Chicago Cubs

Previous Team Analyses: TB TOR BOS BAL NYY

I needed a relaxing half hour of posting, so I figured I'd analyze the best team in the majors. Okay, truth is I'm a bit partial to the Cubbies, but 2008 is as good of a year as any to jump on the bandwagon. With a developing farm system and the few offseason acquisition, the North Side of Chicago is looking strong.

Lineup

• Alfonso Soriano
• Kosuke Fukudome
• Derrek Lee
• Aramis Ramirez
• Mark DeRosa
• Geovany Soto
• Ryan Theriot
• Felix Pie

Rotation

• Carlos Zambrano
• Ted Lilly
• Rich Hill
• Jon Leiber
• Jason Marquis/Sean Marshall/Ryan Dempster

Closer: Bob Howry/Kerry Wood/Carlos Marmol

Thoughts...

Soriano, Lee, and Ramirez are all underrated. Soriano's September last year was .320, .354, .754 with 14 homeruns. Despite missing 27 games, he still hit 33 homeruns. His days of 30+ steals are behind him, but a season with a batting average around .300, 35+ HR, and 20-25 steals are what I expect. Lee similarly had a brilliant second half, right around he was a complete year away from wrist surgery. Anyone who watches the Cubs plays knows how smooth the guy's swing is. The last of the big three, Ramirez, struggled through injury but still topped 25 HR and a 100 RBI (kay, to be fair, he had 26 HR and 101 RBI, but it was an off-year).

A lot of people want to know what to expect from Fukudome. I've heard he's a mix between Ichiro and Hideki Matsui, and learned this does not mean that he has Ichiro's speed and Matsui's power. Instead, he has the characteristics of the player's that isn't reflected in most leagues--good plate discipline, great fielding, and clutch hitting ability. Unless your team counts OBP, he's probably at best a fourth outfielder with a low ceiling.

Soto and Pie are the youngsters, and while their performances last year ring like the beginning of Tale of Two Cities, I think both will lead decent campaigns this season. Soto should put up a .290-.300 BA with close to 20 HRs, while Pie will struggle with his average but likely hit double digit homeruns (no more than 15) with 25+ SBs. I like both players as sleepers going into this year, but come draft time and at this rate Soto will be going before Johjima, Saltillamachia, and Pudge Rodriguez.

Zambrano is 27, but has a lot of innings under his belt. He's still a fantasy ace, albeit at the expense of your WHIP. Hill on the other hand is looking at his third season, and I predict big things. Both guys should get you 15+ wins and close to 200 K's with a sub-4.00 ERA.

The closer situation is a mess, and there are rumors the Cubs are hoping to acquire Joe Nathan. They won't, but if Marmol gets the starting gig he's likely to perform like the Twins closer. His pitches look like they jump out of the way of bats.