2009 MLB Preview - Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs
Manager: Lou Pinella (3rd season)
2008 Record: 97-64 (1st NL Central)
Postseason: NLDS loss to LAD 3-0

Added: 2B Aaron Miles (STL), OF Milton Bradley (TEX), OF Joey Gathright (KC), RP Luis Vizcaino (COL), RP Kevin Gregg (FLA)
Lost: IF Mark DeRosa (CLE), SP Jason Marquis (COL), RP Bob Howry (SF), RP Kerry Wood (CLE)

Projected Lineup (2008 Stats)
1. LF Alfonso Soriano (.280, 76 R, 29 HR, 75 RBI, 19 SB) 2. 2B Aaron Miles (.317, 49 R, 4 HR, 31 RBI) 3. 1B Derrek Lee (.291, 93 R, 20 HR, 90 RBI) 4. RF Milton Bradley (.321, 78 R, 22 HR, 77 RBI) 5. 3B Aramis Ramirez (.289, 97 R, 27 HR, 111 RBI) 6. C Geovany Soto (.285, 66 R, 23 HR, 86 RBI) 7. CF Kosuke Fukudome (.257, 79 R, 10 HR, 58 RBI) 8. SS Ryan Theriot (.307, 85 R, 1 HR, 38 RBI)

Projected Starting Rotation (2008 Stats)
1. Carlos Zambrano (14-6, 3.91 ERA, 130 K) 2. Rich Harden (10-2, 2.07 ERA, 181 K) 3. Ryan Dempster (17-6, 2.96 ERA, 187 K) 4. Ted Lilly (17-9, 4.09 ERA, 184 K) 5. Sean Marshall (3-5, 3.86 ERA, 58 K)

Bench
C Koyie Hill, IF Mike Fontenot, IF Micah Hoffpauir, OF Joey Gathright, OF Reed Johnson

Bullpen (2008 Stats for Closer only)
Carlos Marmol (7 SV, 87.1 IP, 40 H, 114 K, 2.68 ERA), Kevin Gregg, Jeff Samardzija, Chad Gaudin, Luis Vizcaino, Aaron Heilman

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Fantasy Studs: C Geovany Soto, 1B Derrek Lee, 3B Aramis Ramirez, OF Milton Bradley, OF Alfonso Soriano, SP Carlos Zambrano, SP Rich Harden
Fantasy Sleepers: SP Sean Marshall, RP Carlos Marmol

Men In The Minors: SS Ryan Flaherty, 3B Josh Vitters, Sp, Jay Jackson, RP Andrew Castner

Home Ballpark: Wrigley Field (Grade 10/10)

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Team Outlook: It's the question MLB fans ask every year: Could this be the year the Cubs win the World Series? Well, on paper, it sure looks like it. The pitching staff is rock solid from top to bottom. Zambrano and Harden will win 15-20 games easy. If Dempster and Lilly win around match last year's win totals, that's not good news for the rest of the division. The two things to watch will be how well fifth starter Marshall fits in and how comfortable Marmol is in the closer position, after being the set-up man for Kerry Wood last year. As far as the lineup, the addition of Bradley just makes this team more potent at the plate. The Miles pickup is an underrated one, as he is the perfect 2-hitter on a team chock full of power from 1 to 6. Fukudome will be expected to hit much better this season. If not, expect more play from Johnson or Gathright in CF. This team is stacked though and if they don't win the division, it is a huge disappointment. As far as getting further than that, well, we'll just have to see.

Next Preview: Chicago White Sox