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| Dale Sveum (left) and Theo Epstein (left) are two of the main characters in a new chapter of Cubdom. Is this the chapter where the Cubs bring a title to the part of Chicago north of Madison Street? |
Welcome to the Chi Theo.
Don't get me wrong Theo, you have a lot of work to do on the North Side. The good news is that you have a potent double play combo that includes a franchise player in Starlin Castro. I can gush about this kid all day. I think this kid is going to get 3,000 hits and he is going to be the leader on this Cubs squad for years to come. I expect the other side of the middle infield, Darwin Barney, to be around long enough to see the Cubs make their run that they go on every decade.
This year, however, pitching is going to be the Cubs strong suit. Despite the fact that four of the six pitchers that are competing for a spot in the rotation are coming off poor seasons, I still have a strong feeling that the Cubs are going to have at least three solid starters. The Cubs went out and bolstered their pitching staff this offseason by picking up Travis Wood from the Reds and Paul Maholm from Pittsburgh. Young pitchers such as Casey Coleman may be good for a spot start or two this season, but these acquisitions will keep the Cubs for having to shove younger guys who are not ready, like they did with Coleman last season. If these guys fail to make a formidable rotation, then the loss of Carlos Zambrano will be as big of a curse as it is a blessing.
The front end of the bullpen is going to be up for grabs this season. Closer Carlos Marmol is coming off a rough season, blowing 10 saves and registering an ERA just north of 4. Kerry Wood and Jeff Samardzija are going to attempt to give the Cubs stability in the 7th and 8th inning while Marmol works out the kinks in 2012.
Theo's first offseason in Chicago was defined by two acquisitions. The signing of David DeJesus, who is coming off a poor season in Oakland and the trade of young arm Andrew Cashner to San Diego for Anthony Rizzo.
DeJesus is coming off a poor season in Oakland, but otherwise has a good track record. Rizzo for Cashner is one of the more intriguing trades of the offseason. Rizzo is solid prospect that had a rough go-round at Petco in 2011, hitting .141 in 128 AB's. Hitting at Wrigley Field can fix a lot of these problems. Cashner also saw limited action last season in Chicago, but based on that action I can see him thriving at Petco.
The challenges facing the Cubs this season in the lineup is solidifying their corner infield. The loss of Aramis Ramirez takes some stability out of their lineup. Currently, Bryan LaHair and Ian Stewart are projected to start and first and third. Comeback seasons from Byrd, DeJesus and Soto would energize this lineup.
Surprisingly enough, Alfonso Soriano has become one of the more consistent things the Cubs have in their lineup coming into 2012. Soriano has become a "what you see is what you get" player. He is by no means an effort player, but he will be good enough to hit .250/25/85 and play everyday this season. Reed Johnson will continue to be one of the best fourth outfielders in baseball.
Don't get me wrong Theo, you have a lot of work to do on the North Side. The good news is that you have a potent double play combo that includes a franchise player in Starlin Castro. I can gush about this kid all day. I think this kid is going to get 3,000 hits and he is going to be the leader on this Cubs squad for years to come. I expect the other side of the middle infield, Darwin Barney, to be around long enough to see the Cubs make their run that they go on every decade.
This year, however, pitching is going to be the Cubs strong suit. Despite the fact that four of the six pitchers that are competing for a spot in the rotation are coming off poor seasons, I still have a strong feeling that the Cubs are going to have at least three solid starters. The Cubs went out and bolstered their pitching staff this offseason by picking up Travis Wood from the Reds and Paul Maholm from Pittsburgh. Young pitchers such as Casey Coleman may be good for a spot start or two this season, but these acquisitions will keep the Cubs for having to shove younger guys who are not ready, like they did with Coleman last season. If these guys fail to make a formidable rotation, then the loss of Carlos Zambrano will be as big of a curse as it is a blessing.
The front end of the bullpen is going to be up for grabs this season. Closer Carlos Marmol is coming off a rough season, blowing 10 saves and registering an ERA just north of 4. Kerry Wood and Jeff Samardzija are going to attempt to give the Cubs stability in the 7th and 8th inning while Marmol works out the kinks in 2012.
Theo's first offseason in Chicago was defined by two acquisitions. The signing of David DeJesus, who is coming off a poor season in Oakland and the trade of young arm Andrew Cashner to San Diego for Anthony Rizzo.
DeJesus is coming off a poor season in Oakland, but otherwise has a good track record. Rizzo for Cashner is one of the more intriguing trades of the offseason. Rizzo is solid prospect that had a rough go-round at Petco in 2011, hitting .141 in 128 AB's. Hitting at Wrigley Field can fix a lot of these problems. Cashner also saw limited action last season in Chicago, but based on that action I can see him thriving at Petco.
The challenges facing the Cubs this season in the lineup is solidifying their corner infield. The loss of Aramis Ramirez takes some stability out of their lineup. Currently, Bryan LaHair and Ian Stewart are projected to start and first and third. Comeback seasons from Byrd, DeJesus and Soto would energize this lineup.
Surprisingly enough, Alfonso Soriano has become one of the more consistent things the Cubs have in their lineup coming into 2012. Soriano has become a "what you see is what you get" player. He is by no means an effort player, but he will be good enough to hit .250/25/85 and play everyday this season. Reed Johnson will continue to be one of the best fourth outfielders in baseball.
All of that being said, the Cubs do not have the team to compete in the NL Central this season. However, Rome wasn't built in a day. In the case of the Cubs, Rome wasn't built in 104 years either. Maybe titles come quicker when you have a bonafide hard-ass like Dale Sveum serving as the contractor.
X-FACTORS:
Rotation: Randy Wells. As of now, he is listed as the third starter. He needs to get to where he was in 2009 to back up my claim that pitching will be the the strong suit of the Cubs.
Lineup: David DeJesus. If he can play like he did in Kansas City, then he will be the Cubs best free agent signing since Marlon Byrd.
Bullpen: Carlos Marmol. If Carlos does not blow ten saves this season and has an ERA under 3, the Cubs have may finish third.
The Kids: Anthony Rizzo. He needs to make an impact on this lineup this season to make Theo Epstein look smart for dealing Andrew Cashner.
ROYAL LIST:
#32 OF Brett Jackson. Another kid that, like Rizzo, could have an impact on the Cubs' 2012 campaign.
#47 1B Anthony Rizzo. Could have first base locked down by the end of May.
#61 SS Javier Baez. 19-year old who, if not traded away before hitting the majors, will have to find a new position.
#64 OF Matt Szczur. Joins Jeff Samardzija on the list of Cubs' Wide Receivers.
PROJECTION: 5th Place NL Central. There are four good teams in the NL Central this season. The Cubs are not one of them. Theo Epstein's efforts will assist Cubs in following seasons. The important thing is that Epstein is building the farm system and has his manager in Dale Sveum.
I also project that like myself, many people in Chicago will notice that Sveum bears a resemblance to a familiar face.
I also project that like myself, many people in Chicago will notice that Sveum bears a resemblance to a familiar face.
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