CCO Predictions

The Chicago Cubs open the 2011 season, weather permitting, Friday afternoon at Wrigley against the Pittsburgh Pirates. And that can mean only one thing ... it is time for the annual prediction contest on the CCO. So dust off your copy of Gray's Sports Almanac, Vol. 2 and let's have a little fun the day before Mike Quade's first Opening Day as the Cubs' skipper.

Expectations for the 2011 Chicago Cubs are not very high. Most are predicting Q's squad to finish behind the Brewers, Cardinals and Reds with around a .500 record ... well out of the playoff picture. A couple of publications have mentioned the Cubs as a possible sleeper, while acknowledging several things will have to go right for the Cubs to contend for a NL Central Crown in 2011. But as Larry Bowa says, baseball is not played on paper. If it were, the Cubs would have reached their ultimate goal several times during Jim Hendry's tenure.

But what does the Faithful think? While the Cubs spend Thursday working out at Wrigley and preparing for Opening Day, let's make predictions for the upcoming season ...

Less than 36 hours prior to Turkey Day (insert Cubs jokes here), the rumors surrounding the Chicago Cubs picked up when Lance Berkman told Ken Rosenthal that the Cubs have called his agent. Berkman said the A's have been the most aggressive but the "Cubs have checked in, informing him of their opening at first base."

Berkman said the arthroscopic surgery to clean out loose cartilage in his left knee last March 12 limited him all season. Berkman feels he can play either left or right field, as well as first base, and he is drawing interest from eight teams. Berkman told Rosenthal he would prefer to stay in the National League.

Here is the latest from the mill, including updated Cubs Spring Training Schedule and Off-Season calendar ... plus the results from the CCO's annual predictions contest.

It's the first Friday in April and that can mean only one thing ... it is time for the annual prediction contest on the CCO. So dust off your copy of Gray's Sports Almanac, Vol. 2 and let's have a little fun just three days before Lou Piniella's crew opens the Twenty-Ten season in Atlanta.

Most are picking the Cubs to finish behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central, out of the playoffs for the second season in row. Baseball is not played on paper, just ask Larry Bowa. If it were, the Chicago Cubs would have reached their ultimate goal several times over the past decade.

But what does the Faithful think? While the Cubs spend the last two days of the exhibition season in Phoenix, let's make predictions for the upcoming season ...

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?