Top Five Chicago Cubs Questions for 2009

Hard to believe, but several of last years’ key questions concerning the Cubs appear to still be pertinent with the outlook of 2009.


Q: Who’s going to lead off?

A: Alfonso Soriano.  Can we just stop worrying about this?  Soriano is obviously comfortable and  happy there and, considering the Cubs’ success with him at the spot, pretty hard to  argue with the results.  More than anything, Soriano’s inability to even get on base, let alone produce runs in the postseason keeps this question at the top of everyone else’s order.


Q: Did Jim Hendry finally give Lou Piniella some much needed Left-Handed Everyday Bats?

A: Going into Spring Training this year from last, the Cubs are swapping Milton Bradley for Felix Pie and Aaron Miles for Mark DeRosa.  Kosuke Fukodome appears to be the front runner to be the everyday center fielder in 2009, so his left-handed bat also remains on Lou’s card.  Troubles abound if Fukdome struggles again. 

Reed Johnson remains, but only the light hitting speedster Joey Gathright can  play center field—which would mean another mid-season center field addition, a la Jim Edmonds.


Q: The Bench will be even more critical with the absence of the super-versatile DeRosa—who can we count on to produce?

A: Certainly hope that Hendry is not done tweaking here, but I can only answer this question with many sub-questions.  

Can Micah Hoffpauir deliver as well as Daryl Ward against the best relievers in the game?  Will Mike Fontenot continue to develop as a bona-fide tough out?  Who backs up Ryan Theriot without the steady Ronny Cedeno on the team?  If Aramis Ramirez gets injured and no DeRosa to spell him, who plays third base off the bench? 

Henry Blanco seemed to be the best backup around. Can Paul Bako actually start 25-30 games and by being LH, offset the difference from the lack of Geovany Soto’s bat? 

It really appears that the non-starter of Fontenot and Miles is going to have to play shortstop and third base better than average, but I cannot see Hendry not adding one more player to this mix.


Q: With all of these arms coming to camp, does this must really mean that the Cubs are not expectiong too much out of Rich Harden?

A: Let’s hope not.  I see Rich Harden as the key to 2009.  If he can remain healthy and dominant, not just dominant every now and then, there’s no reason to believe that he cannot be a viable Cy Young candidate in the N.L.   

He was 10-2 in 2008 overall (5-1 with the Cubs) with an ERA just over 2.00.  That’s as good as it gets.  Remember Mark Prior’s first season  (18-6, 2.43)?  I expect this much out of Harden. 

Even without a late addition of Jake Peavy, Randy Wolf, or Braden Looper, the starting rotation is solid—Zambrano, Harden, Lilly, Dempster, and Marshall or Aaron Heilman.


Q: Whose Clubhouse is it?

A: No question—it is Lou Piniella’s.  Some teams require a leader—the Cubs certainly had theirs in Kerry Wood, DeRosa, and Blanco.  They’re gone but you’ve got steady, quiet leaders like Dempster and Lee, not to mention the fiery Zambrano. 

But Sweet Lou is the Top Dog, bar none, and nobody can upstage him. 

Expect Milton Bradley and Lou to get along perfectly—who better to handle the temperament of MB other than our own Lou Piniella?