For the first time

[ICcubfan]

I can honestly say I have no idea how the Cubs will do this year. In all the years I have been a Cub fan since late 1970's I kind of had an idea of what to expect from certain players. Injuries are always a wild card but....
This year....The pen staff is pretty much a crap shoot. What will we get from an in shape Soriono and a KF who has been in the sates for a year? It feels different to not know for once. I think letting fan favourites go might be a good thing. What the hell it has been a hundred years so why not shake things up a bit. We will be faster on the bases and better on D in the late innings which should pick up our pen. Cautiously optimistic or too many Old Styles I can't decide which?

[cubs161]

i agree, i may not have as much time trying to assume how well the club will do with me being only nine-teen, but its a total crapshoot all over the board. outfield we have speed and good at best players with reed being my pick for best all around outfielder, the infield is solid the corners being manned by two verterns, the middle is solid as well, i think the only downfall to this team this year is the pen for one, im not sure we have the relief to make it work, set-up and closer are good, but the middle relief is horrible, we have four consistant starters, and hopefully we have a fifth with Jeff or Sean, but who know about that, all in all i think the team is much stronger than lastyears, will they win 100 games i dont think so in my opinion,

[LeeEila's/rant]

96 - 100 wins and an easy walk in the division. Sori will strike out and we will start most games with one out. KF will be KFC's main entree , chicken at the plate.

[Bockstock]

It doesn't matter how many games you win as long as you make the playoffs.

[ICcubfan]

Playoffs are the key-Get hot at the right time ie the Phillies? I don't think too many people picked them to win it all. I hope if we do have glaring weaknesses we will address those at the deadline.

[TheBenjamin]

I think we will be worse then what the publications predict for us (97 wins or there abouts) but better then what the doomsayers are saying (those who are always waiting for the other shoe to drop and expect the worst)

I will post my blog/thoughts on what I think the season will bring closer to the start of the real season. right now we dont know our full roster. Lou seems to want another IF to go onthe bench with Miles who wll likely be the main bench player subbing for Theriot/Fontenot occasionally. I think we are weak on bench for the infield as it stands. As good as Hoffpauir is doing, he might be sacraficed to the minors to make room for a more versitle infielder. This is one of the problems with carrying that extra pitcher in the bullpen. It leaves your bench very short. We will have 2 backup outfielders (Johnson/Fukudome and Gathright), backup catcher (Bako/Hill), Miles/Fontenot/Theriot, and one spot left for that extra infielder or Hoff.

[TRIPLE PLAY]

I can honestly say I have no idea how the Cubs will do this year. In all the years I have been a Cub fan since late 1970's I kind of had an idea of what to expect from certain players. Injuries are always a wild card but....
This year....The pen staff is pretty much a crap shoot. What will we get from an in shape Soriono and a KF who has been in the sates for a year? It feels different to not know for once. I think letting fan favourites go might be a good thing. What the hell it has been a hundred years so why not shake things up a bit. We will be faster on the bases and better on D in the late innings which should pick up our pen. Cautiously optimistic or too many Old Styles I can't decide which?
This division is still weak IMO, Throw a cupla darts in the pen & the bench & see what sticks.....still early-jury's still out,80-85 W's might get the division this year BUT I won't settle for that anymore people! enforcements must me made!

[Drockvb]

I can honestly say I have no idea how the Cubs will do this year. In all the years I have been a Cub fan since late 1970's I kind of had an idea of what to expect from certain players. Injuries are always a wild card but....

I feel the same way. I am not sure what to expect.

This year....The pen staff is pretty much a crap shoot.

-I am not sold on our entire staff. I don't expect Dempster to have another year like last year. I hope last year wasn't a one hit wonder. Can he handle the pressure if he gets in the playoffs again? He looked like he was on something last year in game 1 against the Dodgers.
-Harden, well he is an unproven with us.
-Z-i hope he can be more consistant.
-Lilly- i expect Lilly to do what he has been doing.
#5, who will it be?
-I am not sold on the pen.

I am hoping the offense will be better this year. I would like to see more in the power deparment.

[ryno4ever]

I'm excited and looking forward to the season, but there is definately a pessimistic look at the season..... it's like this big dark cloud in the back of my mind that knows they can dazzle us with an amazing season with a sparkling record, but if we make it to the postseason, I know I am going to wait for them to "drop the ball"... literally and figuratively.

[Bockstock]

I agree with Lee, I think this is a solid 90+ win team. I'm still confused as to why people are concerned. yea, the bullpen is shaky, but I'd rather not thrown tens of millions into a part of a team that's going to be volatile year in and year out. The cubs have depth in the pen, which is just as important as any other factor.

Dempster will most certainly regress, but even if he slips a little in his K/9 rate and BAA, he's still likely to to fall in 3.5-4 ERA range.

[ryno4ever]

I think one thing going for us is the weak division, but we can't totally count out the opposition. The Brewers definately got worse in the pitching department, but they still have Fielder, Braun, Hart, lots of offensive pops. The Cards always seem to sneak up and be a thorn in our sides, and as long as Pujols is on that field, they are dangerous. I think the Astros are going to quietly give us headaches as well....And the Reds are young up and coming, but have shown us that they can have the cubs' number.... was it Votto that hit all those homers against the Cubs last year... and Bronson Arroyo likes to go yard against us, although he isn't known for his offensive power as a pitcher! The Pirates... well, they'll keep sweeping the basement.

The key to the Cubs is not to beat themselves but to put up a good fight during each game.