View from a Cubs Fan
Illinois' Alan Fink writes that the Cubs' season could turn out to be very interesting.
By Alan FinkJanuary 26, 2006, 10:20 AM CST
This year's version of the Cubs is filling me with a sense of deja vu. Watching the Cubs amass an actual team of players which fit together, as opposed to making a splash with a single marquee home run slugger reminds me of another team?the 2005 White Sox.
While the "experts" were falling all over themselves last year to proclaim the Twins insurmountable and many picking the Sox to finish last in their division, the pale hose jelled as a team and made it all the way without superstar off-season moves.
Even though Jim Hendry has solved the leadoff issue, converted the Cubs bullpen from a liability to a strength, enhanced an already strong starting rotation and added overall team speed and fundamentals, most "experts" are ready to proclaim the off-season a failure for North Side baseball. Sound familiar?
Though hesitant to claim the Cubs front-runners for the 2006 season, I would be equally hesitant to write them off just yet. I like what I see. With the Cardinals and Astros standing pat or weakening, this season might turn out to be very interesting indeed.
I hear there's some big game a week from Sunday...
