The 2011 Cubs--A Quick Look

Spring has sprung, and the 2011 Cubs look to be an improved squad. Here's a quick glance at the Northsiders position by position...

• C-Geo Soto: At age 28, Soto has become one of the best backstops in the NL. Health was an issue in 2010, which meant lots of at bats for automatic out Koyie Hill (Soto's backup). The Cubs have to get 130+ games out of Geo this season.


• 1B-Carlos Pena: Many Cubs fans were disappointed by the Pena signing, but considering the options I think Jim Hendry did pretty well. Pena's power and ability to draw walks will be a welcome addition to a lineup that needs a jump start.


• 2B-Blake DeWitt & Jeff Baker: Not an exciting platoon, but it could be an effective one. Baker is helpless vs. RHP, but he's provided a potent bat against southpaws. DeWitt has shown decent plate discipline early in his career, and he's only 25.


• 3B-Aramis Ramirez: Fans forget what a solid player Ramirez has been during his time in Chicago. Yes, last year was a disaster, but Ramirez put up big numbers from 2004 to 2009. He turns 33 in June, so there's no reason to think he can't rebound.


• SS-Starlin Castro: The sky is the limit for young Starlin. Hanley Ramirez comparisons abound. Sounds good to me.


• OF-Alfonso Soriano, Marlon Byrd, Kosuke Fukudome, Tyler Colvin: Cubs fans are an interesting bunch. They love Byrd and Colvin and hate Soriano and Fukudome. I guess it's based on salary. My advice is to erase the dollar signs from your brain. Players make what they make. Get over it. The truth is that Soriano and Fukudome have underachieved, but they've still contributed. The Cubs need Soriano's power and Fukudome's onbase skills. Byrd is a useful CF who will likely hit lefties again. Colvin's athleticism and raw power make him a streaky and intersting option. The four-man OF rotation could end up being a strength this year.


• SP-Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano, Matt Garza, Randy Wells, Andrew Cashner: If the Cubs have an advantage in the NL Central, it's the starting rotation. The upside here is very high. Cashner is a wild card of course, but a season isn't defined by a team's fifth starter. If he flops, the Cubs have plenty of young arms to choose from as a replacement.


• RP-Carlos Marmol, Sean Marshall, Kerry Wood, John Grabow, etc: I'm not as excited about this collection of relievers as many Cubs fans seem to be. I see market corrections for Marmol and Marshall, who pitched out of their minds last year. Kerry Wood will probably be productive when he's healthy, but God only knows when that will be. John Grabow is beyond terrible. The rest of the bullpen options (Mateo, Samardzija, Russell, Coleman, Diamond) aren't worth discussing.

Will the Cubs win the NL Central? Probably not. However, they'll be much better than last year and they'll likely stay in the race through Labor Day. I see 82-80 and a third-place finish.