Post by #1 Jays Fan on Mar 27, 2008 11:39:13 GMT -5
Last season: 85-77, 1st in N.L. Central
Lost in NLDS to Arizona 3-0
Manager: Lou Piniella, 2nd season, 1,604-1,497 (.517) career record
New faces: RHP Jose Ascanio (ATL), IF Alex Cintron (CWS), OF Kosuke Fukudome (JAPAN), RHP Jon Lieber (PHI)
Left town: OF Cliff Floyd (TB), OF Jacque Jones (DET), C Jason Kendall (MIL), OF Craig Monroe (MIN), LHP Will Ohman (ATL), OF Angel Pagan (NYM), RHP Mark Prior (SD), RHP Steve Trachsel (BAL)
Overview: It's been exactly 100 years since these lovable losers last won the World Series. That streak is likely to continue, but at least the Cubs have a team worthy of making the playoffs, and then after that who knows? Lou Piniella's first season at the helm wasn't without its moments. The team stumbled from the gate and were 8.5 games behind the Brewers in the third week of June. Ace starter Carlos Zambrano was arguing and taking swings at catcher Michael Barrett. And Lou was being Lou, kicking dirt at umpires and firing his hat leading to ejections. Then, suddenly, it all kicked in, with the Cubs winning 25 of last 43 games to win the division. Sure they got swept by the Diamondbacks in the division series, but this team learned to like each other, and the addition of Japanese star Kosuke Fukudome makes them even stronger.
Stat to ponder: A lot has been made of Alfonso Soriano's bat, but last season he threw out 19 runners on the bases from his position in left field, the most by a Cubs outfielder in 56 years. Top prospect: 3B Josh Vitters. He was considered the top high school hitter in the 2007 draft. Right now, he's all bat, no glove but that should change through the repetition of pro ball. Just 18-years-old, Vitters probably won't see Wrigley Field until mid-2010, but Cubs fans will find him worth the wait.
Hitting
2007 AVG: .271 (13th), RUNS/GAME: 4.64 (18th), HR: 151 (21st)
The left-handed hitting Fukudome gives the Cubbies' line-up more balance, and he'll hit fifth behind Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez. Alfonso Soriano remains in the lead-off spot and will play left field. They are banking that centre field prospect Felix Pie's bat will finally catch up with his defence. He went from a .362 hitter at AAA to a .215 hitter in half a season with the Cubs. They are hoping he'll hit somewhere in between and get on-base enough to utilize his above-average speed. If Pie can't cut it, another rookie, Sam Fuld will get a shot after he tore up the Arizona Fall League with a .402 average. They'll have another freshman behind the plate in Geovany Soto after he drove in 109 runs at AAA and then eight more in 18 games, with a .389 average, as a September call-up.
Pitching
2007 ERA: 4.04 (4th), OPP AVG: .246 (1st)
One of the major’s top pitching staffs in 2007 is pretty much status quo this spring. The only change is that Canadian closer Ryan Dempster is being considered for the final spot in the rotation, even though he’s only made six starts since 2003 when he underwent elbow surgery. Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Rich Hill and Jason Marquis are a solid, if unspectacular, top four. They combined to win 58 games last year. Dempster leaving to re-join the starting ranks, led to a three-way battle for the closers spot between oft-injured fireballer Kerry Wood, veteran Bob Howry and youngster Carlos Marmol. Marmol’s stuff is absolutely filthy and his 96 strikeouts in just 69.1 innings indicate he has the stuff to close, while Howry has pitched in the ninth inning before. For now, Wood will get the save opportunities to start the season, but at least Lou Piniella will have options should he falter or get injured again.
Statsman's non-binding prediction: If it all comes together the Cubs will finish first. Whether they can finally win it all is another thing. Maybe next year, again, Cubs fans.
Lost in NLDS to Arizona 3-0
Manager: Lou Piniella, 2nd season, 1,604-1,497 (.517) career record
New faces: RHP Jose Ascanio (ATL), IF Alex Cintron (CWS), OF Kosuke Fukudome (JAPAN), RHP Jon Lieber (PHI)
Left town: OF Cliff Floyd (TB), OF Jacque Jones (DET), C Jason Kendall (MIL), OF Craig Monroe (MIN), LHP Will Ohman (ATL), OF Angel Pagan (NYM), RHP Mark Prior (SD), RHP Steve Trachsel (BAL)
Overview: It's been exactly 100 years since these lovable losers last won the World Series. That streak is likely to continue, but at least the Cubs have a team worthy of making the playoffs, and then after that who knows? Lou Piniella's first season at the helm wasn't without its moments. The team stumbled from the gate and were 8.5 games behind the Brewers in the third week of June. Ace starter Carlos Zambrano was arguing and taking swings at catcher Michael Barrett. And Lou was being Lou, kicking dirt at umpires and firing his hat leading to ejections. Then, suddenly, it all kicked in, with the Cubs winning 25 of last 43 games to win the division. Sure they got swept by the Diamondbacks in the division series, but this team learned to like each other, and the addition of Japanese star Kosuke Fukudome makes them even stronger.
Stat to ponder: A lot has been made of Alfonso Soriano's bat, but last season he threw out 19 runners on the bases from his position in left field, the most by a Cubs outfielder in 56 years. Top prospect: 3B Josh Vitters. He was considered the top high school hitter in the 2007 draft. Right now, he's all bat, no glove but that should change through the repetition of pro ball. Just 18-years-old, Vitters probably won't see Wrigley Field until mid-2010, but Cubs fans will find him worth the wait.
Hitting
2007 AVG: .271 (13th), RUNS/GAME: 4.64 (18th), HR: 151 (21st)
The left-handed hitting Fukudome gives the Cubbies' line-up more balance, and he'll hit fifth behind Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez. Alfonso Soriano remains in the lead-off spot and will play left field. They are banking that centre field prospect Felix Pie's bat will finally catch up with his defence. He went from a .362 hitter at AAA to a .215 hitter in half a season with the Cubs. They are hoping he'll hit somewhere in between and get on-base enough to utilize his above-average speed. If Pie can't cut it, another rookie, Sam Fuld will get a shot after he tore up the Arizona Fall League with a .402 average. They'll have another freshman behind the plate in Geovany Soto after he drove in 109 runs at AAA and then eight more in 18 games, with a .389 average, as a September call-up.
Pitching
2007 ERA: 4.04 (4th), OPP AVG: .246 (1st)
One of the major’s top pitching staffs in 2007 is pretty much status quo this spring. The only change is that Canadian closer Ryan Dempster is being considered for the final spot in the rotation, even though he’s only made six starts since 2003 when he underwent elbow surgery. Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Rich Hill and Jason Marquis are a solid, if unspectacular, top four. They combined to win 58 games last year. Dempster leaving to re-join the starting ranks, led to a three-way battle for the closers spot between oft-injured fireballer Kerry Wood, veteran Bob Howry and youngster Carlos Marmol. Marmol’s stuff is absolutely filthy and his 96 strikeouts in just 69.1 innings indicate he has the stuff to close, while Howry has pitched in the ninth inning before. For now, Wood will get the save opportunities to start the season, but at least Lou Piniella will have options should he falter or get injured again.
Statsman's non-binding prediction: If it all comes together the Cubs will finish first. Whether they can finally win it all is another thing. Maybe next year, again, Cubs fans.
