Cubs Mon Mar 29 2010

2010 Cubs Preview

By Brian Livingston

After a lackluster 2009 campaign the Chicago Cubs are looking to rebound in 2010. Despite being the favorites to win the National League Central last season the Cubs finished 83-78. That earned them a second place finish behind the St. Louis Cardinals. This year the Cubs come in as not the clear cut favorites to win the NL Central.

There weren't too many wholesale changes to this ball club from last season. The pieces are there and this team should be right there in September if they can remain healthy. That was biggest downfall of this club last year. After the end of the 2009 season the goal became getting rid of the clubhouse cancer known as Milton Bradley.

This became difficult and probably cost the Cubs opportunities to possibly trade for or sign free agents during the off season. Thankfully the Mariners were foolish enough to take Milton Bradley from the Cubs for right handed starter Carlos Silva. This move allowed the Cubs to sign center fielder Marlon Byrd. Byrd joins his former hitting coach from Texas Rudy Jaramillo.

Jaramillo was one of the bigger signings this off season. He spent 15-years with the Texas Rangers. Clearly he has done something right if he lasted as long as he did. Jaramillo also worked with Alfonso Soriano when he was a member of the Rangers. Perhaps that will bode well for him this season.
Aside from the departure of Bradley, Rich Harden, Kevin Gregg, Reed Johnson, Jake Fox, Aaron Miles have all found new homes during the off season.

With those departures there are some new faces in camp this spring. Xavier Nady, Carlos Silva, Chad Tracy and Kevin Millar. Nady will serve as Fukudome's backup in right and should see more playing time once he fully recovers from Tommy John surgery. Silva is fighting for a rotation spot at least until Ted Lilly comes back and Tracy and Millar will be fighting for the final bench spot.

The Cubs have a few questions that need to be addressed before the bell rings on April 5. There are a number of candidates jockeying for the final spot in the starting rotation. Silva, Sean Marshall, Jeff Smardajiza and Tom Gorzelanny. Also the last roster spot comes down to Sam Fuld, Kevin Millar, Chad Tracy and Micah Hoffpauir.

If this team can stay healthy and catch a few breaks here and there, there shouldn't be any reason they can't win the division. Health was a big issue for this club last season and they found out first hand what it is like with out their slugging third baseman. All of the other shenanigans that went on last season are no longer an issue and the main focus of this team should be winning ball games plain and simple.