What I think of the 09 team (before Spring Training) Position Players

Starters

Soto (Catcher:2): I've never felt better about a Cubs starting catching going into a season. I think Geo could be an all time great. What a great season. He better be a Cub for many many years to come. Great offense. He handles the pitchers well. The defense is good enough. We are set for a long time with him behind the plate, barring injuries or General Management stupidity.

D-Lee (1B:3): I think Derek Lee's production this season is the key to being a good team or a great team. He hasn't been as great offensively since the wrist injury. If he has a monster season like he did in 2005, I don't think we'll have much trouble. Our whole line-up is solid. If he is 2005 Derek Lee, it's scary. Regardless of offense, he saves so many runs at first. Defensively, I think he's tops at first.

FonteMiles (2B:4): I guess second base is the position most up in the air going into spring training. Fontenot has a lot of promise, but we're paying Miles more. To me, the most telling stat for these two is that Fontenot has ten more RBI in over 100 less at bats than Miles. Miles may have a slight edge on speed, but Fontenot has the edge on power. Knowing Lou, it will mostly depend on the lefty rightie matchups (Fontenot's a rightie, Miles a switch). The biggest disappointment of the offseason to me was getting rid of DeRosa. I think we fall off, offensively, no matter who ends up at second now. Plus, defensively, we're rotating new people through the middle constantly. I think our double play ability gets weakend by not giving two regulars a chance to get used to each other.

Ramirez (3B:5): Aramis is currently my favorite Cub. Last season, he led the team in RBI, and showed far more patience at the plate than I've seen out of him. He walked 30 more times in 08 than in 07. His power numbers were down this year, as were most of our big boys. He is also getting better defensively each year. I think Aramis could win a gold glove.

Theriot (SS:6): Last year was Theriot's breakout year. He was great for average, and I feel like he brings some fire to the clubhouse without being loud and flashy. He solidified his place as a Cubs starter, and started to get nods from the national media as well. He doesn't have the explosive speed to be a prototypical lead-off hitter, but he's ideal to me to be number 2.

Soriano (LF:7): Plain and simple, Soriano needs to stay healthy. I think his 40/40 seasons may be behind him, but 30 homeruns and 30 sb would be just fine for this team. Soriano is, by far, the most impatient of our high profile players, so it is painful sometimes to see him leading off. It's great when he's in one of those zones where he hits everything to waveland, but the rest of the time it's three swings and sit to start each game. He seems to hit better at lead-off, but I'd love to see him make it work at 2,3 or 5.

FukuJohnson (CF:8): I want both of these guys to succeed. Reed Johnson was a wonderful breath of fresh air last season. He plays hard and gets clutch hits. It still blows my mind that he didn't get any time in the playoffs. And, really, didn't Fukudome seemed like the real deal for the first half? Isn't the optimist in you just praying that it'll happen again? Whoever is out there, the defense will be very good. I think Fukudome has the edge there, but either is real solid, which is good when you look at right and left, defensively. When it comes down to this one, just like second, I think it will mainly depend on what hand the pitcher is throwing with.

Bradley (RF:9): Sigh. I was hoping they wouldn't sign him. Beyond the issues he seems to have in most places he goes, he's very injury prone, and that was in the American league. My guess is that he'll play a little over half the games this season and the offense will be adequate based on what we expect from him. I hope I'm wrong.

Bench

Hoffpauir (1B,LF,RF): We've been trying to get this guy in for several years now. Everyone is singing his praises offensively. Trouble is that his natural position is first base. So, expect to see him as our first pinch hitting option. He mashed in the minors, and everyone seems to think he can do it in the majors. If Lee isn't needing much time off, expect to see him give Milton Bradley a break now and then. It won't be for defense, though. It sounds like he really should be at first.

Gathright (CF): For those of you who are sad about losing Felix Pie, don't worry, Gathright is basically the same person. Lots of speed and athletic ability. Covers plenty of ground in Center. Can steal bases, but has major problems getting on first. Since Pie was out of options, I guess we just replaced him with someone who wouldn't be.

Bako (C): Why on earth would he let Henry Blanco, the dictionary definition of a good back-up catcher, go for Paul Bako, president of the Mendoza line society? This one I just don't understand. Here's an omen for you. Last player to strike out in the 03 collapse to end the Cubs chances for a world series? You guessed it, Paul Bako. But far more forboding is the .217 average that he posted last year with the Reds in the most hitter friendly park this side of coors field. We get it. We want more lefties. But really? Bako?

Hill (C): Hopefully, Koyie Hill comes in and proves he can be a major leaguer (or at least a major league back-up). He is also the left handed bat that we seem to covet so terribly that we don't mind how awful a hitter they are. Koyie (pronounced Coy) hasn't really been up consistently enough to prove much. He came in a lot in the 06 season when Barrett was hurt and we were still figuring out who our other catcher would be. Nothing impressive offensively, but I've read that our pitchers like him. The most important thing with a back-up catcher is calling the game. I wouldn't expect to see Geo out of the line-up very much this year.

Last year, I felt like we had one of the best benches in the majors. Now, I don't really know what to think. It seems like there are much less to choose from than last year. This will work itself out in spring training, but I'm going to feel much less safe for a while whenever a reserve gets called in. I'm crossing my fingers in hopes that we don't have many injuries.