Fantasy Baseball: Top 5 Chicago Cubs for 2010

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 18, 2010 11:13 AM EST in Baseball

The Cubs are the next NL Central team in the Top 5 series. Let's take a look at their Top 5:

1. Aramis Ramirez-Ramirez is the Cubs best hitter, when healthy. Last year he hit 15-65-.317-.389-.516 in a little over 300 ABs. Bill James project him to go 26-97-.292-.364-.514.

2. Derrrek Lee-Lee had a bounce-back year in 2009 after two sub-par power seasons in 2007-2008. Lee hit 35 HRs and drove in 111 runs with a .306-.393-.579 slash line. James projects him 30-98-.291-.378-.516 in 2010. I am a litle skeptical that he can hit 30 HRs again.

3. Alfonso Soriano-Soriano is coming off a sub-par season in 2009 where he went 20-55-.241 in 477 ABs. Bill James projects him to go 30-77-15-.263-.320-.487 in 2010. I have a hunch Soriano has a bounce-back season in 2010 as well.

4. Ryan Dempster-Dempster went 11-9 with a 3.65 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP in 2009. His K/9 dropped from 8.14 to 7.74, but his BB/9 has dropped every year since 2004, from 5.66 in 2004 to 2.93 in 2009. So his peripheral stats are trending the right direction even though his K/9 dropped in 2009.

5. Geovany Soto -the 5th spot was difficult as I considered Ted Lilly, Carlos Zambrano, and Marlon Byrd here, but decided to go with Soto as I feel like his 2009 was not really representative of him as a hitter, as he dealt with several injuries. James projects a 20-79-.273-.361-.469 season from Soto in 2010, and I think he can approach those numbers as well.

Sleeper Alert: Carlos Marmol-many of the experts will tell you to stay away due to his high walk numbers in 2009 (almost 8 per nine innings), but he still saved 34 games last year, and is not sharing the closer role with anyone to start the season, as of today. His 2009 season could be an aberration as his K/BB prior to 2009 were always around 3.00, so he still has the skills to return to that level. He will be one of the last closers drafted in mixed leagues and should out-perform some of his peers.

Poll

Can Carlos Marmol outperform his draft position in 2010?

Yes, 2009 was an aberration

73 votes

No, the walks will continue to haunt him

24 votes

97 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Is it me?

Or am I the only one who doesn’t get excited about a single Cubs player?

by faketeams on Jan 18, 2010 4:15 PM EST reply actions

not at all

I had a hard time after ARam and Lee….I thought about making Jeff Baker the sleeper, and maybe should have.
I think they could one of the bigger disappointments this season if Alfonso doesn’t stay healthy and Aram and Lee underperform.

raygu
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 18, 2010 5:06 PM EST reply actions

My UBA team

Do you use my UBA team for possible sleepers? I think you’ve hit on each of them. :)

by faketeams on Jan 19, 2010 11:38 AM EST up reply actions

lol

didn’t realize that….

raygu
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 19, 2010 4:49 PM EST up reply actions

Today

Mat gamel

by faketeams on Jan 20, 2010 5:33 PM EST up reply actions

Marmol

One, Marmol only had 15 saves last year.

Two, if by around 3 K/BB you mean 2.75, okay.

But at the same time, you’re right, he’ll be cheap and if he DOES solve his problems, he’d be an elite closer.

I think more importantly is that there is no one in the bullpen who can really replace him in the closer’s role. The only two I think would be even possible are Guzman and Marshall, but those guys are not appealing at all.

So at the very least you’ll get 15 save chances at the beginning of the season before he is removed with some great upside.

by kellemonster on Jan 18, 2010 5:47 PM EST reply actions

My bad

I was reading the wrong line….he did have 15 saves last year. I read the Bill James projection line instead of his 2009 stats. It was late when I was writing it.

raygu
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 18, 2010 7:22 PM EST up reply actions

A.K.A the top 5 reasons the cubs won't make the playoffs

Why is patience a virtue and procrastination a sin...I mean whats wrong with patiently procrastionating?

by Go_Blues on Jan 18, 2010 6:33 PM EST reply actions

+1

I wou;ldn’t be too optimistic if I were a Cubs fan, but you never know. Someone like Soto could have a 2008 season again, or Soriano and ARam could go 35-110, and keep them in contention all year.

raygu
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 18, 2010 7:24 PM EST up reply actions

LHP

I just have to wonder how this club is going to do against LHP. There seems like there will be a lot of ab’s for a 4th outfielder who can handle lefties.

But if the Cubs can score runs against lefties- not really sure how many lefty starters they will face in the Central? Maybe a half dozen or so. If Hoffpauir gets things straightened out I could see him have a pretty decent year, especially if Fukudome continues to struggle. I certainly see Hoffpauir given every opportunity to become an everyday player. I think Byrd and Fuku are kinda falling into the platoon types.

by acr on Jan 18, 2010 11:26 PM EST reply actions