The Chicago Cubs are the best team in baseball

Hello, First off, I would like to say that I'm very impressed with the new format, and will probably become active again. For the debate, I will use the Tampa Bay Rays as the best team in baseball "1) They have the best record in baseball," I'm not going to argue that point, but I will agrue on how they got there. The Cubs are in an obviously easier division than the Rays. The record of the teams the Rays play against in the East (Toronto, NYY, BOS, BAL) is 281-255 and for the Cubs its 337-336 (Those numbers are of Friday), so this shows that The Rays play in a harder division costing them wins. Also, the Rays record is 84-51 compared to the Cubs who are 85-53. That means that the Rays have played 3 less games then the Cubs, and if they were to play them, they could become the best team in baseball. http://mlb.mlb.com... "2)They have one the all time best managers." That doesn't make a team great. Your manger was the Manger of the Rays before, and he didn't propel them to a winning season. But the manger now, Joe Madden, has done a great job, getting great chemistry and making the whole team click together. Look at 3 other all time great mangers, Torre, Bobby Cox, Tony Larussa, none of them are in 1st place in their division, so just because they have a great manger doesn't mean they're the best. "3)They have 2 of the best starting pitchers in base ball, Carlos Zambrano and Rich Harden, and the two best relievers Kerry Wood, and Carlos Marmol" They have had Rich Harden for 9 starts, so his impact has been minimal. BUt I'm am confused by your argument, because I don't get how the makes the Cubs the best team. The Yankees have Derek Jeter, A-Rod, Bobby Abreu, Johnny Damon, Robinson Cano, and Jason Giambi, but right now they aren't in the playoffs. Sometimes the best teams in the majors aren't the best on paper, everyone has great chemistry, and they all take off at once (ie the 2002 Angels). "4)They have two potential Rookiee of the Year award winners, Geovanny Soto and Koskue Fukadome." Repeat what I said in number 2, I don't get what your trying to prove, or why this makes them great. The Rays have Evan Longoria who could be the AL Rookie of the year, so does it make them the best team? Also, both players for the Cubs started out great, but now they have fallen off. Evan Longoria has been great ever since they called him up in Mid April. "5) They have alfonso soriano, jim edmonds, aramis ramirez, derek lee." Repeating 3,4 again, some teams aren't as good on paper, but when they play there is great chemistry so they play great together and become the best team. "6) They are stacked and unlike the Tigers they have produce" Still, I don't see what you are trying to say, or how this makes them the best team in the majors, its all about chemistry. "7) They have the best RS, RA difference." I think this stat is overrated. You could win a game 10-1 then lose 0-1, and another team wins 2-0 and then lose 10-0, so the first team is better, because of their RS, RA difference? They are both 1-1. Also, the Rays have given up 18 less runs than the Cubs. "8) And they are playing in the divison with 3 best teams in the National League, the Brewers, and the Cardinals." Who's the 3rd team? The Astros? The Reds? The Rays are playing against the Yankees and Red Sox, plus the Blue Jays who are always tough to beat when you have to face Roy Halladay and AJ Burnett. Also, in the 3 games the Rays played the Cubs, the Rays won all 3 games with scores 3-2, 5-4, and 8-3. Sorry for the delay, I've been busy with Labor Day stuff and school starting.