Cubs' owner's NL Central remarks will have Brewers fans rolling their eyes

In both Wisconsin and Illinois, the sports rivalries with their neighboring state runs hard, whether it’s the Milwaukee Brewers vs. the Chicago Cubs or the Green Bay Packers vs. the Chicago Bears. Last postseason, each side had its moment to celebrate, with the Brewers knocking off the Cubs in the NLDS, while the Bears got the upper hand on the Packers in the Wild Card Round.

That said, recent history has favored the Wisconsin side more often, particularly over the past decade. Since 2017, the Cubs have captured the NL Central just once, with the caveat that their 2020 title came during the shortened season. In contrast, the Brewers have claimed five division crowns in that span, including each of the last three.

What makes Milwaukee’s success even more remarkable is how it’s been achieved. The Brewers seldom enter a season as division favorites and rarely make headline-grabbing offseason acquisitions. Instead, they often part ways with established players, restocking the roster with prospects and building from within.

While the Brewers have quietly built a formula for sustained success, their rival located just 90 miles down I-94 now has strong belief from their owner that they are the favorites to win the division in 2026.

Cubs' owner Tom Ricketts claims Chicago should win the NL Central despite the Brewers controlling the division for the last three years

Following a busy offseason that saw the Cubs sign Alex Bregman to a multi-year deal, trade for Edward Cabrera, re-sign Shota Imanaga, and overhaul their bullpen with additions like Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, and Hoby Milner, team owner Tom Ricketts is confident his squad has the pieces to claim the NL Central crown.

""We should win the division. It’s just a matter of executing, staying healthy and I think we should be right there. You want to win the division for a lot of reasons, not just because it’s aggravating not to, but you want to put yourself in the best position for the playoffs as well, so hopefully we’ll execute against that plan and be there at the end of the season""

Tom Ricketts, Owner of the Chicago Cubs

Ricketts also highlighted the team’s championship goals, telling the media, “The Cubs need to win more World Series.” The statement comes across as bold, particularly for a franchise that notched its first playoff series win since 2016 just last year and has yet to capture a true division title in the 2020s.

For Brewers fans, Ricketts’ remarks are likely to draw plenty of eye rolls. Milwaukee has quietly dominated the NL Central over the past several seasons, winning multiple division titles and consistently outperforming expectations.

To hear Ricketts speak confidently about contending for a division crown, despite a recent track record that pales in comparison to Milwaukee’s, reads as a bit tone-deaf. From the Brewers’ perspective, actions on the field speak far louder than offseason headlines or lofty promises, making Ricketts’ proclamations the perfect setup for some good-natured skepticism.