Cubs, Yet Again, Have Potential

We're a day away from the month of March which can only mean one thing: the yearly blog post from a dedicated Cubs fan that tells you all about the potential the North Siders have for the upcoming season. It's a part of the often unrealistic optimism that is a requirement when cheering for the Cubs, yet this year is another stepping stone in the long, painful rebuilding process that General Manager Theo Epstein has implicated. While last year did not quite go as planned (the Cubs finished with a dismal 66-96 record), the talent the Cubs are growing out of their farm system, combined with a revamped bullpen and new management, have given Chicago a glimmer of hope for the near future.

Castro is capable of leading, but he must be also be willing

And while the Cubbies fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks yesterday at the inaugural game in the brand new Cubs Park in Mesa, Arizona, there were positives to take away. The most obvious of these would be the performance of Starlin Castro. The shortstop went 2-2, including an RBI double. With all the excitement surrounding the Cubs' prospects, many have forgotten that the success of the Cubs will rest greatly on Castro's shoulders. While Castro entered the league as a phenom and seemingly sure-fire All-Star, the past two years have shown flashes of incredible immaturity as well as disinterest from the 23 year old. If Castro can find the consistency he had in his first season and is willing to step into the leadership role, the Cubs may finally have the middle infield captain they have lacked for so long.

Rick Renteria has plenty of young talent to work with

Maturity is one aspect of the Cubs that is clearly a focal point, but one of the biggest off-season targets for the front office was strengthening the bullpen that cost them so many games last year. The additions have a significant amount of hype surrounding them, yet it was two newcomers that essentially coughed up the lead for the Cubs late in the game. Wesley Wright and Jose Veras were less than impressive, combining to give up four hits while each man hit a batter. However, seeing as it was the first Spring Training game, not a whole lot of stock should be put in this performance, though first impressions do last a lifetime. But despite the loss, it is clear that the bullpen is significantly stronger this year as multiple pitchers can hit mid to high 90's on the radar gun. Yet time will tell if the Cubs can hold late-game leads which has proved to be a significant struggle for the ball club as of late.

The Cubs are still a year or two away from truly competing for the division. They have phenomenal prospects in the minors who are well on their way to preparing for the majors and they have a good core of young players already on the roster. However, the Cardinals, Reds, and Pirates are still very much intact from last year's playoff appearances and will surely take the top three spots in the division once again. Yet I would be shocked if the Cubs finish more than five games under .500. Maybe that's more Cubs optimism, but one thing is clear: this season will surely present more success than last.