San Pedro de Macoris. Not exactly a tourist hot spot in the Dominican Republic, but it is the birthplace of Cubs millionaires. 

 

When the Cubs last ponied up $17 million a year for a player, they threw it at the "Dominican Daddy," Sammy Sosa.  Now comes another prodigy from Macoris, this one looking a lot like the Sosa the Cubs acquired in the mid-90's.  Alfonso Soriano possesses 40/40 talent, a wiry body, and the potential for Flintstones Vitamin-fueled 60-homer seasons.

  

Ever since the dubious departure of Samuel Peralta Sosa after the 2004 season, Cubs fans have been craving something for which to cheer.  Mark Prior and Kerry Wood's continued health problems have frustrated many fans to the point of writing off these still young and talented pitchers.  Derrek Lee had his run at the Triple Crown in '05 before injuries slowed him this past year.   The re-signing of Aramis Ramirez was a critical deal to keep a strong power presence in the middle of the order, but unless Aramis is staring down one of his bombs, he adds little else to the team.  Carlos Zambrano, perhaps the Cubs' most likeable and hated player, is a treat every time he steps on the mound, but unfortunately that is only once every five days.  In fact, Cubs fans would respect any pitcher that could take the mound every five days at this point.

The 2006 season was one of futility for the ages.  The Cubs finished last in the National League.  Not much else needs to be said. 

Change thankfully began on the front steps of the dugout.  Wrigleyville will no longer have to suffer through Dusty Baker's laughable strategy decisions, his inability to develop and stay with young talent, and his laissez-faire management style.  In a city that idolizes Mike Ditka as the greatest coach of all-time, Baker's less-than-fiery attitude (usually consisting of throwing his toothpick to the ground and grabbing a new one) just didn't fly.  The hiring of Lou Piniella, at the very least, promises to bring some passion back into the dugout.  Additionally, the pairing of Soriano with Piniella, A-Rod's mentor in Seattle, has to have Cubs fans ecstatic. 

Armed with an expanded Tribune Co. budget — to the tune of about $120 million — pardoned GM Jim Hendry is on a mission to win before the 100th year anniversary of the Cubs' last World Series.  Early rumors that had the Cubs signing a collection of mediocre starters (Gil Meche, Ted Lilly, Jason Marquis) and an everyday center fielder gave Cubs fans nightmares of Hendry's last two offseasons.  In those years, Hendry unloaded Sosa and Corey Patterson; couldn't find a closer; signed Jeremy Burnitz, Jacque Jones, and a handful of other players that belong on the Pirates; and, for the most part, idly watched an stood by as Baker and Co. played out the string. 

Contrast those rumors to reality, where Hendry has already moved quickly to sign Mark DeRosa and Soriano.  While the Cubs most certainly overpaid for DeRosa, he will cement a 2B position at which the Cubs had previously been slated to platoon two youngsters next year.  Soriano, on the other hand, could turn out to be a better investment than had the Cubs bit on Carlos Beltran two years ago.

The acquisition of Soriano gives the Cubs one of the most potent lineups in the NL.  Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, and Michael Barrett, the NL's best hitting catcher, give the Cubs four potent bats in the middle of the order.  Jacque Jones, Matt Murton, and DeRosa are respectable offensive players and will keep pitchers honest.  If Cesar Izturis can return to his 2004 All-Star level, then the Cubs won't have an easy out in the whole lineup.  In fact, there are so few concerns in the lineup that starting pitching is now considered the Achilles heel of the Cubs, an assertion that would have sounded ludicrous before Bartman fouled everything up.

The Cubs have finally realized that they can not count on Prior or Wood to be healthy.  In Wood's case, the team has brought him back for one more year hoping he can stay healthy as a set-up man or a closer.  If he does, he could have a John Smoltz-like renaissance as a closer.  For Prior, the Cubs have their hopes that a new offseason conditioning program will have him healthy by the spring.  Nonetheless, Prior is penciled in as the Cubs' sixth starter, and any production they get from him before the Mid-Summer Classic would be a bonus.  Outside of Zambrano, the rest of the Cubs' rotation is filled with question marks.  Rich Hill and Sean Marshall will almost certainly be awarded jobs, but their younger counterparts (Guzman, Marmol, O'Malley, and Ryu) will need strong camps.  The Cubs' latest rehab project, Wade Miller, will get his chance as well to fill out the rotation.  Given the amount of uncertainty around the rotation, the addition of Meche or Lilly is critical and would give the Cubs their own personal Jeff Suppan.

The signing of Soriano has put the Cubs back into contention, but they will need to build a stronger rotation or risk blaming another lost season on an injured Prior and/or Wood.  Nonetheless, Cubs fans still have reason to be excited.  This year's club promises to light up the scoreboard (figuratively, not literally as at so many minor league ballparks...like U.S. Cellular) and provide some drama. 

Who knows, fans may even find themselves worshiping a new "Dominican Daddy."