The 2007 Baseball season is here, and this could be the year that my loveable losers, the Chicago Cubs, take home the World Series ring. The Cubs enter the season with expectations of a championship. After a horrible 2006 season the Cubs spent $300 million on free agent acquisitions and this year they will have a healthy Derrek Lee. New skipper Lou Pinella will be leading this team with a new attitude of winning and maybe getting the Cubs to the playoffs. They will be undoubtedly improved, but are the additions enough to put them over the top in the NL Central and the rest of the National League?

Here is a quick 2007 Chicago Cubs Preview:

Pitching:

Projected Rotation
RHP Carlos Zambrano
LHP Ted Lilly
RHP Jason Marquis
LHP Rich Hill
RHP Wade Miller

As of Sunday the Cubs have not given their ace, Carlos Zambrano, his long term contract. That could be a distraction this year. After Big Z, the rotation is split by high-paid vets and a tall, skinny, left handed kid, Rich Hill. Hill could be the difference if the Cubs are going to make any noise in their division. Bullpen pitching should be solid again this year with new addition Neal Cotts and always-hurt Kerry Wood. I'm sure if closer Ryan Dempster struggles early the Cubs fans will want to see if Kerry Wood can close, but again there are tons of health concerns with this guy. I'm not counting my season on Kerry Wood.

Hitting:

Projected Lineup
CF Alfonso Soriano
LF Matt Murton
1B Derrek Lee
3B Aramis Ramirez
RF Jacque Jones
C Michael Barrett
2B Mark DeRosa
SS Cesar Izturis

How will Derrek Lee respond from coming back from a major wrist injury? Will he have his head in the game after dealing with the illness of his infant daughter? These are questions that could influence Lee's performance this season. This spring D-Lee hit over .470 with a couple of long homers. The big news this year for the Cubs offense was signing free agent Alfonso Soriano. Soriano can easily put up over 30 homers and steal over 30 bases this year. Can Alfonso Soriano play center field? This is the big question. The answer is that the Cubs didn't sign him for his defense skills.

So much attention is going to be on D-Lee and Soriano. I'm expecting big numbers for Aramis Ramirez and Jacque Jones. These two hitters should get good pitches to hit in this high power offense. Also, a sleeper in this lineup is going to be shortstop Cesar Izturis. Cesar is always a tough out when at the plate. This year, the Cubs have a deep bench with Cliff Floyd, Roney Cedeno and Daryle Ward. Floyd is going to be a huge factor this year because if Matt Murton struggles at the plate early, we could see him in the daily lineup. That's another big left-handed batter in this already high-power lineup. One big difference in this 2007 lineup is that the Cubs can play small ball and high power ball. I'm expecting a lot of RBIs of this Chicago Cubs team this year.

Prediction:

Sweet Lou has his work cut out for him this year. So many questions, and so far not too many answers. Here are some questions that I have about my Cubbies: Will the pitching staff stay healthy? Will Wood and Prior contribute anything this year? Can Alfonso Soriano play center field? Will A-Rod be a Cub? (I like this question) My prediction is that the Cubs will finish second in the division with the Brewers wining the division.

Here is my Prediction of the Central Division:

1. Milwaukee Brewers
2. Chicago Cubs
3. St. Louis Cardinals
4. Houston Astros
5. Pittsburgh Pirates

Next season will mark the 100-year anniversary of the last time the Cubs won the World Series. Every year, however, I have hope. The last three years in baseball has been tough for me and probably every Cubs fan out there. First, in 2004, the Red Sox broke their curse and won. Secondly, in 2005 the White Sox did what the Cubs have been trying so hard for with their World Series win. Finally, in 2006 the hated Cardinals won it all. This year I'm hoping that a new look for the Cubs team can bring me some positive summer days. And just maybe this could be are year? Maybe!