Is This The Year?

For the first time since 1908, Wrigley Field is home to a team with the best record in baseball as late in the season as June 3rd. 1908 is a significant year for the Chicago Cubs, as it was the last time they won the World Series. 100 long, strange years have gone by since the Cubs were Major League Baseball's last team standing. The Cubs haven't just lost, they have left their fans heartbroken and shocked with many late season and playoff collapses, the most recent of which happened in the 2003 NLCS. Yet it seems this year's Cubs are different, unaffected by The Curse of the Billy Goat that has haunted this franchise since the 1945 World Series. Cubs fans are now singing a new tune as the pack the Friendly Confines, a tune that preaches their new motto "It's Gonna Happen." On the field, the Cubs have backed them up. Riding an 8-game win streak and a 37-21 record, the Cubs have been Major League Baseball's best team.

One of the reasons for their success is that Chicago outslugs its opponents. The Cubs are ranked first in the National League in batting average (.288), runs (331), on-base percentage (.367), on-base plus slugging percentage (.819), and second in slugging percentage (.452). They have gotten consistent production from all positions on the field. Now that Alfonso Soriano (.280 BA, 13 HR, 36 RBI, .323 OBP) is finally earning his $14 million salary at the plate this season, the Cubs offense is becoming almost unstoppable. Derrick Lee (.293 BA, 13 HR, 37 RBI, .349 OBP) and Aramis Ramirez (.315 BA, 9 HR, 39 RBI, .429 OBP) have both done a tremendous job driving in runs for the Cubbies. However, unlike in years past, these Cubs have even more options besides their Big 3. Ryan Theriot (.325 BA, 1 HR, 14 RBI, .407 OBP) has done a great job getting on base in front of Lee and Ramirez. Meanwhile, Japanese-import Kosuke Fukudome (.305 BA, 3 HR, 22 RBI, .409 OBP), Mark Derosa (.297 BA, 5 HR, 29 RBI, .384 OBP), and Geovany Soto (.296 BA, 9 HR, 38 RBI, .388 OBP) have provided unbelievable production from the bottom half of the lineup. It has incredibly frustrating for opposing pitchers to pitch through this Cubs lineup, because there are so many weapons that can leave a major impact.

The Cubs pitching has also been extremely productive this year. Led by ace Carlos Zambrano (8-1, 2.51 ERA) in the starting rotation, the Cubs are currently third in the NL in ERA (3.65), WHIP (1.29), and batting average against (.288). The Cubs rotation has also turned in 28 quality starts, good enough for 6th place in the National League. While their rotation lacks depth behind Big Z and number 2 starter Ryan Dempster (7-2, 2.75 ERA), the Cubs have reason to believe that their third and fourth starters, Ted Lilly (5-4, 5.54) and Jason Marquis (2-3, 4.98)respectively, will turn their seasons around. However, they will still need either Sean Gallagher (3-1, 4.55) or Rich Hill (1-0, 4.12) to step up or they will have to trade for another starter once the Trade Deadline rolls around. As of now, the Cubs starting pitching is much too thin for them to believe "It's Gonna Happen."

Despite their dearth of starting pitching, the Cubs greatest strength may possibly be their bullpen. Bobby Howry (1-2, 4.45), Michael Wurtz (1-1, 2.96), and Jon Lieber (2-3, 3.41) have all been solid in their roles leading up to the 8th inning. Once the 8th rolls around and the Cubs have the lead, opposing teams might as well kiss the game goodbye. Carlos Marmol (1-1, 2.43) has arguably been baseball's most dominating set-up man this season and Kerry Wood (2-1, 2.87, 15 saves) has been a revelation as the closer, where he is tied for second in the National League in saves. This strength is something that will pay huge dividends as the Cubs attempt to claim their first World Series birth since 1945 and their first championship since 1908.

The 2008 Chicago Cubs have the lineup and the bullpen to finally bring a World Series to the Friendly Confines. However, in order to be playing deep into October, they must improve their starting pitching, which has been disappointing so far this year besides Zambrano and Dempster. Despite their lack of depth in the rotation, there is a reason the Cubs own baseball's best record. This team looks extremely poised and focused, and they are finally believing in themselves. If Chicago can get their starting pitching together, the motto in Chicago may change from "It's Gonna Happen" to "It Happened!" because this is an extremely dangerous team with the talent to finally claim that elusive World Series Championship.