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2007 Chicago Cubs Predictions

Take a look at our 2008 Chicago Cubs predictions!

The Cubs finally decided to try the old trick of spending $300 million dollars to buy a championship. It’s not much of a trick, but it has been a surefire winning strategy for the Yankees among other top dollar teams. Spending the big bucks isn’t something that Chicago’s management has liked to do historically, but the Cubs can’t afford to endure another 66-96 last place finish.

Chicago brought in Alfonso Soriano with an eight-year 136 million dollar deal and resigned free agent Aramis Ramirez to a five-year 75 million dollar contract. General manager Jim Hendry also brought in the fiery Lou Piniella to spark the Cubs in 2007. Anything other than a trip to the playoffs this season will have critics saying that the Cubs spent their money very foolishly.

The Cubs real problem has been the injury bug which has plagued the once most promising staff in the National League. Zambrano heads this staff and he gives the Cubs a legit Cy Young caliber pitcher. Ted Lilly is still a question mark in my book. He is coming off one of the best season’s in his career for Toronto but he is just one-game over .500 lifetime. Hopefully he can continue to build off last season’s success. I like Jason Marquis who came over from St. Louis, and youngster Rich Hill showed lots of promise late last season. Now one of the game’s once top prospects, Mark Prior, will be competing with Wade Miller for the final spot in the rotation. The other often injured fire baller, Kerry wood, will be throwing out of the pen this season which might be just what the doctor ordered for the Cubs normally dreadful pen.

Offensively, the Cubs will lead off with a 40/40 guy in Alfonso Soriano. They don’t get any better than this guy out of the number one spot as far as power numbers are concerned. Derrek Lee has serious MVP ability, but he will still have to prove that he can bounce back from the first serious injury of his career. Now that Ramirez is getting the big bucks, he will have to stay healthy and get out of the gates a lot faster. The Cubs can’t afford another slow April and May out of this guy. With Barrett, one of the games top hitting catchers, and Murton, who has proven to be a very intelligent hitter with some pop, in the seven and eight spots, the Cubs have a very deep offensive lineup that should be able to cause pitchers’ fits in the NL Central.

Chicago made the most moves by far in the NL central, and I think it translates into a postseason berth. Cubs fans should still be prepared to pull their hair out when the pen blows leads. They should be used to it by now. But hopefully Kerry Wood can help Chicago out in this area. All in all, teams with this many changes have an adjustment period. Chicago may be a slow starter, but their talent will have them overvalued. We might be able to find opportunity going against the Cubs in the early going when they are an overvalued favorite.

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