Chicago Cubs Recap: The Sophomore Slump

Anybody who comes off of a stellar rookie season has got to believe that he's invincible. 

Cubs' catcher Geovany Soto was the National League Rookie of the Year in 2008 following a season where he hit .285 with 23 home runs and 86 RBIs.

Soto was one of those players who came off of a great season and expected to do just as well, if not build upon that success. Unfortunately, Soto, like a majority of the Cubs, didn't quite meet expectations in 2009. He hit a "sophomore slump". 

What was Soto's answer to an underwhelming 2009? He hit the gym nearly as soon as the offseason began.

Since then, Soto has lost 40 pounds and will need a completely new uniform when he and the rest of the catchers/pitchers report to Mesa for spring training in a few weeks. 

Randy Wells shocked Cubs nation in 2009 by being the hidden gem to replace an injured Carlos Zambrano. Wells had a stellar year, going 12-10 with a 3.05 ERA. Had it not been for a lack of run support, Wells could have easily won three to five more games. 

Now as Wells prepares to enter his second full season as a starter in the Chicago Cubs rotation, is he ready to prove that he is immune to the "sophomore slump"? 

"Everybody talks about the sophomore slump. I don't believe in it," Wells has said. "I'm a guy who spent seven to eight years in the minor leagues. I got the opportunity. I caught a shooting star. I grabbed a hold of it. I'm not letting go."

Wells believes he's going to be immune to a slump, but only time will tell.