by Ben Donahue

The Cubs are for the first time in many years starting a season with low expectations.  Countless times, the Cubs have predicted that they will win around 90 games and finally achieving the long awaited World Series. But this year the Cubs are opening a new chapter that they are not technically “Rebuilding” as the team on the south side has declared.

Moving into the season, the Cubs bolstered their rotation and pitching staff with additions such as Travis Wood, Paul Maholm, Andy Sonnastine and Chris Volstad. Along with Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster, the organization is hoping to have a more defensive minded team moving into the 2012 season and beyond.

Defensive is the next massive part of the new system. They will plan to have very few errors in the field and are not fiving up easy runs in the field.

Hitting the last of the phrases is set to improve with the new refined plans the organization has set forth. They plan on getting runners in scoring positions and hitting them in instead of the usual ‘go for the yard’ ball.

In order for the Cubs to be a competitive ball club, certain players will need to step up and produce:

1. The new pitchers who have been added: If the new comers can limit the amount of times the field has opportunities to give up errors the better
2. The outfielders need to produce in every way possible, the line ups critical players will be the guys closest to the Ivy. Alfonso Soriano, Marlon Byrd and David DeJesus will need to bring the runs that their names imply, Soriano will need to be a 30 HR/150 RBI type of guy and play some defense in left. Byrd will be looked to get around the same numbers and continue his good play in the centerfield while DeJesus will be a more defensive outfielder and looked to produce around 20 HR/100 RBI season.
3. The infield will have to play solid defense, last year countless numbers of runs were given away by poor defensive
   play and errors.

The Cubs could do better this year simply because the 2 top teams in their division have lost key players, as The Cardinals lost Albert Pujols and The Brewers lost Prince Fielder

In my opinion look for the Cubs to win around 82 games this season. With a pinch of luck maybe the Cubs will earn a playoff spot!