2008 Season Preview: Chicago Cubs

Last year, the Chicago Cubs survived a season-long dogfight with the upstart Milwaukee Brewers to win the National League Central by two games. Along the way, they got their money's worth out of huge free-agent pickup Alfonso Soriano, got surprisingly good contributions out of little thought-of free agent Jason Marquis and pretty-much-a-rookie Rich Hill in the rotation.

Now the Cubs cast their eyes overseas, bringing in former Chunichi Dragon Kosuke Fukudome to patrol right field, and giving young players like center fielder Felix Pie and shortstop Ryan Theriot more time to shine and grow in the ivy fields of the Windy City.

OFFENSE: B+

When you sport a lineup that features Soriano, first baseman Derrek Lee, and third baseman Aramis Ramirez, offense shouldn't be a problem, and for the Cubs, it really isn't, until you look at some of the numbers. Soriano hit 33 homeruns, great. He only drove in 70 runs with those jacks, though, because he's hitting from the leadoff spot, and there's really no one else that has the speed and ability to get on base that Soriano does in the lineup. Now, if the rumors come true that the Cubs are looking to take Brian Roberts off the Baltimore Orioles' hands, then they can gladly move Soriano down to that more damaging third slot, ahead of Lee and Ramirez, making a dangerous lineup very lethal. Fukudome, in limited action in the Japanese Central League last season, walked more than he struck out, and showed decent power. If he can stay healthy after surgery on his right elbow, he could be yet another dangerous bat. Anyway you look at it, if the cards fall right, the Cubs could be near the top in offense.

PROJECTED LINEUP: 1 Soriano LF 2 Theriot SS 3 Lee 1B 4 Ramirez 3B 5 Fukudome RF 6 DeRosa 2B 7 Soto C 8 Pie CF 9 Pitcher's spot

STARTING PITCHING: A-