Cubs: Team Cannot Win Title Without Legitimate No. 2 Pitcher

Call me crazy, Cubs fans, but counting on Ted Lilly to have a repeat performance of his 2007 campaign will only wind up ending ugly. 

Lilly had a career year in 2007 for the Northsiders; 15 wins, 3.83 ERA, and a 1.14 WHIP, but I have trouble believing the Cubs will see this production from Ted Lilly again in 2008.

Another year in the NL Central, no longer is Ted Lilly a new pitcher to many of these hitters. Whoever it is Lilly will be pitching against is going to actually have experience against the lefty, which will not end as well as Cubbie-Nation may be depending on.

Ted Lilly was a legitimate No. 2 pitcher in 2007. In 2008, he will not stack up as an elite number No. 2 guy in the National League. 

Look at the NL West for example. San Diego and Arizona are two perfect examples of this. Jake Peavy and Chris Young at the top of the rotation for the Padres, Brandon Webb and Dan Haren for the Diamondbacks. 

I'm not saying that Ted Lilly is not a good starting pitcher but when you look at No. 2’s, he does not quite fit the needed mold in order to bring a championship to the North Side of Chicago. 

Solutions?

Since Erik Bedard is no longer on the table, there doesn't appear to be any other pitchers out there right now that could be traded for. 

When the All-Star break comes around, there will likely be more sellers out there looking to get rid of a possible No. 2.

For the time being, however, Rich Hill has the ability to notch 15-plus wins, and be a Top-5 strikeout guy in the National League if he could put together an entire season. 

Before the All-Star break, Hill excelled, but faded in the second half. If Hill were to put together a full season of stardom, then he may be able to emerge as a legit second starter.  Though Hill has not proven enough entering 2008 and I have trouble thinking 2008 will be any better than 2007.

Sure the Cubs may win the NL Central and that's the first step toward a world title. 

Unfortunately, without a legitimate No. 2 pitcher in the rotation, I don’t think this is the year the Cubs can reclaim a World Series title.