Countdown to Opening Day: #20 Chicago Cubs

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

#20 Chicago Cubs: Care-free on the North Side

PROJECTED LINEUP
CF David Dejesus
SS Starlin Castro
1B Anthony Rizzo
LF Alfonso Soriano
RF Scott Hairston
3B Ian Stewart
C Wellington Castillo
2B Darwin Barney
P Jeff Samardzija

PROJECTED ROTATION

Jeff Samardzija
Edwin Jackson
Scott Feldman
Travis Wood
Carlos Villanueva

**Matt Garza to miss start of season

PROJECTED BULLPEN

Closer: Carlos Marmol

Set-up: Kyuji Fujikawa

Top Prospect: Jorge Soler (OF)

Anthony Rizzo

When I run through the expectations for each ball club I take a look at all the question marks. More question marks equals less chance of dethroning the San Francisco Giants. Make sense? While the Cubs chances of breaking the curse of Bartman, or the Billy Goat, or whatever superstitious saying you want to go with, is next-to-none, I do think Theo Epstein and company has put together a sneaky competitive group. It may not make sense, but there is a little to like about the lovable losers.
It certainly is not household names and they did not need dig deep into the bank account this off season, but the revamped rotation, barring Matt Garza can come back and stay healthy, actually has several strong inning eaters. Coming off a 61 win campaign the confines of Wrigley are not only friendly, but empty. There is no pressure and that is exactly what this group of ball players needs to succeed.
Athony Rizzo has all-star written all over him, as does Jeff Samardzija. If just one or two players, say an Ian Stewart or a Travis Wood can have career years, nothing Earth-shattering, just serviceable,  then the Cubbies could contend for half a season.
I see it now, strong start out of the gate, hovering a game or two out of first place in June. Then once the pressure of the playoffs comes near, the collapse of young or overachieving North Siders starts. Give Esptein and general manager Jed Hoyer credit - I believe they are on the right track.

Kyuji Fujikawa

THEY CALL ME MR. SUNSHINE - There is one glaring weakness for the Cubs and that's the ninth inning. The fact that Carlos Marmol cannot throw strikes is what got him to the big leagues but is also about to get him traded. He has a nasty slider, but his command issues are going to have him in the seventh inning in another zip code. One of those sneaky free agent adds by Hoyer is Kyuji Fujikawa and he emerges as the next Taikashi Saito or Kazuhiro Sasaki and saves 40 games. The Cubs start hot and never let up.

REAL TALK - Call it a hunch on the 80 win season because they are more likely to finish in the cellar, where I have them ahead of the Brewers. I just get the feeling kids like Starlin Castro and even Brett Jackson can make big jumps and give some excitement for the future. The Cubs would be one of the least likely teams to make the playoffs this year, but they still can make big strides in 2013.

Breakout: Anthony Rizzo

Bust: Scott Hairston

Fantasy Baseball Sleeper: Edwin Jackson 

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 61-101 (5th in NL Central)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 80-82 (3rd in NL Central)

**Check back tomorrow for the New York Yankees**