I know its still football season and being optimistic for the cubs makes you an ass, but they just got Garza so I am going to be optimistic.
Rotation:
Garza - A bona fide young Ace. They desperately needed him.
Zambrano - Huge let me down, but maybe the pressure of not being the Ace will morph Z back into the young stud he used to be.
Dempster - Seems to impress year in and out, not a bad 3rd pitcher.
Silva - Great year last year and in his contract year.
Gorzelangy - Could be worse in the 5 spot.
Pen:
Set up men:
Wood from the Right
Marshall from the Left
That is a solid two some.
Then you have Well, Cashner, Grabow, Samardzija or a surprise.
Closer:
Marmol - Proved last year he can handle the 9th
Line-up:
There are a lot of what ifs and huges question marks at all positions, but every years there are teams that well over-produce, why can't it be the Cubs?
Castro (r) ss - Young stud
Fukudome (l) RF - Starts out well and tails off, maybe a contract year should help
ARam (r) 3B - Used to be a consistent 30 HR, .300 BA and 100 RBI. One bad year and people write him off. He is still young and I think is primed for a huge comback.
Soriano (r) RF - Finally not in the 1 or 2 hole where he can't get on enough to be a good table setter, but he still has power.
Pena (l) 1B - Not going to be a savior, but 90 RBIs is not out of the question.
Byrd (r) CF
Soto (r) C - Can he bounce back after a horrendous Sophmore season?
2b?
They have a tough division, but this is baseball anything can happen. I expect them to be competitive at least.
Rotation:
Garza - A bona fide young Ace. They desperately needed him.
Zambrano - Huge let me down, but maybe the pressure of not being the Ace will morph Z back into the young stud he used to be.
Dempster - Seems to impress year in and out, not a bad 3rd pitcher.
Silva - Great year last year and in his contract year.
Gorzelangy - Could be worse in the 5 spot.
Pen:
Set up men:
Wood from the Right
Marshall from the Left
That is a solid two some.
Then you have Well, Cashner, Grabow, Samardzija or a surprise.
Closer:
Marmol - Proved last year he can handle the 9th
Line-up:
There are a lot of what ifs and huges question marks at all positions, but every years there are teams that well over-produce, why can't it be the Cubs?
Castro (r) ss - Young stud
Fukudome (l) RF - Starts out well and tails off, maybe a contract year should help
ARam (r) 3B - Used to be a consistent 30 HR, .300 BA and 100 RBI. One bad year and people write him off. He is still young and I think is primed for a huge comback.
Soriano (r) RF - Finally not in the 1 or 2 hole where he can't get on enough to be a good table setter, but he still has power.
Pena (l) 1B - Not going to be a savior, but 90 RBIs is not out of the question.
Byrd (r) CF
Soto (r) C - Can he bounce back after a horrendous Sophmore season?
2b?
They have a tough division, but this is baseball anything can happen. I expect them to be competitive at least.
