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After wrapping up the NL East on Monday we move on to the NL Central, starting with the defending Central champions. The Chicago Cubs scored more runs and won more games than any other NL team in 2008. With a handful of changes this offseason, can the Cubs do it again and return to the playoffs?

The Chicago Cubs

Last Season’s Result: 97-64, 1st Place in the NL Central

Major Offseason Changes
• Added OF Milton Bradley (Signed from Texas)
• Added CF Joey Gathright (Signed from Kansas City)
• Added 2B Aaron Miles (Signed from St. Louis)
• Added C Paul Bako (Signed from Cincinnati)
• Added RP Luis Vizcaino (Trade with Colorado)
• Added RP Kevin Gregg (Trade with Florida)
• Added P Aaron Heilman (Trade with Seattle)
• Lost RP Kerry Wood (Signed with Cleveland)
• Lost 2B/RF/LF/3B Mark DeRosa (Trade with Cleveland)
• Lost IF Ronny Cedeno (Trade with Seattle)
• Lost RP Bob Howry (Signed with San Francisco)
• Lost C Henry Blanco (Signed with San Diego)
• Lost CF Jim Edmonds (Unsigned free agent)
• Lost SP Rich Hill (Trade with Baltimore)
• Lost P Jon Lieber (Unsigned free agent)
• Lost SP Jason Marquis (Trade with Colorado)


Letter Grades

• Offseason Moves: C- Not a fan of the Cubs busy offseason. I feel like losing DeRosa is a huge blow to the clubhouse , and Milton Bradley isn’t exactly a beloved teammate. Bradley will provide a much needed lift from the left when healthy. Aaron Miles will replace DeRosa’s infield at-bats, with a steady bat with NO power.

• Rotation Grade: C- Too many questions here for my liking. This quintet has A+ potential, but potential only goes so far. These guys aren’t babies like the Marlins, they are a head case, an injury magnet, a fluke?, a rookie, and Ted Lilly. I’m not buying in, Marshall will have rookie struggles, Carlos win not pitch up to his potential, Harden will get hurt, and Dempster may turn back into a pumpkin. Ted Lilly slotted as your #4? That’s tremendous, too bad you can’t really be too confident in your 1, 2, and 3.

• Bullpen Grade: C This was an average group in 2008, so the Cubs responded by overhauling the entire bullpen, and they are left with a lot of question marks here as well. Carlos Marmol now is the closer after a brilliant 2008 season spent mostly setting up Kerry Wood. Marmol was the lynchpin in the 2008 bullpen, and now they hope to get something similar from either Gregg or Jeff Samardzija in 2009. If neither man can be the reliable horse Marmol was, then this unit won’t be as good as its 2008 counterpart.

• Lineup Grade: A+ This lineup is lethal. They led the NL in runs scored, and trailed only Texas in all of the Major Leagues. That’s right, this team outscored Boston, New York, and Tampa. They added a much-needed lefty bat in Milton Bradley who if healthy will push this elite group even higher.
Player most closely linked to team’s 2009 hopes: Milton Bradley. Bradley gives the Cubs their only real left-handed threat, if he stays healthy enough to get 500 at-bats, then this team will again lead the NL in runs. If he gets hurt, his absence combined with DeRosa’s absence will be a huge hole that I’m not sure they can overcome.

Biggest Breakout Star Potential: Carlos Marmol. Marmol is the obvious choice, and really the only one. If he shines then he’ll be the closer for a NL contender, saves over 50 games, and everybody will know about this young Dominican.

Best Case Scenario: Harden and Bradley both stay healthy all season and they win 100 games and enter the playoffs as favorites to win the World Series.

Worst Case Scenario: Harden and Bradley both aren’t healthy, the offense sags a bit, and the staff fails to pick up the slack. Another concern could be the pressure they are under after another disappointing October.

Prediction for 2009: 88-74, After last season’s failure to win in the postseason yet again, the pressure overtakes this squad and they flounder most of the early summer. After Lou is dismissed they make a run but find themselves trailing the Cards and the Mets at the end of the season. No playoffs.

Local Thoughts

By: Our Chicago guest write is Jon Sherman from www.ViewFromTheBleachers.com

• Letter Grade for Offseason Moves: I'd personally give them a B- or a C+. Part of that is due to the obvious constraints of changing ownership. They did a decent job unloading salary which will allow the team to make moves early or midseason that need to be made without pain. People don't realize how big it was to re-sign Dempster -- I think that gets overlooked as an offseason "move." If Bradley pans out, i.e. plays 140 games and hits the way he did last year...the letter grade jumps up to an A- or a B+. I disagree with the DeRosa move, personally. I hated seeing Henry Blanco go and the acquisition of Paul Bako. Aaron Miles won't hurt. Everyone tells me I'm nuts, but I like the Heilman move -- he has a live arm and this might be his year to prove it. I know. I know. He struggled for the Mets last year.

• Most Essential: Hard to lay all that on one player in any team sport, especially baseball. I think that the Cubs need big years from Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano -- but that's not really going out on a limb, is it? I'm going to say Derrek Lee because if he can return to what he was a couple of years ago, it dramatically changes the Cub lineup. That's the player (non-pitcher) I'd choose. Pitcher is Zambrano because if he has a big year...the energy will follow.

• Breakout Potential: Mike Fontenot. If he gets the 400+ at bats that Lou is promising...he could hit 20 homers and knock in 85 runs...replacing DeRosa from the left side of the plate. I would also keep an eye on Sean Marshall...given the ball every fifth day he could win 16 games this year.

• Prediction for 2009: They'll win the division by eight games with a record of 98 - 64. Take it to the bank.