Another Cubs Season in the Books

Remind me to change that number for next season


For the Cubs, the 2013 season is mercifully over, and we can all "look forward" to 2014, when the team will be working on 106 years without a World Series championship and 69 years without a pennant. Here is my recap of 2013 and my view on the future.

This year our starting pitching was good. It was even better until we traded Scott Feldman and Matt Garza, but I understand the reasoning behind those deals. Under Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer, the emphasis is on building up a quality farm system and working for the future. I think we got good return for those deals. Starting pitching was the team's strong suit this year even though no pitcher won more than 9 games. The rotation for next year revolves around Travis Wood, Jeff Samardziya, Edwin Jackson,  Jake Arrieta, Chris Rusin, and Scott Baker all vying for spots. The top pitching prospects in the minors are Kyle Hendricks, CJ Jackson, Pierce Johnson, and Aroydis Vizcaino. The bullpen was not very good this year, but Pedro Strop, James Russell, Blake Parker, and Carlos Villanueva did reasonably well. I look for Zach Rosscup and Alberto Cabrera to win spots. Closer Kevin Gregg was a mixed bag and likely will not return. Since the team likely won't contend next year, no need to panic about that.

First base: Anthony Rizzo played his first full season. The power numbers were good-23 homers and 80 rbis. Hopefully those numbers will improve. Defensively, he is a very good first baseman. The problem was a .233 batting average. That must improve. The Cubs have a first baseman in the minors named Dan Vogelbach who can swing the bat, but he is built like John Kruk.

Second base: Darwin Barney turned in another great defensive performance (4 errors) which may give him his second consecutive golden glove award. The problem was his hitting, just over .200. If he is to remain the starting second baseman, that number is unacceptable. The thing is I think he is a much better hitter than that. Last year, he was in the .250s and the year before, the .270s. That is more like the hitter I think he is. If Barney continues to regress as a hitter, the team has an up and coming 2nd base prospect in Arismendy Alcantara, who could find himself at Wrigley as early as next year if he continues to develop. Originally a shortstop, he can run and hit.

Shortstop: There is no way to sugar coat this; Starlin Castro had a bad year all around although he did cut down on his errors in the second half of the season.  His power numbers went down as well as his average. His concentration and focus are also highly questionable. Like Rizzo, he has a  seven-year contract, and that investment is open to question. As every Cub fan knows, the team's top prospect, Javier Baez, is getting closer to Wrigley Field. Baez is a shortstop, but while he tore up the minors this year hitting-wise, he committed 43 errors himself. Baez (or Castro) may find their future at another position.

Third base was nothing to write home about this year offensively as the team tried a variety of players at the position. Donnie Murphy showed surprising power, but beyond next year, what is his future as a Cub? The good news is that the organization has some highly-touted prospects in the minors beginning with this year's top draft pick, Kris Bryant, Mike Olt, obtained in the Garza trade, and Christian Villanueva. Olt may get a chance to play next year, but Bryant is the long-term hope. Josh Vitters, a former first round pick, is all but forgotten.

Catcher was one of the few bright spots this year. Starter Wellington Castillo was probably the team MVP and back-up Dioner Navarro hit 13 homers with an average over .300. Navarro will likely move on next year as he wants to start, so the Cubs will probably need to shop for another backup.

Outside of  Nate Schierholtz (21 homers/68 rbis), there was little offense in the outfield once Alfonso Soriano was traded. Again, the best news is in the minors with Alberto Almora (center), and Jorge Soler (right) making their way up the ladder. Cuban defect Soler missed most of the season with an injury and will probably make it up with winter ball. Almora was the team's top 2012 draft pick (out of high school)  and is projected to be the center fielder of the future. As for Junior Lake, he provided some intriguing relief when brought up in the second half, but he is still a work in progress. Hopefully, he will continue to develop and find a spot in either left or center next year. (He is actually an infielder by trade, but I don't think he has a future with the Cubs in the infield.) Former first round pick Brett Jackson, who intrigued last year, has fallen back in the Cubs' scheme of things. Ryan Sweeney and  Brian Bogusevic performed well in a pinch, but they are hardly more than stopgap measures.

Most of these prospects will not show up in Chicago until 2015 or so. That's when I expect things to start swinging around. Who knows? That next heartbreaking near miss may be closer than you think. Look for the Cubbies to blow another pennant before 2020.

Pessimist.

Update: This just in. Manager Dale Sveum has been fired.