Countdown to Opening Day: #25 Chicago Cubs

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

#25: Chicago Cubs: What's another two, after waiting 106 years

PROJECTED LINEUP
LF Junior Lake
SS Starlin Castro
1B Anthony Rizzo
RF Nate Schierholtz
CF Justin Ruggiano
3B Mike Olt
C Wellington Castillo
2B Darwin Barney

PROJECTED ROTATION

Jeff Samardzija
Travis Wood
Edwin Jackson
Jason Hammel
Jake Arrieta

PROJECTED BULLPEN

Closer: Jose Veras

Set-up: Pedro Strop

Top Prospect: Javier Baez (SS)

Anthony Rizzo

The day Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer took over in the front office they preached patience. And after waiting 106 years a few more seasons of suffering will not hurt the lovable losers in the North Side. Now with one of the top farm systems in the baseball the Cubs could be back on their way toward contending.
Major leaguers Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo have dealt with the ups and downs early in their career but they are 23 and 24 years old respectively. The breakout seasons are yet to come and if they both find their groove this season they could make the National League Central a five team race.
Hoyer has done it right and whether it this year or two years from now when Javier Baez and can't miss product Kris Bryant are in Chicago, this team will break the curse of the Billy Goat.
As for this season, there are too many holes offensively around Rizzo and Castro to truly contend with the Cardinals and the two other squads that made the postseason from this division last year. 

THEY CALL ME MR. SUNSHINE - Anthony Rizzo realizes his potential and puts his name in the MVP race as the Cubs get off to a hot start and never look back. Kris Bryant is too good in Triple A and is up in July for the stretch run. The starting five pitchers are nothing special, but keeps the club in the game while Jose Veras and Pedro Strop shut down the eighth and ninth innings.

Jeff Samardzija

REAL TALK - I like a lot of the young talent on this team, but the outfield of Junior Lake, Justin Ruggiano, and Nate Scheirholtz should be a contending teams threesome in Triple-A, not Wrigley Field. Too many misses with Brett Jackson and Josh Vitters in recent years have set Chi-town to the basement and they are more likely to finish fifth again. But Hoyer has done a great job and the future is bright. Just not this season.

Breakout: Anthony Rizzo (1B)

Bust: Travis Wood (LHP)

Fantasy Baseball Sleeper: Jose Veras (CL)

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 66-96 (5th in NL Central)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 72-90 (5th in NL Central)

**Check back tomorrow for the Toronto Blue Jays*