But is it just me or does anyone else have somewhat of a hard time coming up with how they feel this season is going to be?

I think the team is better than last year as long as it's healthy. Every position to me is at worst the same level as last year and I think all 3 outfield positions will be better with the combo this year over last year and so will catcher.

I think the big early key is how soon Ted Lilly comes back.

And call me weird but I think big Z and Dempster are both going to have very good years.

And you'll even call me weirder but I got a gut feeling this is going to be Sean Marshall's year. Not calling for 20 wins but I think he'll surprise us. I think there will be a day we count holding onto him in the good column for Hendry.

Okay now all fill in the blanks

As (name of pitcher) and (name of everyday player go) so do the 2010 Cubs. Meaning who do you think is the most key pitcher and position player to the team?

My answer

PItcher Zambrano
Hitter Soto

Also who is everyone's pick for pleasant surprise this season? Mine is Marshall.

You're weird! This is the year Dempster makes that contract look bad.

If Soto and Soriano bounce back with the pitching staff maintaining similar success levels from last year this could be an 86-88 win team. If Soriano continues to regress, Soto turns out to be a one hit wonder etc things could fall apart real quick and a 73 win season wouldn't shock me.

Sean Marshall is already is the good column. He's been everything we could possibly want him to be for us. One of my favorite Cubs.



As (name of pitcher) and (name of everyday player go) so do the 2010 Cubs. Meaning who do you think is the most key pitcher and position player to the team?


Probably agree with you with Z..maybe Lilly with his surgery.
Hitter is Soriano 100% If he sucks again we are donezo.

_________________
Team Cutler.

this pitching staff is about as weak as its been in a long time. this team will finish 3rd at best

zambrano "the ace" hasnt pitched like an ace in a long long time.
ted lilly the actual ace of the team wont be around for a couple months
ryan dempster is solid but nothing spectactular
randy wells is a mystery. was last year a fluke? will he continue his success for a full season?
tom gorzellany is nothing to write home about
carlos silva...i just hope hes not in the rotation

@ RPB's post, and well said, Dan - Anyway, I'll go into the season thinking that Soriano will contribute absolutely nothing at all, and maybe he'll pleasantly surprise me, I dunno. I guess that it's worth holding out hope that Soto will be back on track now that he's decided to stop being such a lazy bastage, though. He may have some kind of horrible disease that caused him to lose so much weight, maybe he's on the juice, or maybe he got hold of some miracle weed that gets you in shape, who knows? I just read an article that's given me cause for optimism, stating that he showed up for spring training early and he appears ready to earn his paycheck again...

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=359652