Chicago Cubs: 10 Bold Predictions for the Second Half

The Chicago Cubs are having an awful season, and at 35-51, are currently the third worst team in baseball.

The Cubs are going to have to do a lot to get back to winning, and it all starts the second half of this season.

If the Cubs can make a few improvements and work to get better after the all-star break, they can have something to build on going into next year.

The Cubs also need to make some bold changes to their roster and completely rebuild this team.

There is much work to be done, but everything starts after the all star break, and here are 10 bold predictions for the Chicago Cubs second half

Aramis Ramirez Will Drive in over 100 Runs

Aramis Ramirez is having a solid season for the Chicago Cubs and has 44 RBI's. Ramirez is paid like an all star and hasn't been quite that good this season, but should improve in the second half.

Ramirez will have a better second half of the season in terms of driving in runs and finish with over 100 of them by October.

Ramriez has been the Cubs' third baseman for many years, and it may be time to move on from the veteran.

It will be interesting to see the Cubs' plans for Ramirez and whether or not they will try and trade him if his value increases.

There is no question he could help out any team, and if he approved of a trade, he could get the Cubs back some prospects for the future.  

Kosuke Fukudome Will Be Traded

Kosuke Fukudome has also been solid for the Chicago Cubs this year and has even upped his trade value.

Kosuke is overpaid in the eyes of most baseball fans, but he is a quality hitter and defender and would really help out a team chasing a playoff berth.

The Cubs would not get much in return for the outfielder but could get something and would get the most value in dumping his contract, even if they would have to pay for most of it in the trade.

Marlon Byrd Will Have a Great Second Half and Be a Part of the Cubs Future

Marlon Byrd has recently returned from a long DL stint after injuring his eye earlier in the year.

Byrd was an All Star last year and was having a solid season before getting hurt. In 47 games, Byrd was batting .304 with 12 RBI and an overall good start to the season.

Byrd will build upon that in the second half and have a great comeback season after the break.

Byrd has a future on this Cubs team and is close to being one of the few untouchables on the roster.

Darwin Barney Will Finish the Season Batting over .300

Darwin Barney is one of the few players on this team that is easy to cheer for. Barney works hard and gets his job done with no complaining or messing around. He is a great young kid who should be a major part of the Chicago Cub's future.

Barney is currently batting .294 and will finish the season batting over .300.

Barney is the second baseman of the future for the Cubs and should be in Chicago for a long time.

Carlos Zambrano Will Be Traded

Carlos Zambrano has had a very successful and interesting career as a Chicago Cub but now needs to go.

Zambrano is still a quality pitcher and could greatly help out a number of teams in World Series contention.

While Zambrano does have a no trade clause, he has agreed to wave it if the right team wanted him.

The Cubs could get back some value for Zambrano and use what they get back to help rebuild the club.

Zambrano's time is up in Chicago, and the Cubs need to move on. 

Carlos Pena Will Hit 40 Home Runs

Carlos Pena has been on a power surge as of late, and after only hitting seven home runs in the first two months of the season, Pena hit 10 in June alone.

Pena will go into the break with around 20 home runs, setting him up perfectly to hit 40 and maybe more.

Pena could be targeted by some teams looking to trade, but it's more likely that the Cubs will hold on to Pena and let him play out his contract.

If Pena does end up with 40 plus homers, it would justify his singing and will have made his one year in Chicago a decent success.

Starlin Castro Will Finish Top 5 in the National League in Batting Average

Starlon Castro is the Chicago Cubs' best player and is the youngest Cub ever to make an All Star team.

Castro hits for decent power and great average and is currently ninth in the NL in batting average.

Castro will gain confidence from his All Star appearance and only get better in the second half and should end the season batting around .320.

While it is a lot to ask of such a young player, Castro will be able to do it and is one of the Cubs' only bright spots in the team's future.

General Manager Jim Hendry Will Be Fired

The Chicago Cubs General Manager, Jim Hendry, did a solid job with the Cubs before this season, but has put them in such a hole that it is time for him to go.

Hendry is the architect of the sixth highest payroll in baseball with the third worst record, and that speaks for itself.

Hendry has made too many bad moves in a row, and it's time for the Cubs to go in a different direction in a few different places, including.... 

Manager Mike Quade Will Be Fired

Remember, these are bold predictions, and the Chicago Cubs firing Mike Quade would be a very bold move.

Quade is managing a team with the sixth highest payroll in baseball and doing a poor job of it.

With the funds and resources the Cubs have, they should have a better record, and that is on the manager.

Quade does not have control of the veterans on this team, and the Cubs need to go with their own guy in Ryne Sandberg. He would be a better fit on the Cubs and have more control in a locker room filled with overpaid, lazy players.

Alfonso Soriano Will Be Traded

Every Chicago Cubs' fan's dream is for the Cubs to win a world series; a close second is getting rid of the Alfonso Soriano contract.

Soriano is one the highest paid players in baseball and is making about 19 million dollars this season.

Soriano is having another bad year and almost all his numbers are below his career average.

The Cubs would absolutely love to move Soriano in almost any deal and would take back nothing in return, if they could.

While this may be too bold a prediction, there is a small chance that a team gets desperate for power and looks to Soriano as an option because they would not have to give up much for him.

Soriano getting traded would be a huge step in the right direction for the Chicago Cubs and give a fanbase that has been hoping for over 100 years even more hope.