2008 Chicago Cubs Picks & Predictions
May 22, 2008
Dave Price’s 2008 Chicago Cubs predictions have pegged the Cubbies as the team to beat in the NL Central, but will a division title be as far as this team can go? Dave Price provides an inside look at the upcoming season.
Pitching
I’ve seen Carlos Zambrano pitch better than he did last season and he still won a career-best 18 games. That just goes to show you how good the big fella is. Don’t be surprised if he is the guy taking home NL Cy Young award honors. Ted Lilly went 15-8 last season finally giving the Cubs a consistent southpaw slinger. Rich Hill gives the Cubs another southpaw with a great curve ball and I look for him to be a 15-game winner for years to come. We all know what Jason Marquis is capable of. All he has to do is prove it. Maybe the Cubs’ decision to keep him out of their playoff plans will light a fire under his butt. Ryan Dempster is scheduled to return to the starting rotation after spending season in the pen.
Between Kerry Wood, Bob Howry, and Carlos Marmol, the Cubs have three strong closer candidates and all will be effective in relief duty.
Offense
Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, and Aramis Ramirez are three of the best top of the order guys in the league. Soriano is coming off a 33 homerun, 70 RBI, 19 stolen bases performance in a season where he played just 135 games. If he can limit his strikeouts, the Cubs will really benefit. I think Lee will have a big 2008. He hit 22 bombs and added 82 RBIs last season, but he is capable of so much more. Ramirez lost 26 balls last season and added 101 RBIs. He is one of the best hitting third basemen in the league. If Japanese sensation Kosuke Fukudome adds to the lineup what the Cubs think he will, Chicago is a threat for the pennant.
Defense
Shortstop Ryan Theriot and second baseman Mark DeRosa are dependable fielders up the middle. The corners are Chicago’s strength. Both Ramirez and Lee are top-shelf fielders. Soriano has found a home in left field and Fukudome is schedule to start in right. Felix Pie, who is a defensive wizard, will likely play center despite his unproven bat. Behind the plate, the Cubs will give Geovany Soto a shot. He hasn’t established himself as a top-notch defender yet, but his stick work at triple-A Iowa has the Cubs feeling good about this kid.
It’s been 100 years since the Cubs last won a World Series title and five years since they last seriously threatened. Chicago is by no means the favorite, but they do have a team capable of getting there if a few things go their way that haven’t in the past.
Dave Price has become a master at picking underdogs in the MLB ranks, allowing his clients to win more while risking less because of the great value bets that MLB dogs are. Ride Dave Price and his trail of barking dogs all season long for the most winners in the biz.
Odds to win NL Central: 10/11
Odds to win 2008 NL Pennant: 9/2
Odds to win 2008 World Series: 12/1
NL Central
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