Chicago Cubs

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2002 Finish: 67-95, 5th, NL Central, 30 GB	2002 Payroll: $74,949,669 (11th)

Projected Lineup CF Corey Patterson 2B Bobby Hill RF Sammy Sosa LF Moises Alou 1B Hee Seop Choi 3B Mark Bellhorn SS Alex Gonzalez C Damian Miller Projected Rotation RHP Kerry Wood RHP Matt Clement RHP Mark Prior LHP Shawn Estes RHP Carlos Zambrano CL Antonio Alfonseca

By James Quintong, SI.com

Hopes are high once again on the North Side, although last year's great expectations turned into a 95-loss season. This time, however, the optimism comes with the addition of manager Dusty Baker, who led the Giants to within eight outs of a World Series title last year.

Baker has an impressive track record: three NL Manager of the Year awards, two NL West crowns, eight second-place or better finishes in 10 years. He also was able to handle a superstar ego in Barry Bonds, win games and not cause too many chemistry problems. Sammy Sosa picked up on that and even reported to camp on time, a small but telling sign of the new attitude being fostered this year.

While Baker is a huge reason for the optimism in Chicago, a young nucleus of talent has Cubs fans thinking about this year, next year and the year after that. Young speedsters Bobby Hill and Corey Patterson had their moments in 2002 and should improve with some experience. First baseman Hee Seop Choi finally may get his chance to start and show off his big bat.

More promising than the young hitters are the three 20-something pitchers anchoring the starting staff. Kerry Wood, Matt Clement and Mark Prior may have been just 30-28 last year, but they averaged 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings and a 3.78 ERA. Plus, promising 22-year-old Carlos Zambrano is on the verge of joining the rotation, potentially giving the Cubs a consistent starting staff for many years.

There have been some rumblings that Baker might give the kids -- especially Hill and Choi -- short shrift in favor of some veteran talent on the team. However, Baker should be able to instill a winning spirit in the youngsters, not just to save their jobs, but to give the Cubs hope for this year, next year and in years to come.

The bullpen was a mess last year, saving just 23 of 48 opportunities, negating much of the work of the starters. The additions of veteran relievers Dave Veres and Mike Remlinger should add some stability, but the key is Kyle Farnsworth, a potential closer in the making, who had a 7.33 ERA in an injury-plagued season.

Choi and Hill are one half of the Cubs' infield of the future. However, if either falters, don't be surprised if ex-Dodgers Eric Karros and Mark Grudzielanek become the infield of the present.

The good news: the Cubs led the majors in strikeouts last year. The bad news: the Cubs led the majors in strikeouts last year. The pitching staff could actually improve upon its 1,333 K's this season. They'd like to cut down on the 1,269 whiffs on offense, especially Patterson, who struck out 142 times with just 19 walks.

Moises Alou was supposed to give the Cubs another big bat behind Sammy Sosa last year. Instead, he suffered his annual injury at the start of the year and it took him a long time to get warmed up, as he hit just .192 through May before finishing with a .275 average, far below his numbers in Houston. However, he hit .319 in September and is supposedly more dedicated to keeping himself healthy.

Hee Seop Choi has been targeted as the Cubs' first baseman of the future since Mark Grace left the team following the 2000 season. The 6-foot-5 Choi has great patience at the plate (95 walks vs. 119 strikeouts last season at Class AAA Iowa) and can hit for both power and average. There will be plenty of pressure on him to produce; however, the Cubs do have the luxury of having Eric Karros as a backup and mentor.

Arrivals: MGR Dusty Baker; LHP Mike Remlinger (free agent); OF Troy O'Leary (free agent); LHP Shawn Estes (free agent); INF Ramon Martinez (free agent); RHP Dave Veres (free agent); INF-OF Lenny Harris (free agent); LHP Mike Sirotka (free agent); LHP Mark Guthrie (free agent); OF Tom Goodwin (free agent); OF Charles Gipson (free agent); C Damian Miller (trade from Arizona); C Paul Bako (trade from Milwaukee); 1B Eric Karros (trade from Los Angeles); INF Mark Grudzielanek (trade from Los Angeles).

Departures: C Todd Hundley (trade to Los Angeles); 1B Fred McGriff (free agent, signed with Los Angeles); RHP Jon Lieber (free agent, signed with New York Yankees); INF Chris Stynes (free agent, signed with Colorado), C Joe Girardi (free agent, signed with St. Louis); RHP Jason Bere (free agent, signed with Cleveland); RHP Pat Mahomes (free agent); OF Roosevelt Brown (free agent, signed with Japan)

Sammy Sosa still will grab the spotlight, especially as he's just one homer away from joining the 500 Club. However, it will be up to the youngsters to propel Sosa and Baker back into the playoffs. Unfortunately, they're in the same division as the Astros and Cardinals. On the other hand, they can find their ways to beat up on lesser division rivals like the Brewers and Pirates.