Cubbies Contend in 2008 with Championship Mindset

It's a Curse! It's a Goat! No, it's the loveable Cubbies.  Has the time come that the Chicago Cubs finally decide to turn their luck around and compete for a World Series Championship?

They are in an extremely weak division. (The Milwaukee Brewers seem like the only team that can threaten the Cubbies)

The Central Division in the National League is by far one of the most unfulfilling divisions in all of baseball. 

By being labeled as a bland division in the past, this year will not fail to turn heads concerning the NL Central haters. 

With the Milwaukee Brewers bulking up their bullpen with Eric Gagne, they can only get better this season.  Also, with the transition of Rookie of the Year, Ryan Braun, into the outfield and Bill Hall moving to third base, only time will tell to see how much progress the Brew Crew has made in the off season. 

Oh yea, and don't forget about the addition of gold glover Mike Cameron.  Cameron can handle center field as good as anyone in the National League and will vastly improve not only the defense, but the pitching as well.  There is no way the Cubs can assume being crowned with the division title because the Crew have a power machine by the name of Prince Fielder. 

With Braun and Fielder hitting 3-4 in the lineup, nothing is impossible for this run producing club.  The deciding factor to the Brewers season is the oft injured righty, Ben Sheets.  If Sheets can put up the numbers he is capable of by staying off the DL, then the Brewers may be able to pull off a close race.

Enough about the contenders and on to the real deal Cubbies.  The time has finally come. 

With Pinella eased into the organization, he has much pressure off his shoulders.  By making it to the playoffs, everyone knows that the Cubs only got better this year.  The sweep by the Diamondbacks should really serve as an eye-opener to the organization. 

Their mindset should be eager to get out there and show the National League who the “Real” 2008 Cubs are.  The Cubs did nothing but improve during the off season and give the fans more hope to accomplish a successful season. 

Of course a successful season means going over the mountain top and winning the franchise’s first World Series in one hundred years (ONE CENTURY!). 

The addition of Japanese star Kosuke Fukudome is what makes the Cubs so versatile not only in the field, but as an offense. Kos is a powerful lefty with speed and quality fielding skills that will help bring the Cubs to the promised land.  Do I hear five tool player and co-star to Yanks Japanese star Hideki Matsui? 

By adding a lefty in the Cubs potent lineup, it just adds more trouble for the opposing team’s pitchers. 

With a projected lineup of Soriano, Theriot, Lee, Ramirez, Fukudome, DeRosa, Soto, and Pie, the Cubs support one of the strongest lineups in the National League.  When Pie matures into a big league hitter, the possibility of him hitting in the leadoff spot is only a matter of time.  The Cub’s offense and its flexibility should make it much more relaxing on their pitching staff which is the only question surrounding their 2008 season.

            Zambrano should be keeping his CY Young predictions to himself this year, therefore avoiding a tremendous downfall to the start of the season.  Carlos is the workhorse in the rotation and has to carry the team and reside from any types of injuries.  His passion for the game and intensity should really bolster a descent staff. 

            Rich Hill and Ted Lilly must come out with their “A” game and contain it throughout the entire season.  Their fade late last season is what brought the Brewers in contention of the division.  Marquis and the acquirement of old Cub Jon Lieber, hope to uphold the back end of the pitching staff.  If Lieber can do what he did for Chicago in his last stint as a Cub, don’t be surprised to see the Cubs run away with the division. 

The last question that remains is the bullpen.  Oft-injured Kerry Wood had a remarkable come back year in 2007 and proved to the world that he still can pitch in the MLB when healthy.  Wood composed of 24.1 innings and fanned 24 batter with a 3.33 ERA as a relief pitcher. 

He will be competing with Carlos Marmol, a fastball and slider expertise, for the closing role.  Marmol came out of no where last year and dominated the opposing teams.  His nasty slider along with his blazing fastball accounted for a 1.43 ERA and 96 K’s in 69.1 innings last season.

Either pitcher would make for a great closer/set-up man.  With a solid bullpen performance from the Cubs this season, they have a chance to compete with the Mets for home field advantage throughout the playoffs. 

         With additions of Fukudome and Lieber, the Cubs put themselves in the front running for the National League World Series contenders.  As for Chicago fans, the suffering has been taking place for one hundred years now. 

        It’s about time the Chicago Cubs overcome all the obstacles and prove to and show the world that their time has come.  The Cubs should be coming into this season with fierce intensity and the confidence of champions. 

        After the disappointing loss to the Diamondbacks in the Divisional round of the playoffs, the Cubbies will have a reason to go out there and prove that they are not flukes, but a World Series caliber team and not afraid to go out and win a championship.