Will Cubs’, White Sox’ win totals go up this season? And by how much?

The White Sox were 41-121 last season. The Cubs were 83-79. As incredibly terrible as one of those records was, it might not have been much more enjoyable of a season for fans of the barely-above-.500 team. It’s all relative, you know?

In this week’s “Polling Place,” your home for Sun-Times sports polls on the social platform X, we wanted to know if the Sox’ and Cubs’ records will improve in 2025, and, if so, by how much.

“The Sox looked like an actual major league team on Opening Day,” @JeffreyCanalia noted, a nod to their easy 8-1 thrashing of the Angels at Rate Field.

And what about the North Siders?

“They will have a late-season surge,” @JBIRD1268 commented, “but to no avail.”

If that leaves the Cubs stuck in the low- or mid-80s again, it will impress absolutely no one. Which brings us to our final poll: Will the Cubs make the playoffs? As division champs, great. As a wild card, fine. Miss the dance, disaster.

On to the polls:

Poll No. 1: After a 41-121 season in 2024, the White Sox’ 2025 win total will be in the

Upshot: Get a load of this vote tally — it’s right around 50-50 on the 50s. Would that be so bad? Uh, yes. Not compared to last season, mind you, but yes.

Poll No. 2: After an 83-79 season in 2024, the Cubs’ 2025 win total will be in the:

Upshot: You know what they say about big-league teams that finish in the 80s in the win column? Nothing, that’s what. They’re neither good enough to talk about nor incompetent enough to rage about. Let’s have something other than boring, shall we?

Poll No. 3: Will the Cubs get over the hump and into the playoffs in 2025?

Upshot: OK, fine, if they want to win, say, 87 games and get into the playoffs, we’ll take it. But we won’t have to love it.