View The MLB Cappers Leaderboard For 2009 \u00a0– Picks Packages for 2010 On Sale Now! \u2014\u2013><\/strong><\/p>\n Arguably, the Chicago Cubs taught us to expect the unexpected last season. Most betting experts saw them as the favorite to win the National League Central following 97 wins and a division title in 2008.<\/p>\n Instead, the Cubbies stumbled to 83 wins, struggling to score runs and support their strong pitching.<\/p>\n This year, with the pressure off, can the Cubs surprise us again \u2013 for the better?<\/p>\n There\u2019s a decent chance that the offense will trend upward again simply because the entire lineup underperformed in 2009 save for Derek Lee, who had a monster year. Alfonso Soriano\u2019s speed is gone and he\u2019s wasting away from the waist down, enduring one leg injury after another, but he didn\u2019t even play like an average major-league regular last season.<\/p>\n I have to think he has something left in the tank. Aramis Ramirez is among the game\u2019s most talented third baseman, blessed with big power and a great batting eye, but he\u2019s constantly nicked up too. Getting 500 at-bats from him would be a huge help.<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s Geovany Soto. The 2008 Rookie of the Year totally imploded last season, seeing his average drop from .285 to .218. While he may have overachieved as a rookie, he arrived at camp last month in vastly improved shape and should bounce back at least partially.<\/p>\n The rest of Chicago\u2019s order is filled with team-first guys and role players like Marlon Byrd, Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot and Jeff Baker. They\u2019re all capable of being useful cogs if the talent around them performs up to snuff.<\/p>\n The Cubs\u2019 offense looks like it will bounce back on paper, but that\u2019s no guarantee. The pitching staff looks a bit more reliable.<\/p>\n Carlos Zambrano is too wild to be an elite starter, but his electric stuff puts him one tier below. Ryan Dempster didn\u2019t match his 2008 magic last season but he certainly pitched well enough to show he was no fluke. Randy Wells surprised last year but it may be too early to tell if he\u2019s the real deal. As for Ted Lilly, who arguably had his best season as a pro last year, he\u2019s recovering from arthroscopic surgery to his throwing shoulder. Assuming he returns fully recovered, starting pitching shouldn\u2019t be a problem for Chicago. The fireballing reliever had the excuse of \u201cfirst time\u201d or \u201ccompetition with Kevin Gregg\u201d for his early-season mishaps and ridiculous 65 walks in 74 innings. But he dominated down the stretch last season, saving his last 11 chances, and the Cubs desperately need him to be an All-Star caliber pitcher for an entire season this time.<\/p>\n It\u2019s clear that the Cubs will compete in the National League Central, as they have too much talent to be a bottom dweller. But they also have plenty of question marks. Given Lilly\u2019s health, Soriano\u2019s deterioration and Ramirez\u2019s propensity to get hurt, I\u2019m not convinced they can overtake St. Louis or even challenge year round for a Wildcard berth.<\/p>\n Acquiring another big bat, however, would definitely change the prognosis.<\/p>\nMLB Team Preview \u2013 Chicago Cubs<\/h3>\n
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\nIn the pen, it\u2019s gut check time for Carlos Marmol.<\/p>\n