The Windy City North Side Crew

The Cubs' pitching staff is something to look out for in 2009. They will be the cream of the crop in the National League and the National League Central.

Strengths

Veteran Carlos Zambrano is the strength of this staff, without a doubt. If he can keep his head in check and stay healthy, he is the best pitcher in the National League, hands down.

Zambrano will give the Cubs well over 200 innings and a good 16 or more quality wins. Hampered by injuries in 2008, Zambrano finished 14-6 with 188.8 innings pitched and a 3.91 ERA.

Weaknesses

Plain and simple: injuries. If these guys can stay healthy, they will have no weaknesses. With a rotation of Zambrano, Dempster, Lilly, Harden, and Marshall, how can you go wrong?

You know how? Injuries. They can screw it all up. Also, the inconsistency of Zambrano and his temper could be a factor. There will be times Zambrano will win three games in a row; then he will lose seven.

How They Will Fare in the Central

The Cubs should end up pretty well-off. The NL Central is definitely one of the weakest divisions in baseball, so Chicago should be okay. Even when they had multiple injuries last season, including to the pitching staff, they turned out alright and ended up having the best record in the National League.

Who's Dependable?

Zambrano and Dempster are my choices for sure. Zambrano just because he's Zambrano; he is always good.

Dempster because of what he proved last year. He was one of the best pitchers on last year's staff. He was pretty much undefeated at home last year, so he proved himself as a top guy for the staff.

Something to Prove

It's what both Zambrano and Marshall have. I bet you're asking, how can Zambrano be dependable and have something to prove?

He fits the "Something to Prove" category thanks to his temper. It gets in the way of his outstanding pitching ability; he must separate his temper from his concentration on the mound.

Marshall has something to prove because he could be turned to as the fifth starter this year. If he is going to be in that slot in the rotation, he needs to be one that will win games. Marquis wasn't amazing at the five, but he won games for the Cubs.

My Prediction

The Cubs end up winning the central with Sabathia gone (and therefore no one competing with the talent of the Cubs' staff). The Cubs will end the year with a 101-61 record, with major help from their pitchers.