After exciting runs for and in the playoffs in 2003 and 2004, the Cubs changed from being perennial cellar dwellers to a high profile team that looked to win every year no matter what. The 2008 season was the high point for the Cubs on the field, a team that did so many things right fell to Los Angeles in the playoffs and joined past playoff futility. The Cubs didn't perform to expectations at all in 2009, and many changes to the bullpen and the controversial signing of Milton Bradley while losing team pieces like Mark DeRosa and Jason Marquis were cited as the problems with the team. However, as the Cubs have yet again struggled in 2010, they may go back to being baseball's 'Lovable Losers'.
Report Card:
Offense: D+
Defense: C+
Starting Pitching: A-
Bullpen: B
Coaching: B-
Overall Grade: C
The biggest struggle so far has to be scoring runs. The Cubs have been just terrible scoring runs, ranking 13th in the NL in runs. The Padres, yes, the Padres who play in enormous Petco Park and have Adrian Gonzalez for their only real home run threat have scored more. The Cubs are 11th in walks, a category that was praised in 2008 when the Cubs' patience lead to a more efficient offense. They are also 11th in OBP and BA. They are tied for the least stolen bases in the NL with 34. Looking up and down the roster, this is not a team made for smallball. It is a team to get runners on and get them around using big doubles or homers. So far, neither the runners nor the bop from the big boppers has arrived. The defense, long a troubled category for the Cubs, is nothing special thing year except maybe the all out play of Marlon Byrd and the over/under on how many errors Starlin Castro can make in a week. The pitching has become a real bright spot from the most unlikely places like Carlos Silva, Tom Gorzelanny, and Sean Marshall. Lou Piniella has literally done all he can and now he just has to wait but you just have to question his ability to get through to the players.
The Cubs are stuffed with huge contracts and are severely overpaying more than a few on the roster. From now until the Trade Deadline, look for the Cubs to try to unload at least one of these contracts whether they are in contention or not. I think the first one to go will be Ted Lilly. Lilly has become a fan favorite at Wrigley Field because of his old school yet effective pitching style. And okay, his crazy adventures on the basepaths. Ted has drawn interest from the Mets who would be able to take his salary and are looking for another arm to beef up for the stretch run. While I don't think the Cubs will be able to get rid of all the big contracts they want to if the Cubs are bad, I wouldn't be surprised if Derrek Lee and/or Kosuke Fukudome go. Fukudome has a ridiculous $14 million contract when a player with his stats doesn't even deserve a quarter of that. Lee has been a fixture at first base for many years now on the North Side and had a comeback campaign in 2009 but hasn't recaptured the magic into this year, disappointing fans once again after his MVP-caliber season in 2005.
I think the Cubs will make a run. Aramis Ramirez is back and healthy as he proved on the West Coast trip before the break. He will be key in this run and it won't be anything crazy like the White Sox but the Cubs will play good ball on this homestand here and continue it on the road. The starters can be relied upon for great starts and the bullpen can survive long enough not that they have everything figured out, including the playing time for impressive rookie Andrew Cashner. The young kids that the Cubs are fielding in the minors and even the majors now like Castro and Cashner should provide reason to be excited. Attendance at Wrigley Field has taken a surprising downturn but I think it will get higher with the continued weather of summer and a better home record by the Cubs. With their blowout win Thursday night, I think they're headed in the right direction.
Final Prediction: 80-82
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