owing an average of just 10.4 points through its

The Chicago Cubs . Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys Store ... ahem, the world champion Chicago Cubs return as the favorites to win the World Series again in 2017.The best team doesnt always win the World Series, of course, but in 2016, it did. And while it did involve a few sizable investments in the roster to get there, it was more the culmination of a long rebuild, in which short-term fixes were generally eschewed and the objective was to contend for five years, six years or even longer.Chicago does have a few losses coming this offseason, and the Cubs will never go into a season with the mean projection being 103 wins, but heres the bottom line: The 2017 organization stands just as strong as the 2016 one. Were he to leave, impending free agent Dexter Fowler would be the teams biggest loss this offseason -- Aroldis Chapman is better but was part of the team for only a third of the season -- but Fowler was considered a short-term addition anyway. The Cubs seemed perfectly happy playing Jason Heyward in center field before the opportunity to bring back Fowler fell into their laps.The Cubs also get a full-season return of Kyle Schwarber, the left-handed bat they were missing to go along with Anthony Rizzos in 2016. And its way too early to call the Heyward contract doomed. He was terrible this year, but hes not old and has had better seasons in the past. With Heywards glove, he doesnt have to be an offensive superstar to be a valuable player; if he just gets back to the 110 OPS+ range, which is still likely, hell be a plus to the 2017 team as the Cubs try to repeat.Unusual for a high-payroll team winning the World Series is that even with the loss of players to the Yankees in the Chapman trade, the Cubs still retain a strong farm system. This gives the organization flexibility in the coming years and means that the holes that pop up for the franchise this offseason are simpler to fix, either from within or by trading prospects for a more experienced solution.The Cubs were at the top of our Future Power Rankings this year, and after doing what no other Cubs team in living memory has done, theyre certainly not going to drop as a result!With that, we take a look at the preliminary ZiPS projections for the 2017 season. Obviously these projections will change tremendously as players re-sign, sign or are traded, but heres what things look like right now. Custom Nike St. Louis Cardinals Jerseys . Its an influence in football and a big part of the game. Custom Nike Washington Nationals Jerseys . JOHNS, N. https://www.customnikebaseballjerseys.com/ . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg. The No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide landed multiple players on this years list of finalists for individual college football awards.Senior defensive lineman Jonathan Allen is up for the Chuck Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year). He will run against linebacker Jabrill Peppers of the Michigan Wolverines and lineman Myles Garrett of the Texas A&M Aggies.Allen has 46 total tackles, including seven sacks for a Crimson Tide defense that is allowing an average of just 10.4 points through its first 12 games this season.Alabamas junior offensive lineman Cam Robinson and senior tight end O.J. Howard allso received finalist nominations. Custom Nike Tampa Bay Rays Jerseys. Robinson is in the running for the Outland Trophy (most outstanding interior lineman) against Pat Elflein of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Cody OConnell of the Washington State Cougars. Howard is a finalist for the John Mackey Award (outstanding tight end), and his competition includes Michigans Jake Butt along with Jordan Leggett of the Clemson Tigers.Howard has caught 30 passes for 359 yards and two touchdowns this season. ' ' '