Outlook on '08: Five Best Chicago Cubs Players

Although the 2008 season for the Chicago Cubs didn't turn out desirable, the regular season was more attractive. I polled a few people around town and came up with my list of the best players in 2008.

The fifth best player in 2008 was ranked in as newcomer Jim Edmonds. This veteran outfielder did wonders for the Cards in past seasons, but when the Padres found that he was not performing to their expectations, we picked him up as our center fielder in place of struggling Felix Pie.

While he didn't have a career year with 55 RBIs, 2 stolen bases and a .256 batting average with the Cubs, he made up for it in other places.

He played a good number of games, 111, and hit 20 home runs, 19 of them with the Cubs, and he still had his stellar defense out in center with numerous diving catches throughout the entire season. I agree with the rankings that Jim Edmonds definitely belongs in the top five.

At No. 4 is past seasons' Gold Glover Derrek Lee. It's obvious to me that he belongs here after being named a National League MVP this year. He had the least number of errors in his career, not counting his first season when he only played in twenty one games, while this season he played an amazing 155.

"D-Lee" hit 20 homers this season, definitely above average and one of the top on the team. He also had 90 RBI, second best on the team only behind Aramis Ramirez. To make it an even better season, his eight stolen bases weren't too shabby and his .291 batting average was the second best on the team with a certain number of games, and therefore I think he deserves this spot.

The third best player was voted in as starting pitcher Ryan Dempster. He had a smooth transition from the bullpen to the starting rotation, and I think that he handled it very nicely. He led the team in strikeouts with 187, which is an obvious accomplishment, along with only 68 earned runs and a 17-6 win-loss record.

The only doubt I had with him was his 76 batters walked, which was the most of all starting pitchers, but I really feel that he made up for it. Dempster played in 33 games and led all starting pitchers with 206.2 innings pitched. All considered, I think he was a wise contender for this spot.

Getting closer to the number one spot, rookie catcher Geovany Soto came in at No. 2. He was voted to the All-Star Game, the first rookie catcher from the Cubs organization to be voted in. The stats that jumped out at me as amazing for Geo were his 23 homers and 86 RBI to support it. He had the third most home runs on the team and fourth most RBI, which is quite a feat for a rookie.

Geo played in 141 games with a .285 batting average. Although his speed wasn't really working for him with no stolen bases, he is a great hitter and catcher and I think he played a large part in getting the Cubs to the playoffs.

And finally, the best player on the 2008 Chicago Cubs is newly named Indian Mark DeRosa.

We all know that he had a career year with the most home runs he'd ever hit in a season with 21, most RBI with 87, and to add on to that he tied for the most number of games he'd played in with 149. He had a batting average of .285 to match up with it, also.

He had six stolen bases on the year, which is good considering he isn't one of the fastest players on the team. DeRosa was definitely a fan favorite and worked well with his teammates and deserved a spot in the All-Star Game, even if he didn't get one.

I'm sure that he'll far just as well with Kerry Wood in Cleveland as he did in Chicago and we'll all see him again in June at Wrigley.

I would like to know if anybody has a different opinion on who makes this list, whether it be somebody who should have or should not have made it, because this entire article is about what fans like us think, so if you have a note, it would be beneficial to all of us if you made a comment.