular, in part because they were reluctant to spend enough to attract major talent. But slowly they have built up goodwill in the city -- the hiring of Theo Epstein and Joe Maddon helped their ownership ranking jump more than 40 spots this year. The Ricketts eventually pushed through renovations on Wrigley Field that don't require taxpayer money, while opening new facilities in the Dominican Republic and Arizona. The team's stadium experience ranking jumped almost 40 places this year thanks to the upcoming renovations (up to 52nd), and between an improving Wrigley and the start of a winning run, ownership looks poised to make further strides.
What's bad
Wrigley renovations are good, but Wrigley costs are still very bad. With a $71.14 average cost per game, the Cubs are worse than every team but the Yankees and Red Sox. And at least until the renovations are done, it's not always the most comfortable place. New video scoreboards provide replays for the first time, but long bathroom lines, subpar food and inconvenient parking are just a few factors making the stadium experience less than ideal.
What's new
This comes down to one man: Joe Maddon, the reason the Cubs' coaching rank rose an incredible 94 spots. Cubs fans rejoiced when Maddon was hired in December, and he's managed to exceed expectations. "Players' manager" is a cliché these days, but Maddon fits the bill. He believes less is more -- as in less time at the ballpark. (You'd be hard-pressed to find a team that's taken less batting practice this season than the Cubs.) Many times, his orders are to just "show up and play." And based on the team's record this season, it's working just fine.
Next: San Diego Padres | Full rankings