30 Teams in 30 Days: Chicago Cubs

Wrigley field will have someone else roaming right field when the 2005 baseball season gets underway. In a move that was long over due, the Cubs shipped Sammy Sosa to the Baltimore Orioles for Jerry Hairston Jr. and prospects. The move allows the Cubs to shift the face of the team onto one of their younger position players or pitchers. Sosa is one of the greatest power hitters of our generation, and was one of the most beloved Cubs ever (during his hey day) but those days passed a few years ago. Chicago must now find a new identity.

The Sosa trade is a good thing, no matter how you look at it. The Cubs needed to tailor this team more towards their pitching than offense. Last years Cub offense was a feast or famine. They would strike out or hit a two run home run. Their was no manufacturing runs, no steals, no hit and run. No small ball. That’s not how you win when you have the pitching staff the Cubs have. The Cubs have a pitching staff that doesn’t require them to outscore teams, so in that case why would you play for the home run?

It’s something we have heard for the past few years, but this year more than ever, the Cubs need Corey Patterson to have an All-Star type season. And do it as a table setter, not run producer. The ability of Patterson and Hairston Jr. or Nomar (who ever it is that hits in the two hole) to get on base will determine the success of the Cubs. If they can get their, they will score. There is no doubt that Ramirez, Burnitz and Lee can drive them in.

The infield is set, and arguably the best in the National League. All members from last years team return, with Nomar back to play a full season in Wrigley. The Sosa trade allows the Cubs to make Nomar the face of the team. A lot of people have argued that this title should go to one of the pitchers, but Nomar has the ability to make this his team and serve as it’s leader. Although the leader role may fall in his lap by default.
The big question facing this team is it’s outfield. Can Jeromy Burnitz have a good season not hitting in Coors Field? And can Jerry Hairston Jr. play everyday in the outfield? More than likely Hairston will split time between second base and left field, but who will the fourth outfielder be? Thirty-one year old Todd Hollandsworth and Rookie David Kelton are both options, or the Cubs could make a move to bring in an everyday player.

The Cubs lost Matt Clement to the Red Sox in the off season, but that loss allows them to plug one of their younger pitchers into the rotation and see if they can swim. Is that something you want to do, no. You would rather bring them a long slowly, but the Cubs have had a lot of success recently with young pitchers they called up. Prior, Wood and Zambrano will anchor the top half of the rotation with Greg Maddux serving as the fourth starter. The fifth spot is the one that is up for grabs.

After a nightmarish 2004 season in Milwaukee, Glendon Rusch turned in a solid season with the Cubs last year as a long reliever. Pitching in 129 2/3 innings, Rusch went 6-2 with a 3.47 era. Given the success he had last year, and the fact that he is left handed and the Cubs have an all right handed rotation, Glendon Rusch is the early favorite to replace Clement. Two other names to keep an eye on however are Young Sergio Mitre and Ryan Dempster. Mitre appeared in 51 innings last year, and struggled with an era over 6. Ryan Dempster has started in this league before, and has recently been viewed as a bullpen guy because of how hard he throws and injury concerns.

The Bullpen is interesting because the cubs have a few guys who could close, but no one stepped up to take the job last year. Joe Borowski struggled with injuries and had a bad 2004 season. LaTroy Hawkins was given the opportunity to close and did a fairly decent job at it. Ryan Dempster is another guy who gets mentioned as the possible closer too. Borowski did an excellent job as the closer in 2003, and early indications out of spring training say he looks very good. Hawkins is a guy who is better suited as a set up man, and I’m not sure Dempster can close.

5 Burning Questions

5. Who do we turn to?
Who will end up winning the closer’s role in this bullpen? History shows you cannot expect to have a lot of success if you attempt a closer by committee approach, so someone needs to step up and take this job.

4. Oh no
When Kerry Wood left the game on Wednesday was that a reason to be concerned, or will he bounce back and remain healthy this season.

3. The leftfielder is…
Is Jerry Hairston Jr. going to play left, is David Kelton, is Todd Hollandsworth, or are the Cubs going to make a move. This position cannot be a revolving door if they wish to compete for the division crown.

2. I got five on it
Who is the fifth starter on this team? Will they keep Glendon Rusch in the pen as their long relief guy, or will he start. Or will they give the job to a young guy like Sergio Mitre?

1. Seriously, Is there really a curse?
The Cubs were so close in 2003 before Bartman struck, then last year just spiraled downward with injuries and the whole Sosa incident in the final regular season game only to have the Cubs see the other “cursed” franchise win the World Series.

Fearless Predictions

Joe Borowski will win the closers job.
Jerry Hairston Jr. will see most of his playing time at second base, beating out Todd Walker.
The Cubs will make a move to acquire another bullpen guy.
David Kelton will see a lot of playing time.
Sergio Mitre and Ryan Dempster will both see time as the fifth starter.
The Cubs will make a mid-season move to solidify their bench.
The Cubs will win the NL Central.