CHICAGO CUBS 5-YEAR SCORECARD 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 WINS 66 61 71 75 83 RUNS PER GAME 3.72 3.78 4.04 4.23 4.39 RUNS ALLOWED PER GAME 4.25 4.69 4.67 4.73 4.17 OPENING-DAY PAYROLL (millions) $107 $109 $134 $144 $135 2014 STRENGTHS: • Strong nucleus of exciting young talent • New manager Renteria a breath of fresh air and right personality • Strong player development 2014 WEAKNESSES: • Young team short on major league experience • Lack of protection for Rizzo in lineup • Uncertainty and lack of a proven ace at the top of rotation It’s been six years since the Chicago Cubs celebrated their second of back-to-back division titles, while flirting with 100 wins. They’re on their fourth manager, and are staring a fourth-straight 90-loss season in the face. It’s unlikely they’ll avoid 90 losses or get out of fifth, but things are looking up on Chicago’s North Side. HITTING The Cubs’ 603 runs last season were the fewest in a 162-game season in 21 years and near the bottom of the National League. Not surprisingly, they were also near the bottom in batting average (.238) and hits (1,307). Surprisingly, they were second in the NL in home runs (172). The Cubs have their two biggest bats back, in 23-year-old first baseman Anthony Rizzo (23, 80 RBIs) and veteran outfielder Nate Schierholtz (21, 68). Rizzo should fare even better from an average standpoint, than last year’s .233. Also expected to bounce back is 23-year-old shortstop Starlin Castro, who hit .245 after never hitting below .283. Catcher Welington CHRISTIAN PETERSEN/GETTY IMAGES SPORT NL Central
2014 Chicago-North Gameday HQ
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