CCO Predictions

Before the 2009 campaign the CCO asked the Faithful to make predictions on the upcoming season. Needless to say, last year did not end up the way most thought. The Cubs finished behind the Redbirds in the central, missed the playoffs and dealt with one drama after the other for the entire summer.

Grab your crystal ball or Gray's Sports Almanac, volume two of course, because it is Prediction Friday at the CCO. Last year there was a three-part contest that included player and pitcher predictions, but this season the CCO is going to make it easy...one contest and one winner.

The Chicago Cubs are the favorite to win the National League Central Division for the third season in a row. Most think on paper the Cubs have one of the best teams in the league and in all of baseball. Some even think Lou Piniella's crew could represent the Senior Circuit in some group of games at the end of the season that will stretch into November this year.

But what does the Faithful think? While the Cubs prepare to open the new Yankee Stadium, let's have a little fun on the last Friday before Opening Day....

Before last season the CCO ran a series of four contests for the Faithful to make a few predictions on the upcoming year, as well as when a certain switch-hitting hitting infielder from the state of Maryland would be traded to the North Side of Chicago. While that deal did not happen last season, the Chicago Cubs put together a very good year with an unexpected ending. Without further ado, here are the winners of the first ever contests on the CCO....

Could this finally be the year? Crane Kenney has repeatedly mentioned the 100-year due bill the Cubs' front office is faced with on a daily basis. It is more than obvious the Cubs are in "win now" mode. But do they have enough to play games in October? Some say yes, some say no....but what does the Faithful think?

The final look ahead before Opening Day stateside is centered around not only the final standings in the National League Central, but in all of Major League Baseball.

A couple of weeks back the CCO took a look at the Cubs' offense for the upcoming season. Today the second of the CCO's 3-part preseason predictions will focus on Lou Piniella's pitching staff.

Lou Piniella still has a few decisions to make.... Which two pitchers will fill out the rotation? Who will end up closing for the Cubs? Bobby Howry? Carlos Marmol? Or will Kerry Wood stay healthy enough to pitch in the 9th inning? Will Scott Eyre be the only lefty?

This is the first of at least three predictions contests for the upcoming season here at the CCO. As the countdown to Opening Day has begun the big question is....how will the Cubs' offense perform once the games count? Rumors still suggest the Cubs could end up with a new leadoff hitter before long but in the meantime Lou Piniella will continue to tinker with his lineup. Last season the Cubs offense struggled at times, especially in the power department, will Lou Piniella's crew be able to improve on last season's offensive output?