REWIND: Catching up With Predictions of Chicago Cubs 2008 Season

As the Chicago Cubs prepare their team for the playoffs next week, none of us thought the Cubs would clinch the division so early in September, with most experts saying this division will be decided in the last week.  Well, so much for predictions.  However, that is the fun part of sports, predicting an outcome, wondering if you will be right or the so called "experts" on t.v.  In the beginning of the year, I made ten predictions on what will happen during the season of 2008.  Below is a quick glance of my predictions:

 1) Zambrano will get hurt.

 2) Ted Lilly Cy Young Candidate.

 3) Soto Win Rookie of the Year as he hits 23 homers and has 90 RBI'S

 4)  Ryan Dempster or Jason Marquis traded.

 5) Pie Sent down to the minors

 6) Wood Comeback player of the Year

 7) Carlos Marmol will falter

 8) Roonie Woo Woo Banned from Wrigley

 9) Lee and Ramirez will combine for 50 homers and 200 RBI’S

10) The Curse Will continue.

I would like to say I did pretty good job on predicting the season.  Maybe I should take Maya Angelos job.  Below I will go in order of my predictions of this year and see if I was right or wrong.

1)      Zambrano Hurt

Zambrano indeed did get hurt as he almost missed 3 weeks of action from the middle of August till early September with a shoulder injury.  In July, he also did have a MRI on his shoulder.  The Cubs did find a way to win without him.  Luckily for the Cubs, he will not miss October.

2)      Ted Lilly Cy Young Candidate

After starting strong in the first half, Lilly struggled in the beginning of the second watching his ERA sky rocket and balls flying over the left field fence by giving of tons of long balls.  If it weren’t for that struggle he might be there, but not with his 16-9 record and 4.16 ERA.  The Cy Young will go to either Branden Webb or Tim Linecum.

3)      Soto Will Win ROY with 20 Homers and 90 RBI’s

          This prediction was a no brainier as he showed greatness from last year.  I was not far off from his stats as he sits at 23 dingers and 86 RBI’S today.  He should win the ROY from not only because of his bat, but for him excellent job behind home plate.  Unless someone has a remarkable last week and pulls away from Soto, (Jay Bruce), I do not see why the ROY would not go to Soto.

4)      Ryan Dempster or Jason Marquis traded.

         This was my worst result for a prediction this year.  Neither was traded as Dempster lead the team with wins (17) and ERA of 2.99.  I just never would thought Dempster would do so well.  Marquis had a strong second half by having 11 wins for the year which will earn him a spot on the playoff roster.

5)      Pie Sent down to the minors

Another point for me.  Pie just struggled during the first half which cause his demotion to Triple A.  With this result, it allowed Hendry to sign Edmonds.  Quickly we will look at his batting average in the months he played.

           April: .200 with 8 hits.

           May: .263 with 6 hits.

6)      Wood Comeback player of the Year

I can not really think of anyone else who would win this award.  Maybe Ryan Ludwick or Mike Hampton.  But what Wood did to have a terrific year is amazing.  To go from injured, not dependable starter, almost retiring to lights out closer is astonishing.  With a 5-4 record, a 3.44 ERA and 33 saves, he should be Comeback POTY.  We have to wait for this one.

7)      Carlos Marmol will falter

 This is one I got half right.  Marmol is now back to his dominating self with a 2.72 ERA and 29 holds.  Even though I said Marmol would have down year this season, there was a point in the season where we all held our breaths when Marmol would come in.   In the first two months of the season Marmol was outstanding with an ERA in April of 1.69 and in May with 1.93.  None of us, besides me would have seen what would happen in that dreadful month of June.  After giving up only 7 runs in the first two months of the season, he surpassed that in 13 days in June with 9 runs earned and with a June ERA of 7.36.  I bet all of you were pretty nervous about Marmol.  Was he the next Latroy Hawkins?  Don’t bet on it.  Now, Marmol is just cruising through hitters.  But, I could warn you it will not always be that way.

8)      Ronnie Woo Woo Banned From Wrigley

Well there was not any drunken display or nudity of Ronnie running on the field, so that must mean he was not banned.  I guess I will have to wait till next year. Twenty years and counting.

9)      Lee and Ramirez combine for 50 Homers and 200 RBI’S

   Right now, Lee has 20 homers and 89 RBI’S and Ramirez has 26 homers and 109 RBI’S.  They just need two RBI’S and 4 home runs with 5 games remaining to reach this mark.

10)  Curse will Continue

I don’t know about this one.  Nothing bad has happened to the Cubs all season.  We will have to sit and wait till this one during the playoffs.