With Spring Training right around the corner, the Cubs are coming off an awesome regular season, which led to an incredibly disappointing postseason.
There aren’t going to be that many changes this year, but there will be some in the rotation, the back of the bullpen, right field, and catcher. There are also many questions hanging over the sale of the team and the future of Wrigley Field.
Here are the top 10 questions Cubs fans have entering spring training:
10) Why isn’t Geovany Soto being talked about for Rookie of the Year?
The Cubs new everyday catcher Soto looks to have the makings of a great player. During the stretch run last year, he was playing more than any other catcher, and he started two of the three playoff games. In 18 games at the end of last season, Soto had 54 at bats with an OBP of .433 and an average of .389. I think he could be the real deal, and a great addition to the lineup.
9) Which Zambrano will show up this season?
Carlos Zambrano was wildly inconsistent throughout the year. His ERA by month was: April: 5.77, May: 4.72, June: 2.53, July: 1.38, August: 7.06, September: 3.44. He had no consistency whatsoever, and fans really never knew what to expect when they came to the games. Hopefully, he can get some sort of consistency, and contend for the Cy Young awards that he is capable of winning
8) Who is in and out of the rotation?
We know for sure that Zambrano and Ted Lilly will be leading the rotation, but not much is clear after that. Rich Hill seems good to go after gaining some experience last year, and finishing the season 11-8 with a 3.92 ERA. As for the fourth and fifth starters however, not much is known. Jon Lieber is rejoining the team, with hopes to capture past glory. Jason Marquis is back to figure out what happened the second half of the season. Ryan Dempster is attempting a move back to the rotation. Seans Marshall and Gallagher are fighting for spots as well. With those five competing for the final two spots in the rotation, competition this spring looks to be intense.
7) Is Felix Pie the next Corey Patterson?
Pie has been the Cubs top recruit for years now, but every time they bring him up to the big league team, he falters. It reminds me a lot of Corey Patterson’s struggle to move into the big leagues. If Pie can’t get going at the highest level this year, I don’t think he ever will, and it will be time for the Cubs to find a different center fielder.
6) Will the Cubs trade for Brian Roberts?
This has been an ongoing saga all winter. Despite the fact that Roberts name was featured in the Mitchell Report and the Cubs already have a solid second baseman in Mark DeRosa, they are looking to add Roberts to add some speed at the top of the lineup. This would be a big move, because it would allow DeRosa to become a starting utility player, which would be a great use of his versatility.
5) Who will pitch the ninth inning?
The Cubs closer situation has not been solid for a long time, and this year there is more uncertainty. With Dempster moving back to the rotation, Bob Howry, Kerry Wood, and Carlos Marmol are each in the competition. It looks like the Cubs will have a great looking pitcher finishing games for them regardless, but do these men have the mind of a closer?
4) Is Kosuke Fukudome the next great Japanese transplant?
Fukudome is the biggest question mark on the roster this year. I don’t think anybody really knows what to expect, but everybody is really hoping that he is the next Ichiro or Matsui. Apparently he is fast, and can hit for power and average, so I’m excited to see what he can do.
3) What does the future hold for Wrigley Field?
Hopefully, the building will be improved while still retaining its integrity. Hopefully, the name will not change. Hopefully, the Cubs will continue to play at the historic stadium in the long term. With the ownership situation in flux however, there is no way of knowing what will happen in the long term. I personally think that the new owner will want to keep the team in Wrigley, but it really depends on who the team is sold to.
2) When is the team going to be sold, and how will this affect the on-field output?
It appears the team will not be sold until after this season starts. I have a feeling that whoever buys the team will want to keep most of the current players around, but might also be willing to input even more cash into the roster in an attempt to bring the team its first world series title in one hundred years.
1) Is this the year?
Optimistically, yes. Realistically, maybe. The Cubs did make the playoffs last year, and have only improved upon the team that was knocked out by the D-backs. While it has been a long, long, long time since the Cubs last won the World Series, Cubs fans have to believe that the team is in a handful of contenders in the NL.
The Mets look to be stacked now that they have Johan Santana. The Brewers, D-Backs, and Rockies also continue to have solid young rosters, which will undoubtedly be competitive for years.
But you have to say this team has a chance.
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7 months ago
Nice writeup but I have a bit of a bone with the comments on Pie. He's only been up in one season for a total of 177 at-bats. He should be nowhere near make-or-break yet. I think he's becoming a victim of high expectations played on top prospects these days.
7 months ago
agree that Pie definitely hasn't even had close to a shot to prove himself yet. And it shouldn't be dismissed that team's he's played on for the last 6 years or something have made it to the postseason. Even with his small contributions last year, the team played well over .500 with him in the starting lineup.
That being said, I'd like to see the Cubs sign Corey Patterson as insurance if Pie/Fuld aren't ready to take the reins. He was put on a ridiculously short leash in his first stint in Chicago and let's not forget he was on his way to an all-star year in 2003 before his knee injury. At the very least, Patterson provides another oustanding defensive outfielder, a left handed option off the bench, and speed to burn which he finally figured out how to use when moved to Baltimore. The return of Corey could also help keep brother Eric committed to the organization and realizing his immense talent.
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