Chicago Cubs 2008 season preview
In 2008, there are high hopes. The thing that people seem to be talking about is the 100 year drought for the Cubs winning the World Series. Of course that is a big deal. Any team that has such an infamous drought is bound to draw attention, but that is really a non-issue. The World Series drought has nothing to do with this year’s team.
The Cubs spent a ton of money last off season to bring in Alfonso Soriano and locking up Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Zambrano. This off season the biggest addition was Kosuke Fukudome from Japan. Fukudome gives the Cubs a solid left-handed bat and a dependable right fielder.
The starting rotation for Cubs will be a strength again. Led by Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly and Rich Hill, the Cubs will have plenty of starting pitching. Rounding out the rotation are former closer Ryan Dempster and Jason Marquis. The bullpen should also be a strength. Jon Leiber, Sean Marshall, and Bob Howry will take the Cubs from the starters to the shut down tandem of Carlos Marmol and newly named closer Kerry Wood. If Woody can remain healthy, he will provide the Cubs a dominant closer. If he does run into some health issues, look for Marmol to slide seamlessly into the closer role, with Howry moving into the setup role.
If there is one thing that I’m a little worried about with the Cubs is depth at infield positions. If something should happen to Aramis Ramirez or Derrek Lee, I wonder about the long term back up for either position. I know Mark DeRosa can back up either 1B or 3B, but I think he’s more valuable at other spots in the infield.
I think the pitching staff looks great and the lineup top to bottom is solid. They could use a bona fide lead off man, but I think they’ll be able to get enough guys on base, and score enough runs with their lineup as is.
What do you think is in store for the 2008 Chicago Cubs? I’d like to hear your predictions.
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April 8th, 2008 at 7:34 am
Well, after a 1-3 start, the cubs have pulled back over .500. On the bright side, the Cubs finally got their offense going against the pirates yesterday and Lee and Fukudome have started the season running, both batting over .400. On the downside, Soriano has started very slowly. All in all their pitching and hitting should be more than enough to win perhaps the weakest division in baseball.