2010 MLB Season Preview: Chicago Cubs

Charlie Klein

Key Additions:

Carlos Silva (SP)
Marlon Byrd (OF)
Xavier Nady (OF)

Key Departures:

Milton Bradley (OF)
Kevin Gregg (RP)

The Chicago Cubs were a big time disappointment again on the north side of Chicago finishing 7.5 games back of the hated St. Louis Cardinals in 2009. In 2010, Lou Pinella & Co. will hope that the Cubs can finally take the next step into playoff success. The additions of Marlon Byrd and Xavier Nady will be a major plus to an outfield that lacked speed and consistent power last season.

For possibly more than any other team, staying healthy will be absolutely paramount in the Cubs' chances of winning the NL Central this season. Aramis Ramirez, when healthy is one of best third basemen in the NL but has had issues with staying healthy the past few years that have kept the Cubs out of the playoffs. And Derek Lee if he can stay healthy will be a major player for the Cubbies this season.

The pitching staff is where most of my concerns with this team reside. If Carlos Zambrano is as trimmed down has people are saying he is, that will be a big plus for this rotation that lacks depth in the fourth and fifth positions. Ted Lilly has to be one of the best kept secrets around baseball as he kept the Cubs in the playoff race when Zambrano was spiraling out of control. This is possibly the most important season of Ryan Dempster's career as people still want to know which pitcher is he, the one with a 2.96 ERA or the one with the 3.65 ERA. He'll need to show consistency if the Cubs expect to win the division this season.

People have hailed the departure of Milton Bradley as the move that will help get the Cubs over the hump this season. And yet I refuse to believe that the misbehavior of one player was enough to put the Cubs 7.5 games out of first last season. Additionally, I do not think the Cubs have the rotational depth that the Cardinals do and for that reason I don't think they will win the Central this season.

Projected Starting Nine:

1. Ryan Theriot (SS)
2. Marlon Byrd (CF)
3. Derek Lee (1B)
4. Aramis Ramirez (3B)
5. Alfonso Soriano (LF)
6. Kosuke Fukudome (RF)
7. Geovanny Soto (C)
8. Mike Fontenot (2B)
9. Carlos Zambrano (P)

Projected Starting Rotation:

1. Carlos Zambrano
2. Ted Lilly
3. Ryan Dempster
4. Randy Wells
5. Tom Gorzellany

Predicted Finish: Second in the NL Central

But they do have one of the better team songs in the Majors...