Last I checked the Cubs are 8/1 to win the World Series and are only behind Houston at 4.5/1 and Boston at 4/1. Earlier in the year the Cubs were 5/1 and the only reason I can see them dropping down in odds is due to their bullpen being an absolute mess as of late.

Salt was added to the wound the other day with the loss of Pedro Strop due to a hamstring injury. Strop was the only member of the bullpen showing any signs of life in recent outings and you know things are bad when your "star reliever" is Carl Edwards Jr aka "the string bean slinger".

It's a shame considering the starting rotation is pretty solid and every time we reach the middle to late innings I can literally feel the tension in my body creep in unless the Cubs are leading by 6 or more. The bullpen choking or losing a game for a great starter is one of the biggest let downs in baseball in my opinion and I have sure seen a lot of it this year. 

I guess this leaves me to question: Can the Cubs win a World Series without a bullpen?

Yes, I'm a Cubs fan and I'm already talking World Series! 

I think they can do it without a bullpen, however it will be the ugliest World Series win you have ever seen. They will be relying on the bats the entire time to give them the early lead and they will shift through 3-4 middle relievers each game as the fans sit at home and pray. Their bullpen really sucks this year and Joe Maddon has even expressed concern, which he rarely does, a few weeks back when I was listening to him on a radio broadcast. He basically put this year's success in the hands of Carl Edwards which I find laughable. . 

Strong bats, decent starting rotation, and no bullpen. . This is the dynamic of the Chicago Cubs at this juncture. Can you remember any team winning a World Series we these attributes? Let me know.