Cub’s fans thought one hundred years of futility was enough, but it wasn’t. Who would blame a Cubs’ fan for thinking that way, given their season success the past two seasons, which culminated in back to back division titles. With those two titles, unbelievably, in the Cubs’ 100 plus year existence, that was the first time in franchise history that the North Siders qualified for the playoffs in back to back years. Sadly, nothing was gained in those two playoff runs, and ended with two first round three game sweeps. This year the Cubs could make it a third year in the playoffs, because they have too much talent not to make it.
For any team to have a great year pitching is the root to all success and the Cubs look good to go in that department, from the starters to the relievers.
Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster head up the rotation, and are a solid duo. Zambrano brings the heat every time he takes the mound, and isn’t too shabby either with the bat. This guy has all the potential to win twenty games in his career, and the Cy Young award. Cub’s fans and the Major’s still haven’t seen all of what Zambrano can offer.
Last season was a breakout year for Dempster and made the transition from closer to starting pitcher look seamless, and was virtually untouchable at home. His opting out of the WBC to play for Team Canada was the best for him and his career. In the latter half of the season, Dempster looked tired and didn’t have the stamina to go deep into ball games. The extra rest and a few innings in spring training should do him well.
Injuries have hurt the development of former ace Rich Harden. With the Oakland Athletics, Harden was the real deal and still is to this day, but he needs to stay off the disabled list. With the Cubs last year, following the trade from Oakland, Harden went 10-2 with a 2.07 ERA, and was really throwing the ball with some authority. He missed a few starts due to his elbow, but regained his composure. If Harden can stay healthy for the Cubs and pitch the full year the way everyone expects him too, the Cubs will have at least two to three legitimate aces in their rotation.
Ted Lilly is the perfect pitcher right after those three studs, and can earn at least 12 victories. So, if the Cubs starting rotation can match or improve slightly on last years numbers, the rotation of Zambrano, Dempster, Harden, and Lilly, can earn at least 57-62 victories.
The way the Cubs’ bullpen is built, with Carlos Marmol, Aaron Heilman, and others who proved themselves, getting those 30-35 wins shouldn’t be that hard. What the Cubs do lack is a true closer, and must fix that problem. That’s why the starting rotation becomes that more valuable and must match their total individual win output from last year.
In the catchers position Geovany Soto is a power bat and had a standout rookie year with 23 homeruns and 86 RBI. Hopefully the so called sophomore slump won’t hit him, because his bat is now vital to the Cubs’ batting order.
Aramis Ramirez and Derek Lee will once again be leaned on to provide great offensive numbers for the Cubs to succeed. Chances are they will, especially with Ramirez who has been so consistent in a hot baseball market, that it’s scary. His 27 homeruns and 111 RBI will be matched, and will bat in the .300 area once again.
With Derek Lee’s 20 homerun’s and 90 RBI from last season, the duo of Ramirez and Lee will have great roles to play this year. Defensively, these two have proved they play can the game error free.
As for the two middle infielders, that may present a problem, both offensively and defensively. With Mike Fontenot, Aaron Miles and Ryan Theriot, the three combined to hit just 14 homeruns, and provided some weak offense. Usually 12-15 homeruns from one of those positions is acceptable.
The addition of Milton Bradley to the outfield was a good move in adding depth to those positions and another bat that can drive in runs. One thing the Cubs and the fans should be aware of is Bradley’s inconsistencies. Last season he hit 22 homeruns, before that he averaged just 13 homeruns in three seasons. I wouldn’t expect Bradley to hit twenty again, maybe somewhere in the neighborhood of 14-15. Those 22 homeruns maybe came out of Bradley due to the fact he was playing for a contract, and got just that with the Cubs.
Alfonso Soriano is quite the lead off man and defensive player. Injuries hurt his playing time, but in the games he did get to play in, he produced. So far, I think it is safe to say he has lived up to his monster seven year contract.
Kosuke Fokudome now has one year under his belt in the big league’s and knows exactly what the Cubs are about, what they mean to the North Side of Chicago, and how important it is to win a championship. Look for him to improve his numbers, and play more of a running game.
Reed Johnson is a gamer; I just had to mention this guy, because he has passion for the game and wants to win. Besides that, he gets the job done on both sides of the ball. Johnson is good enough to be a starter in this league and is a fan favourite.
The Cubs look ready for another great year at the friendly confines of good old Wrigley Field, and were the second best team at home, and number one in the National League with 55 wins. Batting shouldn’t be a problem for this team, and nor should pitching. One more solid reliever from the bullpen, and one more bat off the bench for depth would do this team well.
POSITIVE --> EXCELLENT PITCHING ROTATION, WITH A GOOD OFFENSIVE LINEUP.
NEGATIVE --> MILTON BRADLEY MAY BE A PROBLEM IF HE DOESN’T PERFORM, AND COULD JUST SIT ON HIS CONTRACT. HIS TEMPER ISSUES COULD ARISE ONCE AGAIN. TRUE CLOSER IS NEEDED FOR THE BULLPEN TO BE COMPLETE, AND ANOTHER VETERAN ARM WOULDN’T HURT.
X-FACTOR --> RICH HARDEN OR GEOVANY SOTO. BOTH ARE GOOD PLAYERS AND BOTH WILL PLAY KEY ROLES AT THEIR POSITIONS. IF RICH HARDEN IS HEALTHY, THE PITCHING GETS THAT MUCH BETTER. IF SOTO CAN REPEAT HIS ROOKIE SEASON, THE CUBS WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM IN THE BATTING ORDER.
SLEEPER PICK --> REED JOHNSON ALWAYS SEEMS TO FLY UNDER THE RADAR AND ALWAYS POSTS RESPECTABLE NUMBERS. DEFENSIVELY, HE IS SOLID. EXPECT 50-55 RBI EASY.
PREDICTION --> THE DIVISION RACE MAY COME DOWN TO THE CUBS AND CARDINALS, AND ONE OF THESE TEAMS WILL HAVE TO BATTLE IT OUT AGAINST A TEAM FROM THE NL EAST FOR THE WILD CARD. THE CUBS SHOULD POST ANOTHER 90 WIN SEASON, AND WILL PROBABLY NEED 95-97 WINS FOR THE DIVISION.
The opinions and thoughts expressed in this or any other article written by 12nadnuk are of his thinking and what he thinks is correct or close to it in the sporting world. If there are any problems by anyone, 12nadnuk is open for rebuttal and what not, and honest criticism. There is also a comments section, so feel free to post what is on your mind about the article. Thank you for reading.
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