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Most of us had already suspected that this was going to be a rough season for the Cubs. In fact, it was widely considered a rebuilding year with an eye on 2014 and beyond. So, considering that they haven't been in the playoff race for the last few months, what makes September any different than June, July or August for the Cubs?
While the future of the team relies heavily on an impressive farm system with four elite position player prospects on the way, it was thought that two key players had already arrived. First baseman Anthony Rizzo and shortstop Starlin ...
Luckily for fans of the Chicago Cubs, the 2013 campaign is drawing to a close. At the end of August, the Cubs find themselves 21 games below .500 and 22 games behind the first place Cardinals.
However, just because the Cubs are nearly mathematically eliminated from playoff contention does not mean that the season is pointless. September brings out both the good and bad of teams from top to bottom in the standings and can be one of the most exciting times in the baseball season, regardless of the team's talent level.
Here we look at five things that the Cubs can ...
When Aramis Ramirez was traded to the Cubs 10 years ago last month, he took over a position that has been incredibly tough to fill for the Cubs. Since he has left, the position has been filled by utility players and bench players. When will one of our prospects live up to the expectations?
Ramirez stayed with the Cubs through the 2011 season, one of the longest tenures by any Cubs' third basemen in history. One of the players sent to Pittsburgh for him, Jose Hernandez, once served as the primary third baseman for five years from 1994-1999.
When Aramis burst on ...
The month of September means roster expansion and minor league call-ups across the league. While many of the Cubs top prospects are still in the low minors, we could see at least a few top guys make their debuts next month.
Shortstop Javier Baez is a long shot to be among them, but he's turned in a phenomenal season that could end in Minor League Player of the Year honors when all is said and done. Though, George Springer of the Astros still looks like the front-runner for that award at this point.
Baez is not the only Cubs farmhand having a ...
Yesterday's news that the Cubs will likely pursue free agent-to-be outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, which was reported by Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago, shouldn't come as much of a surprise. After trading away Alfonso Soriano and David DeJesus in the last month, the Cubs' projected outfield heading into the offseason includes Nate Schierholtz, Brian Bogusevic and Junior Lake.
That trio is actually having a strong season, although the success of Bogusevic and Lake is in a very small sample size. But Schierholtz still isn't viewed as an everyday player and neither are the 29-year-old Bogusevic, who had a .596 OPS with regular playing time in Houston last season, or Lake, who was an infielder before being moved ...
While the Chicago Cubs are mired in yet another losing season at the MLB level, optimism for the future is as high as it has been in years thanks to the myriad of talent making its way through the upper levels of the minors.
Planted firmly at the top of every Cubs' prospect list is Javier Baez. The 20-year-old was the team's first-round pick (ninth overall) in the 2011 draft and is on the fast track to the big leagues thanks to an incredible performance this year.
After a 4-for-4 night that included two home runs on Wednesday, Baez's season stats between ...
As August turns to September, young prospects all around baseball anxiously wait to see if their performance will be rewarded with a late-season call-up.
Some, like Jae-Hoon Ha, await the call to the major league while others, such as Javier Baez, hope to advance to Triple-A.
Sitting at the bottom of the NL Central, the Cubs have turned their focus to the future and the minor leagues. Here we look at three exciting prospects that the Cubs will promote before the season's end.Begin Slideshow
It was a good week for the Cubs minor league system, as top prospects Dan Vogelbach and Kris Bryant were both promoted, and a number of other top guys enjoyed terrific weeks as well.
That should provide even more reason for optimism moving forward on the North Side. Even while the big league club suffered through a 1-5 week, the future looks incredibly bright for the Cubs.
The Cubs may not be legitimate contenders until 2015, but once their top prospects arrive, they should have the young core to sustain their success for some time. For now, here's an updated look at ...
With only 42 games remaining in the Cubs 2013 season, the Cubs' focus has turned to experimentation and evaluation. Minor leaguers such as Junior Lake and Donnie Murphy have been called up already and the club can now turn their focus to evaluating other young stars as well as experimenting with the batting order.
Clean-up hitter Alfonso Soriano is gone to the Yankees, leading to even more experimentation to see what role Cubs players fit best in.
Here is the one batting order that the Cubs should use more of.
Note: All statistics courtesy of MLB.comBegin Slideshow
With a 52-66 record through Monday, the focus of the Cubs' 2013 season now turns to the future. Prospects are beginning to be called up, and the phrase "wait 'til next year" has already been pulled out of the arsenal—or perhaps "wait 'til two to three years from now."
The Cubs future looks bright, with many prospects lined up for the future. Here we look at a position-by-position breakdown of Chicago Cubs prospects.Begin Slideshow
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