Each week sports reporters Matthew Lambert and Sam Thiel will face off on a hot topic in sports. The world of sports is changing quickly and constantly, but we want to slow it down and take a better look at the juiciest gossip, scandal, rumor or issue that is making headlines this week. Lambert and Thiel will take different sides and battle it out, telling you why you they are right.

This week’s topic: Are the Chicago Cubs for real?

The Major League Baseball playoff race is heating up, and among the teams fighting for a spot are the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs haven’t won the World Series since 1908, the longest streak in baseball. This week, Matthew Lambert and Sam Thiel voice their opinions about whether the Cubs have what it takes. Let’s talk about it…

(Recap by Sam Thiel)

Matt Lambert/Winonan

Before writing this you’ll have to excuse me as I gently fold my St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols jersey, place my holographic Mark McGwire card in my closet, and roll up my Cardinals banner with every one of their World Series Championships. I do all of this because I’m going to say something that kills me inside.

The Chicago Cubs are good and might win the World Series. I know. I had to hold back my vomit as well.

All ill feelings aside, the Cubs have made serious strides, not only this year, but for years to come. While Wrigley Field has been under construction, the Cubs reconstructed their front office, bringing in former Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein. From there, stealing Joe Maddon from the Rays, Jon Lester, and a slew of young talent, the Cubs are actually scary.

Sports are cyclical. For the Cubs, the cycle should’ve helped them years ago, since their last championship in 1908. Similar to the 2008 Rays, a team Maddon coached, their young players led them to the World Series when earlier in the season they were written off. The Cubs could do the same. Shock the world.

The pitching rotation is incredible with guys like Jake Arrieta and Jason Hammel stepping up, Lester being consistent and Hector Rondon closing each game, Maddon is able to call on anyone.

The best part about this Cubs squad is their young prospects. Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, and Anthony Rizzo are playing like All-Stars, the Cubs are in a great position to be successful from a finical point of view as well. They can take advantage of their contracts while adding more pricey veterans over the next few years.

I hate the Cubs. There is nothing I enjoy more than my Cardinals beating the Cubs. Steve Bartman is my hero. Ivy in a baseball stadium is tacky. I will never like the Cubs, but I respect them.

Sam Thiel/Winonan

Flashback to 2003. I was nine years old and my family took a trip to Chicago. At the time, I was a Sammy Sosa fan and being a Chicago Cubs fan, I was ecstatic to watch one of my favorite teams.

I will never forget the moment I walked through that gate and Wrigley Field opened up in front of my eyes. The history, the Ivy, the old-time scoreboard, they had it all. The Cubs won that day, and Sosa homered.

Later that year, Cubs fans were painfully reminded why they haven’t won a World Series in over 95 years. Playing against the Florida Marlins, Luis Castillo makes contact with the ball. Hanging in mid-air, it falls towards the left-field stands. Left fielder Moises Alou races over, preparing to make a spectacular foul catch. Then, Steve Bartman happened. He steals the ball away from Alou, interfering with the catch. The Marlins would go on to not only win the game, but win the World Series.

Flash forward to 2015. The Cubs still haven’t won a World Series in over 100 years and each season begins with excitement and ends with disappointment. Until this year.

The Cubs have a lot of talent. They have one of the best rotations in baseball, Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber are hitting monster home runs and playing spectacular defense. They have the tools to bring home their first World Series since 1908.

And even though I am all for the Cubs to finally break the curse of the Billy Goat, I don’t think its going to happen. Not this year.

First off, the National League is extremely talented. The Cardinals are 38 games above .500 and the Giants have won the World Series three of the last five years.

Another reason why the Cubs won’t win the World Series this year is because if history has said anything, the Cubs aren’t the right team to win it. The last 117 years have proved that.

I’m hoping I’m wrong.