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 … [Read more...]
Predicting the Cubs in Twenty-Ten
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 … [Read more...]
And the Winners Are … Version 2009
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. … [Read more...]
Predicting Two Thousand and Nine
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 … [Read more...]
And the Winners Are….The CCO Prediction Contests
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.... … [Read more...]
A Look Ahead….The Final Standings
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. … [Read more...]
A Look Ahead….Predicting the Pitching Staff for 2008
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? … [Read more...]