By Ryan Molini, executive sports editor
Well. It’s opening day for both the North-siders and South-siders of Chicago and both teams have given all fans a reason to be happy the 2016 season is kicking off.
After a tough season in 2015, the White Sox (76-86) should have lost more games than they actually did looking at runs against (701) and runs forced (622).
The Sox cleaned up their defense in the offseason and acquired the veteran shortstop Jimmy Rollins who looks to back starting pitcher Chris Sale up the middle in tonight’s opening day game against the Oakland Athletics. Any Sox fan like myself is very happy Chris Sale is healthy — and hopefully no longer worries about Adam LaRoche’s 14-year-old son being their team leader.
The 2016 season hopes to be better as they should finish better than they did last year in the division (4th in the American League Central).
As an optimistic Sox fan, I have the Sox flipping their record from last year and going 86-76, clinching the 2nd wild card spot and sneaking themselves into the playoffs only to win the wild card game because of Chris Sale and later lose the ALDS. Here’s hoping they at least make the playoffs.

The Cubs. The Cubs are different this year. They’re clicking and it is spectacular to see. I’ve never enjoyed the Cubs success but I’ve always enjoyed good baseball and what the Cubs have going for them is a special year nonetheless.
After a disappointing end to the season last year (97-65) in the NLCS against the Mets, the Cubs decided to change things up a bit and shoot for the World Series this year. With offseason acquisition of Jason Heyward and contract extension of Jake Arrieta, the Cubs seem to think they have ‘it’.
I don’t see the Cubs winning many more regular season games than they did last year. After all, they did win 97 games last year, enough to rank them 4th in the MLB. I give the Cubs a 99-63 record this season. I can’t give them 100 wins just yet considering they haven’t had a 100-win season since 1935. Yes, I do believe the Cubs will win the National League Central division and make a playoffs run. No, I don’t think the Cubs are going to make it to the World Series. Jake Arrieta is going to come back down to Earth this season and won’t have a season anywhere close to his second half of the season last year.
Nonetheless, this day is exciting. It’s opening day, a day of fresh starts, good starts and ugly starts. Let’s just hope these fresh starts for the Windy city ball clubs turn into good starts tonight.