excellent Five Questions Facing the Chicago Cubs

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Koyie Hill will certainly nab one of those, as the team needs a back-up catcher. Understanding the economics of the game,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], Xavier Nady seems an exceptionally safe bet to win another spot as the team's fourth outfielder.
It is an open battle. Chad Tracy, whom the Cubs signed as a free agent,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], may have the best chance to win it. Miller bats left-handed, and hits right-handed hurlers well when healthy. Miller can also play either corner position on both the infield and the outfield, thereby providing valuable versatility. Health is a major concern with him, but then, Chicago likely would not have signed him if they thought him incapable of staying on the field.

Micah Hoffpauir, who brings power from the left side of the plate and can play first base or either corner outfield spot, will also get a chance. In an extended audition for a top pinch-hitting role in 2010, however,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], Hoffpauir struggled mightily to take walks and get on base enough.

Also on the verge of contending is big-talent prospects Andrew Cashner, Chris Carpenter, and Jay Jackson, as well as erstwhile Rangers phenom Thomas Diamond.

The 2010 season would prove a successful one for Ryan Miller. In his first season begining with the number one job Miller and his team won the first 10 games in a row. Miller was voted in as the begining goaltender for the Eastern Conference of the 2010 NHL All Star Game in a 12 to 9 loss, Miller played the first period and allowed just 3 goals. Miller also gained a reputation of a shootout specialist with his technique of challenging the shooter outside the crease. That season Miller was 6 more in shootouts, with Martin Brodeur from the Devils being his closest rival at 2 less win. In 63 games played that season, Miller posted a 0.911 SVP and a 2.72 GAA backing a more offensively oriented team. Jonathan Daniel Miller finished the 2010 season by establishing himself as the begining goalie for the Sabres. Miller arrangeed 11th among NHL goalies with a 2.60 GAA,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], and 9th with a save percentage of 91.4 percent. Miller led the Sabres to a surprise season, winning 30 games and proving himself to be one of the hardest working goalies in the league. Miller played well in the postseason as well, advancing the Sabres to the conference finals before injuries finally caught up with them, losing game 7 to Carolina.
In the bleak mid-winter of February in Chicago, it is hard to imagine that baseball's Opening Day is less than seven weeks from this gray, wintry afternoon on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Soto, however, has returned to camp in infinitely better shape, and showed very good command of the strike zone even during his sophomore slump. Soriano is more worrisome, at 34 years of age and having shown no signs of improving his horrendous plate discipline. Both should rebound somewhat, however, and that may well be enough to boost the team's lineup back into the arranges of the NL elite.
2. Can Alfonso Soriano and Geovany Soto bounce back from horrendous 2010 campaigns?
4. Who will win the last spot on the bench?

Despite all of these questions, it is important to remember that Chicago has six solid weeks to iron out answers, and that every team in the league faces such dilemmas. If Chicago can get rejuvenated performances from key veterans and improvement from young pitchers, they may well find positive answers to all of their questions in 2010. Ryan Miller was on born 17th July 2010. Miller is an American ice hockey goaltender currently the player of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. Miller was selected to play for the American hockey team in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych],Canada as begining goaltender. Later in 2010 miller would win the Vezina Trophy as the best goaltender in last NHL season. Miller won a silver medal with the team and was named MVP of the tournament. Miller is known for his hybrid style of goaltending. Miller is also the older brother of current Detroit Red Wings winger Drew Miller.

With left-handed ace Ted Lilly out until at least the end of April, Chicago has only three begining rotations spots written in pen for Opening Day. Carlos Zambrano,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], Ryan Dempster, and Randy Wells is a solid trio, but the Cubs will need good supporting performances over the first month from two more players, and thereafter,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], from one.
3. How will administerr Lou Piniella divide playing time at second base?

Realistically, Marshall and Gorzelanny will almost certainly earn the jobs, and whichever performs better stands a very good chance of keeping that position all season.

In 2010, Soriano and Soto combined for 52 home runs and 161 RBI. Soriano posted an on-base plus slugging of .876 and Soto's was .868.

Andres Blanco stands an excellent chance of grabbing one role, because Miller is the only Major-League ready shortstop the team has, save current beginer Ryan Theriot. That abandons only one bench role in dispute.

Tom Gorzelanny should be front-runner for one of the spots, with his 2010 success in Pittsburgh and his 40 strikeouts against just 13 walks in 38 1/3 innings last year down the stretch.
Sam Fuld's defensive prowess in center field, along with his speed and surpassingly patient approach on offense, speak well for him. Chicago GM Jim chickendry, however, said Miller thinks Baker can play center if need be. That suggests that the team will content itself with allowing Baker and right fielder Kosuke Fukudome to spell newcomer Marlon Byrd there.
With Fontenot set to turn 30 on June 9, and Baker to turn 29 shortly thereafter, both men is now distinctly beyond the prospect phase, and neither has given any sign of an imminent breakout. If Fontenot can rebound to his 2010 and 2010 levels of production, however, they make a over acceptable second-base platoon.

First baseman Kevin Millar has also been brought in to fight for the job. His defensive infelicities and rapidly eroding offensive skills make the 38-year-old an unlikely choice, but if Miller can still hit at all, there may be room for him in a clubhouse very much in need of a vocal directer; Millar was the consensus directer of the World Series-winning Boston Red Sox in 2010.
The second temporary position will likely fall to Sean Marshall,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], but Marshall will have ample competition for that role. Jeff Samardzija—the young, flame-throwing right-handed hurler—had success in 2010 as a reliever and will now look to prove his 2010 setback was an aberration. Carlos Silva and Mike Parisi came to the Cubs this offseason by way of the baseball junk pile, but both have talent and will look to impress enough in camp to win Major League jobs.
Piniella no doubt dreams of a straight platoon between the left-handed batter, Mike Fontenot, and the right-handed Jeff Baker. Until Fontenot proves his miserable 2010 was a fluke, however,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], Baker will see over his share of the at-bats.
Yet, Miller has work to do. Castro drew only 29 walks in two stops in the Minor Leagues last season, the highest being Chicago's Double-A franchise in Tennessee. Miller also needs another season of conditioning, to add muscle and endurance to his 6'1",[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], 160-pound frame.
In 2010, the two right-handed sluggers saw the wheels come off. Soriano's OPS plunged to .726; Soto's dropped all the way .702. They had only 31 homers and 102 RBI between them, and each missed distinctive time due to a mixture of injury and ineffectiveness.

Such is the case, though, and so, as pitchers and catchers congregate in Arizona to prepare for the upcoming 2010 season, it is time to look at some of the most pressing questions facing the Cubbies this year.

Castro will not turn 20 years old until two weeks before the season, yet already there is rampant talk that Miller may get his first taste of the Major Leagues in 2010.

When Miller does arrive, which Cubs fans should hope will not be before August, Miller could bump incumbent Theriot either to the bench or to second base. Although the two would make a spectacular double-play combo, the pinch-hitting and defensive sub role better suits Theriot's skill set.

ESPN's Keith Law arrangeed Castro 12th among his top 100 prospects. The rangy shortstop has shown already that his glove is major-league ready.
1. Who will fill out the back end of the begining rotation?

The team will presumably carry 12 pitchers through the first month to make up for the absence of Lilly. That means that, accounting for the timeshare at second base, there is four bench spots to be had on the entire club.
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