"CHICAGO CUBS SPRING & SEASON OUTLOOK"

STARTING & RELIEF PITCHERS:

SP-- Carlos Zambrano

SP-- Ted Lilly

SP-- Rich Hill

SP-- Jason Marquis

SP-- Shawn Marshall

P-- Neal Cotts

P-- Kerry Wood

P-- Scott Eyre

P-- Angel Guzman

P-- Bob Howry

P-- Michael Wuertz

P-- Carlos Marmol

CL-- Ryan Dempster

POSITIONS & UTILITY PLAYERS:

C-- Geovany Soto

C-- Henry Blanco

1B-- Derek Lee

2B-- Ryan Theriot/Mark Derosa

3B-- Aramis Ramirez

SS-- Ronny Cedeno

OF-- Matt Murton

OF-- Alfonso Soriano

OF-- Felix Pie/Sam Fuld/Kosuke Fukudome

RESERVES/ROLES:

The Cubbies are looking good coming out of spring training. They have reserves in every category; pitching, outfield, infield, and bench players (mixed with young talent). Where the Cubs could thrive is for the first time in a long time, they have a diverse group, of both veterans and young players (rookies). The pitching for the Cubs is solid thru the first four (Zambrano, Lilly, Hill, Marquis 'if healthy'), but they will have to make a choice between Sean Marshall (Rookie), a possible Kerry Wood (if healthy), and making hard throwing Carlos Marmol into a starter (even though he was one of their best relief pitchers last year). The bullpen features a blend of veterans and younger guys, but is also solid; Howry, Cotts (from Detroit), Eyre, Wuertz, and Marmol (maybe) make up a fine pen. Ryan Dempster is closing, once again, and after last years "trial by fire," the Cubs are comfortable with him.

The position players in the reserve roles are great blend of hitting, fielding, and players who could spell a starter, or two, from day to day. Daryle Ward will probably be a primary pinch hitter, being behind the always durable Derek Lee. Up the middle, the Cubs have excellent gloves and veteran leadership, in Mark Derosa and Henry Blanco (backing up at catcher). However, where the Cubs may stumble, is in the outfield. They have Felix Pie, who they were really high on, coming out of the minors, but has struggled to make the transition to an everyday player (where he hit a dismall .215 with only 2 homers). Now that Jacque Jones is gone to Detroit, Sam Hurd may step in to fill the void, as a rookie. At all three levels last year, Hurd (who has had the wheels to steal 12 bases) came on strong hitting around .290, with an OBP of around .420. Then he went into the Arizona Fall League, hitting over .450 with 10 steal in 88 at-bats. If Pie and Hurd do not make the cut, thru spring training the Cubs will still have another option (to keep up with the big club), in Kosuke Fukudome. Fukudome was a huge hit in Japan, the Cubs signed him with a 4 year deal, worth close to $12 million. Fukudome, played centerfield in 2006, winning the Japanese batting title (hitting .351, with 31 homers) and MVP awards, but was sidelined with an elbow injury (forcing him out for the season). He was out in August, but before getting hurt, he hit .294/.443/.520 in May/June/July, with 13 homers in 81 games). Although, Japan is not MLB, Ichiro and others have had great success, and the Cubs are hoping for the same, from Fukudome.

ROOKIES:

The Chicago farm system still has a bountiful feast of young talent. As far as starting the year with the "Big Club," there are several rookies to take a look at. Hurd, Pie (not a full rookie), and Fukudome are the ones described above, that could be in the outfield and backing up on the bench, opening day. However, the biggest rookie in the bunch is catcher Geovany Soto. He had a "huge" break out season, last year in triple A, hitting .353 (in 385 at-bats), 26 HR's, 109 RBI's, and a .652 Slugging percentage). Even after being called up in September, last year, he hit .433, with 3 HR's, 8 RBI's, in 54 at-bats. Obviously, Soto is not going to come up and hit .400 next year, but he is a likable guy for "Rookie of the Year" consideration. He has power, a great eye (36/81 BB to K ratio, for a power guy, between AAA and his promotion). With Jason Kendall gone and Henry Blanco obtained for just a back-up role, Soto's future is the opening day catcher, and what he does with the opportunity, is obviously up to his play.


OVERALL OUTLOOK FOR SPRING:

The Chicago Cubs look like the team to beat, coming out of the gate in the Central, in 2008. Although the Brewers, Cards' and Astros are always going to be around, the latter two are not as strong, as usual this year. The Cubs have the starting pitching with Zambrano (who has pitched over 200 innings the last three seasons), Lilly, Hill (in his second full season), Marshall, and Marquis only have to give five to six strong innings each time out, with the strength of the Cubs pen. With Marmol, Eyre, Howry, and Dempster in the short relief role, they are going to have one of the better overall rotations in the National League.

The position players for the Cubs are also set and looking to do some damage. Aramis Ramirez at third, who has become a fine fielder (thru a ton of hard work), Derek Lee, and Alfonso Soriano (maybe one of the best five tool players in the game) will provide enough power and runs to propel the club. However, Murton, Soto, Derosa (or Theriot), and Ronny Cedano are great table setters, for the power/RBI guys. The Cubs should be a team that may be streaky, at times, but overall should give their pitchers four to six runs a game. If a team cannot win, with four to six runs a game, then there is something major league wrong. Defensively, the team is solid as well. Lee, at first, is a gold glove winner. Soriano, Ramirez, and Murton found their grooves, as time went on in the season, as well. Soto may not be the defensive catcher that Blanco is, but he will be able to play well enough to keep the job (and his offense should make up for any errors and/or passed balls, thru him).

Overall, the Cubs look solid. If the starting pitching stays healthy and the team finds one outfielder to play right, then most of the hurdles are low. However, Zambrano has never been hurt, Lee and Ramirez are usually 140 games played guys, as well. Getting bounced out of the playoffs last year 3-0, by the Diamondbacks (after there huge run, at the end of the regular season, last year), not only seemed unlikely, but it was another page in the fable the "Cubs can never win a world series." Whether the "Billy Goat Curse," comes out this year for the Cubs, or not, the Cubs have just as much, if not a better chance of winning the Central. However, weirder things have happened to the Cubs (Priors can't miss career missing and now with the Padres, Woods' injuries, Alou's interference and Alex Gonzalez error leading the Cubs to the most unlikely loss of all time 'besides Bill Buckner's wickets', and the list goes on and on). However, that is if you believe in curses. If not, then the sky is the limit for the "South Town Cubbies" this year!

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