2009 Record: 83-78
IN: OF Marlon Byrd, OF Xavier Nady, SP Carlos Silva, RP Jeff Gray
OUT: 2B Aaron Miles, 3B/OF Jake Fox, OF Milton Bradley, OF Reed Johnson, SP Rich Harden, RP Aaron Heilman, RP Kevin Gregg
Hitting:
1. SS Ryan Theriot
2. RF Kosuke Fukudome
3. 1B Derrek Lee
4. 3B Aramis Ramirez
5. CF Marlon Byrd
6. LF Alfonso Soriano
7. C Geovany Soto
8. 2B Mike Fontenot
The big question going into this season was, who is going to bat leadoff? For the first time since 2007, it won't be Alfonso Soriano, at least according to manager Lou Piniella. Cubs leadoff hitters finished 27th in the majors with a .249 batting average and 21st with a .335 on-base percentage. Ryan Theriot is the front-runner for the job because, unlike Kosuke Fukudome, he will be an everyday fixture in the lineup. Either way I wouldn't be overly pumped to be a Cubs fan. There is no one in this lineup that I am a big fan of. It will be interesting to see how Nady bounces back, but other then that this lineup will be irritating. Soriano is good, but he strikes out too much, and how has knee problems, so he probably won't be stealing too much.
Pitching:
1. RHP Carlos Zambrano
2. RHP Ryan Dempster
3. RHP Randy Wells
4. LHP Tom Gorzelanny
5. RHP Jeff Samardzija
CL: RHP Carlos Marmol
Lilly will most likely start the year on the DL. I really hate this rotation. I think Big Z might be the most overrated pitcher in the majors. He always cracks down the stretch and is a terrible clubhouse guy. Dempster had a nice 2nd half of the season last year, and Randy Well is developing nicely. Overall this is a pretty weak rotation.
Overall:
I don't like the setup of this team at all. They haven't really gotten worse or anything, but they certainly haven't done enough to take this division. Looks like the Cubs miss the playoffs again.
2010 Record: 82-80
No comments:
Post a Comment