Bodog: Buy or Sell

     Bodog has set the lines on the upcoming season and there appears to be some easy money to made. Of course, when we are talking about the Cubs and the perceived high expectations....there is no such thing as easy money.

Cubs wins (88)-under

     Why, because the rotation has to many question marks surrounding it and the closer situation should be an area of concern with the uncertainty of Kerry Wood and his durability. Now, it is not to say that the Cubs will not still win the division with less than 88 wins, but that number will be difficult to attain.

Derreck Lee: HR's (32)-under, RBI (85)-over, BA (.289)-over

     The 2005 year was an aberration as far as home runs, but this does not mean that Derreck Lee is still not one of the top hitters in the National League. The past two seasons have been myriad in excuses. If it was a wrist injury or family issues, Lee's numbers have been perceived to be down. It is not out of the realm of expectations that he hits 25 home runs while driving in close to 100 runs and batting in the .310's. Those type of numbers would silence the critics for now.

Aramis Ramirez: HR's (30 1/2)-over, RBI (103)-over, BA (.300)-under

     Aramis Ramirez is the teams best hitter adding to the fact that he should be batting third in the lineup. There have been numerous questions since his Pittsburgh Pirate days as to how much A-Ram actually cares on game-by-game basis. Whether it is not running out fly balls or getting picked off the base paths, question marks still arise about his commitment. There is no doubting Ramirez's physical talent, but if he wants to be in that elite class of hitter he must show show up every game 162 times a year. He will hit, no matter where in the lineup he bats, over 30 home runs and drive in 110-115 runs, but it will still be his strikeouts that lead to him batting under .300 for the season. Aramis has MVP talent, just not MVP effort every game.

Alfonso Soriano: HR's (33 1/2)-over, RBI (90 1/2)-over, BA (.285)-under

     The question of where to put Alfonso Soriano in the lineup has been at the top of every fan and writer since the day he signed. Well, the misplaced leadoff hitter will now play the part of the misplaced two hole hitter at least to start the season. Soriano and the number two spot in the lineup can not be anymore diametrically opposed. He is a first ball, fast ball hitter while the classic two hitter takes pitches and works the count. Why the Cubs do not move Soriano down to say the fourth or fifth spot is beyond anyones comprehension, but still this will not affect his numbers as he should produce at least 40 home runs and the figure of 90 (1/2) runs batted in is a generous one. Now, the batting average like Aramis Ramirez will be affected by the high number of strikouts that are forecasted and thus the .285 batting average may be a little to high.

Kosuke Fukodome: BA (.295)-under

     The classic two hitter in the sense will likely start off sixth in the lineup while he gets his feet wet in Cub and American culture. There are two factors that could lead to a slow start for Fukodome and those are the movements on the fastballs that he did not have to face in Japan and the switch to playing day baseball on a regular basis. By the end of the year, Fukodome will have established himself and proven his worth at the plate as well as in the field, but his early struggles will likely prevent him from attaining a .295 average throughout the year.

Carlos Zambrano: Wins (15 1/2)-over, ERA (3.42)-under, Strikeouts (190 1/2)-over

     The excuses of a contract situation are behind Carlos Zambrano and expectations are tempered because of questions surrounding his ability to control his temperment. Is this the year where Big-Z finally wins 20 games and a CY Young?...the stars are aligned for him to finally achieve these two accomplishments. With a lineup that will score runs and even with a bullpen that can go either way, Zambrano should easily surpass 15 (1/2) wins as well as 200 strikeouts to go with an ERA of sub 3.20. Expectations are high for the horse of the Cub staff and if the Cubs are going to play in October, Big-Z must finally reach his enormous potential and carry this staff to the promise land.

Steals: Ryan Theriot

darkhorse: Felix Pie

Saves: Bob Howry

darkhorse: Carmen Pignatiello