Chicago Cubs Information
The Chicago Cubs seem to be a team on the verge of greatness, about to break through and capture the World Series championship that has eluded them for so long. They were five outs away from a date in the World Series last year when they were dealt a bit of bad luck. They still had their chances, but they couldn’t make the big play when they needed it, and they were eventually knocked out of the playoffs in the NLCS. The Cubs bring back most of the team from last year, and have made some off-season acquisitions in the hopes of getting back to where they were last year and even beyond. They’re the odds on favorite to represent the National League in the 2004 World Series, but they’ll need to play to their potential in order to reach that level, because the title surely won’t be easy to obtain.
Dusty Baker enters his 12th season as a big league manager, and 2nd with the Cubbies. He has a .540 winning percentage, and has taken numerous teams to the playoffs. Wrigley field has been around since 1914, the second oldest park in the majors behind Boston’s Fenway Park (1912). Wrigley can’t even hold 40,000 people, giving it the smallest capacity in the National League, but it’s quite an intimate stadium. Wrigley is also known for its ever-changing winds and the custom of throwing back home run balls hit by the opposing players.
The Cubs offense is easily best known for its popular, charismatic
slugger Sammy Sosa. Sosa has been one of the greatest power hitters
ever during the last 5 years, and he doesn’t show any signs
of breaking down soon. He’s only 35, and he’s averaged
more than 55 home runs a season over the last six years. In 2004,
Sosa will be joined with Moises Alou and Corey Patterson in the
outfield, giving the Cubs one of the best outfields in the league.
Aramis Ramirez helped spark the team last year, and is back in
2004 to lead the team from his third base position.
If the Cubs are going to make their run at a World Series title, it will definitely
be a result of the unbelievable pitching staff they’ve assembled and
developed over the years. Mark Prior is the ace of the staff, although a few
other guys on this staff might have a thing or two to say about that. Kerry
Wood will step in as the number two, combining amazing power pitching with
a finessed breaking pitch. Greg Maddux is back with the Cubs after an 11 year
stint with the Atlanta Braves. Maddux has a career ERA under three but has
struggled somewhat in recent years, but the Cubs are optimistic a move back
to Chicago will revitalize his career. Carlos Zambrano and Matt Clement, both
excellent young pitchers, will round out the starting rotation. Joe Borowski
goes into his second season as the established closer of the staff.