While expectations are relatively low for the North Siders this season, there is still reason to believe they will be competitive in a wide-open National League Central.First off, the very presence of Theo Epstein gives Cubs fans the sense that anything is possible. While a playoff run certainly isn't expected, it's not out of the question. And even if the Cubbies fail to reach the postseason, I think most Cubs fans would be satisfied as long as there is hard evidence of improvement—whether that be in the win/loss column, individual player performances, or simply the effort that the players give ...
It's Year One of the Jed Hoyer-Theo Epstein regime, and the two baseball masterminds have already begun shaping the Chicago Cubs in their images. Sure, they've let some big-name guys head to other teams (Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Pena, to name two), but they've also kept intact a solid foundation of youthful talent (Jeff Samardzija, Starlin Castro, Matt Garza, et al.)who should provide a solid base to build a championship team around. Chicago brought in some depth at the catcher position to help Geovany Soto push his game to the next level. He fell off the map a bit last ...
The Cubs may have missed out on a chance to reel in two superstars who were on their radar for quite some time—Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder—but Theo Epstein's first offseason as President of Baseball Operations certainly shouldn't be viewed as a failure. So far, the former Red Sox GM has brought in several lesser-known role players who should have an instant impact with the team. His low-key approach is a departure from the big spending style of Jim Hendry, the Cubs' former GM, who was often ridiculed for dropping too much cash on aging, big-name free agents instead of ...
The Cubs' 2011 campaign continues to sink deeper and deeper into obscurity.Cubs starting pitcher Ryan Dempster gave up a laughable six earned runs in three innings of work, Carlos Pena made two embarrassing errors on one play and the team struck out a collective seven times, left 12 runners on base and lost 9-1 to the Phillies.But what was the only thing Mike Quade seemed to be upset about after the game? Starlin Castro letting a pop fly fall for a hit because he was temporarily blinded by the sun."The sun's been in the same spot for however long Wrigley Field's ...
The Chicago Cubs haven't had a true leadoff hitter since 2006, when pesky Juan Pierre manned the one-spot. The 2011 Cubs have struggled in many ways, but one of the main causes of their slip toward the NL Central cellar is the lack of a playmaker like Pierre at the top of the order. If all had gone according to plan, the job would have gone to kid-talent Corey Patterson, who would be hitting .320, stealing 30-40 bags a year, and leading the North-siders to division championships year after year. As we all know, things rarely go as planned—especially in baseball.Patterson turned ...
