Chicago Cubs Information
After filing for bankruptcy in late 2009, the Chicago Cubs franchise was strapped for cash and had to make a number of moves that season ticket holders cannot find appealing. The team let both fan favorites Kerry Wood and Mark DeRosa sign with the Cleveland Indians. To fill those spots the franchise acquired Kevin Gregg to replace Wood and Aaron Miles to replace DeRosa.
In trading during the '09 offseason, the Cubbies traded Scott Maine and Ryne White to the Diamondbacks for Aaron Heilman, they sent Jeff Gray and minor league prospects to the Oakland Athletics for Aaron Miles and Jake Fox and finally, the Cubs sent Carlos Silva to the Mariners for Milton Bradley. In free agency, the Cubs signed Marlon Byrd, Xavier Nady, Chad Tracy and Kevin Millar.
Lou Pinella begins his 4th season with the Cubs and takes a .547 winning percentage into the season and he has taken numerous teams to the playoffs and the Cubbies to the NLDS twice. 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.