Countdown to Opening Day: #24 Chicago Cubs

By Andrew Marcus

Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2011 Major League Baseball season I am going to be examining a different team every day. Starting with the Pirates, working toward the Phillies. I will give you my projected starters, breakout and bust players, biggest spring training question and top prospect.

PROJECTED LINEUP

SS Starlin Castro

RF Tyler Colvin

3B Aramis Ramirez

1B Carlos Pena

CF Marlon Byrd

LF Alfonso Soriano

C Geovany Soto

2B Blake Dewitt

P Matt Garza

PROJECTED ROTATION
Matt Garza

Carlos Zambrano

Ryan Dempster

Randy Wells

Carlos Silva

PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer - Carlos Marmol
Set-up - Kerry Wood

Top Prospect - Brett Jackson (OF)

Breakout

Matt Garza -  What the say about the differences in the AL and NL are true and Garza will be the next to prove it. Moving from the AL East to the NL Central should help his confidence and in result his stats. We may be looking at a dark horse cy young candidate and definitely an all-star season.

Bust

Carlos Zambrano - If there is one thing that is going to deter the Cubs from snapping the curse it is going to be the starting rotation. As much as I like Garza, he's no guarantee to take the next step. The other four all fit under the bust category. I'm not a big fan of Big Z, Dempster, Silva and Wells. Big Z however, may find himself exiled just like in 2010. This year it could be for good. Maybe a Garza for Michael Young trade in the works? You heard it here first!

Biggest Spring Training Question

The tiresome question - It is the same question every year at Spring Training. We love ya, but is this the group that gets it done? Was the additions of Pena and Garza from the Rays enough to put this team over the hump is a ultra-competitive division. I think the Cubbies could surprise some people this year, but I still like the Cards, Reds and Brewers more. 

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 75-87

Can Marmol and the Cubbies catch fire?

PROJECTED FINISH: 3rd in the National League Central

***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME
 
Check back tomorrow for the Cleveland Indians