soccer10k

If a team has huge expectations placed on it before the season starts then after every two game losing streak the team gets bombarded by questions. What is wrong with the team? Who isn't performing? What do you need to do better to win tomorrow? What positions need to be upgraded? Eventually players get sick and tired of hearing the same questions over and over and over again. Players do read newspapers and watch SportsCenter and hear their names as trade bait and how they aren't playing very well. These types of things can wear down on the team. While I agree that the 2003 team did choke as well, they did run into a very good Marlins team. When looking at their season as a whole, 88 wins and a division title was a successful season for a team that was picked to have, at best, a second place finish in their division. Nobody picked the Cubs to win the division and advance to the NLCS and almost make the World Series. When looking at the 2004 team, they were expected to win the division easily and at least make their first World Series trip since 1945. Because of those huge expectations, many people look at the 2004 season as a failure. And for the person trying to defend Kyle Farnsworth-less, sure Farnsworth has a good ERA because he pitches will in non-critical situations. But every time Farnsworth comes in a critical situation, he chokes. At this point, it's not if it's going to happen, but how it's going to happen. People get all caught up in the fact that he throws 100mph to realize that his fastball doesn't move at all and big league hitters will hit it and the fact that he rarely gets a breaking ball over the plate. The guy is horrible.

If there is one thing I like about this team it is that nobody will be talking about them as contenders when Spring Training rolls around. Also, this team looks a lot like the team in 2003 which, if you remember, was dubbed "The Team That Is Good But Is Still A Year Or Two Away." As nice as it was to see the Cubs on the cover of Sports Illustrated as favorites in 2004, it's hard to live up to expectations. The 2003 team had no expectations and came within 5 outs of the World Series. 2004 had World Series expectations and choked in the last week of the season. In 2003 the Cubs had 2.5 solid hitters as Ramirez was only there for half the year. Even if Lee's home runs and batting average decrease he will still have as good of a year as Sammy did in 2003 (.279, 40, 103). I also see Ramirez having a better year than 2003 Alou (.280, 22, 91). Before the Cubs picked up Ramirez they had Mark Bellhorn, Jose Hernandez, and Ramon Martinez playing third base, which I look at like Murton in left field this year. The Cubs can play Murton and if he doesn't work out, they can try to trade for somebody else. They have a bona fide leadoff hitter with Pierre for a whole year rather than a half year in 2003 with Kenny Lofton. Michael Barrett is a far better hitter than the Damian Miller/Paul Bako combination in 2003. Jacque Jones can perform just as well as Alex Gonzalez if he hits second or Eric Karros if he hits fifth/sixth. The pitching staff will be a question mark but if they stay healthy it will be one of the best in the league. The bullpen is just as good and maybe a little bit better. Ryan Dempster cancels out Joe Borowski. I will take Bobby Howry over Kyle Farnsworth-less any day. Scott Eyre is a good lefty reliever. Will Ohman had an excellent 2005 season and was the team's best relief pitcher. I just hope that nobody from ESPN or Sports Illustrated starts to talk about the Cubs as legitimate title contenders and I will be ecstatic to see the "experts" pick the Cubs to finish third in the NL Central this year.

Sure, Derrek Lee's batting average and home runs will probably drop a bit. But with a competant leadoff hitter like Juan Pierre getting on in front of him, I guarantee his RBI's will increase. Same goes for Aramis Ramirez. A good leadoff hitter can completely change an offense. The number 2 hitter sees more good pitches to hit than he would with nobody on base. That will increase the number of times the Cubs will have two runners on for either Lee or Ramirez. Like I said, being realistic we can't expect Lee to put up huge numbers like last year but he isn't going to drop completely off the radar. He'll have a good year as will Ramirez. Again I will repeat that I GUARANTEE Lee will have at least 107. Ramirez should also better his 2005 total of 92 if he stays healthy.