Cubs fans, I'd like to take a poll. How many of you expected Alfonso Soriano to be hitting over .300 after the first week of the season?I'd be shocked if more than 10 percent of you said yes.Nonetheless, Soriano has been the most impressive Cub this season, outside of young superstar Starlin Castro. He has been an offensive catalyst for the team while batting .302 with six RBIs and a stolen base.Soriano historically starts strong and then fades as injuries catch up to him and limit his production. But he looks healthier than usual (even at the start of the ...
The Chicago Cubs are rebuilding for a better future, and trading Marlon Byrd is the next step in that process! Carlos Zambrano, Kosuke Fukudome and Aramis Ramirez are already gone and Byrd is sure to follow at the midsummer trade deadline. So, what potential destinations loom for the Cubs’ center fielder?Begin Slideshow
Alfonso Soriano’s future will be the story of the Cubs’ 2012 season! He is the link between the Cubs’ past and their future, both a productive player and the last bad contract Chicago’s new management needs to shed before they can build a new contender. So, where will Soriano end up if he is traded this season? Soriano will have to go to the American League. He may be the worst defender in baseball and is completely unable to effectively play an outfield position. But Soriano’s bat, which is capable of 25-30 home runs with a decent average when he ...
Chicago Cubs fans should be optimistic because things are finally looking up for the franchise! But will those improvements be reflected in the team's 2012 win total? The Cubs' win totals have been trending downward since 2008. In that landmark season, the team won 97 games, clinched the central division, and looked like World Series contenders. But the Cubs were upset in the first round and never looked the same. In 2009, the Milton Bradley signing flopped and the Cubs' win total dropped to 83 games. Since then, Chicago has not had a winning record. But now, Chicago’s future ...
The Chicago Cubs' 2011 off-season was the franchise's finest in years! The team's new front office tandem of Jed Hoyer and Theo Epstein altered the team dynamic to emphasize youth, athleticism and a team-first attitude. Let's break down the franchise's best moves of the off-season and look at those that can only be evaluated in the future.Begin Slideshow
The Chicago Cubs are embarking on a youth rebuilding project. The most important determiner of its success will be whether Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer can revitalize the team’s pitching staff. The Cubs’ pitchers were abysmal in 2011, either injured or under-performing in almost every case. Even Matt Garza, whose statistics were respectable, did not look determined or fiery in 2011. So, how can Epstein revitalize the team’s pitching staff moving forward?Begin Slideshow
The Chicago Cubs are starting on a new road to success and it all starts in the outfield!Led by Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer, the new gurus of the front office, the Cubs are dismantling a team of ageing veterans. That group under-performed in the last few years and the franchise needs a fresh start. Nowhere is that more apparent than the outfield, where Marlon Byrd and Kosuke Fukodome made nearly $40 million for mediocre production in 2011.The Cubs are looking to create a young, dynamic offense. To do that they will need strong run production from their future outfield. ...
The Chicago Cubs have spent their offseason getting younger and preparing for a brighter future. However, in the meantime, they need Alfonso Soriano to play well both to have a good season this year and to be able to unload him in July or next offseason. Back in 2007, the Cubs signed Soriano to a monstrous eight-year, $135 million deal. He was expected to become their All-Star center fielder for years to come. The center fielder part of that signing was always unrealistic—Soriano is a terrible defender and was moved to left field quickly. However, he did display the power ...
Yes, everything. That’s new additions, prospects and 2013 free agency. In a best case scenario, the Chicago Cubs could compete for a World Series. Of course, the “best case scenario” never happens. Just ask Cubs fans, we’ve been missing out on the best case scenario since 1908. But, in the spirit of eternal Cubs optimism, let’s break down what that best case scenario would look like for this season and beyond. First, the end of 2012 free agency. The Cubs manage to sign prospect outfielder Jorge Soler, which is actually expected. He proves his talent, rises far faster than most ...
The Cubs have had a busy offseason. They have brought in several players with a future fantasy baseball impact: Anthony Rizzo, Ian Stewart, Gerardo Concepcion and Travis Wood.What can baseball fans expect from these new Cubs players in the future?Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo looks like a future fantasy star. He projects as a relatively powerful, left-handed hitter who will play well in Wrigley Field. He won't be a 40-plus-homer slugger like Prince Fielder or a .300-plus hitter like Adrian Gonzalez. But a future line of .275 or higher, 25-30 home runs, 90 to 100 RBI, and a few stolen ...
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