Chicago Cubs 2008 Preview

It’s that time of year again. Spring training is in full swing, and the baseball season is just around the corner. Over the next month, The Sports Lounge will run a season preview for each team in the majors, leading up to the season opener in Japan on March 25th. Today we continue the season preview with a look at the Chicago Cubs.

Manager: Lou Pinella
2007: 85-77, NL Central Champions (Lost NLDS 3-0 to Arizona)

Projected Batting Order:

1. Alfonso Soriano, lf (.299, 33 hr, 70 rbi, 42 2b)
2. Ryan Theriot, ss (.266, 3 hr, 45 rbi)
3. Derrek Lee, 1b (.317, 22 hr, 82 rbi, 42 2b)
4. Aramis Ramirez, 3b (.310, 26 hr, 101 rbi, 35 2b)
5. Kusoke Fukudome, rf (rookie)
6. Mark DeRosa, 2b (.293, 10 hr, 72 rbi)
7. Geovany Soto, c (.389, 3 hr, 8 rbi)
8. Felix Pie, cf (.215, 2 hr, 20 rbi)

Projected Starting Rotation:

1. Carlos Zambrano (18-13, 3,95 ERA)
2. Ted Lilly (15-8, 3.83 ERA)
3. Rich Hill (11-8, 3.92 ERA)
4. Jason Marquis (12-9, 4.60 ERA)
5. Jon Lieber (3-6, 4.73 ERA)

Setup: Carlos Marmol
Closer: Bob Howry

The Chicago Cubs are set to celebrate one of sports’ most dubious distinctions as they enter their 100th straight Opening Day without winning a title. Lou Pinella had a successful first season as Chicago’s manager, leading the team to a NL Central title, but the season ended with a loss like all the others. Chicago got humbled by the young Diamondbacks in the Division Series, and their season was over within days of the end of the regular season. The Cubs still have tremendous pieces in the lineup as well as the rotation to make a return trip to the postseason, it’s just a matter of if they can figure things out once they get there.

Chicago’s lineup was already one of the National League’s best, but with the addition of Kusoke Fukudome from Japan, it will have a new dimension. Fukudome showed an increasing amount of power once he got older in Japan, and the Cubs are expecting him to be a productive power bat hitting behind Aramis Ramirez. Ramirez and first basemen Derrek Lee form a great combo at the third and cleanup spot in the order; each can hit .300 with 25-30 home runs over 100 runs batted in. Alfonso Soriano is an atypical leadoff hitter, but Pinella loves putting him there, despite his propensity to swing for the fences. Soriano’s stolen bases took a big hit a season ago, but still hit close to .300 and had his usual power stats. Hitting behind him is a more typical top of the order hitter in shortstop Ryan Theriot, who gave the team a tremendous lift as unheralded addition to the lineup. Veteran utility man Mark DeRosa will hit sixth, with catcher Geovany Soto and Felix Pie rounding out the order. Soto is a youngster, who the Cubs love. He won’t have much pressure to be hugely productive, and that’s an ideal situation for him to grow up in. Pie is another prospect that can give the team a lift at the bottom of the order.

Chicago’s rotation is in the upper echelon of the league, and they have a perennial Cy Young candidate leading the way with Carlos Zambrano. Zambrano is the only starter in the NL to have won 13 games in five straight years, but has never been able to put together a marquee year. He won a career-high 18 wins last year, but his ERA of 3.95 was the highest of his career. If he can put his game together for an entire season, he can win 20 games with this lineup backing him. Ted Lilly was a solid #2 for the Cubs last year, earning the $10 million he was signed for by going 15-8 with a team-leading 3.83 ERA. His control looked much better in 2007, and was responsible for his great year. Rich Hill also had a career year in his first full season a starter and will be the number three starter. Lilly and Hill had career years last year, but with this talented offense behind them, they can achieve similar results again. Jason Marquis was the least effective of the Cubs starter, but still had a good season, going 12-9 with a 4.60 ERA. Chicago would like him to get that ERA under 4.00 if possible. The fifth spot in the rotation looks to be a battle between youngster Sean Marshall and new addition Jon Lieber.

The Cubs have an interesting battle brewing for their spot at closer. It’s shaping up to be a three man race between Carlos Marmol, Kerry Wood, and Bob Howry. That spot probably won’t be determined until closer to Opening Day. The two that are selected as the closer will serve as important set-up men for their closer. Joining them in setup is Scott Eyre, who overcame a rough first half to become an important contributor to the bullpen down the stretch. Michael Wuertz was a workhorse in middle relief, appearing in 73 games, striking out 79 in 72.1 innings. If there is a big hole in this bullpen, it’s the lack of a reliable left hand arm. It’s something Chicago should look into as the season approaches.

The NL Central has gotten progressively worse around the Cubs over the past couple years, and it appears, on paper, Chicago is clearly the best team in the division. Nothing is won in Spring Training, but with Pinella guiding this team, the Cubs should make another return to the playoffs. Fukudome is expected to be an invigorating addition to an already potent offense, and the pitching staff has obvious room for improvement, especially Zambrano and Marquis. The Cubs will win the NL Central with 88 victories.