EVENTS
 Sportsman of the Year
 Heisman Trophy
 Swimsuit 2001

No. 17 Chicago Cubs

Kerry Wood underwent "Tommy John" surgery on April 8, 1999. Jonathan Daniel / Allsport

1999 Record: 67-95 (6th in NL Central)

After making the playoffs as a wild card in 1998, the Cubs took a huge step back last season, finishing sixth in the NL Central. But Chicago is banking on new manager Don Baylor and the return of pitcher Kerry Wood to reverse their fortunes.

Cubs fans can't wait to start hanging K's in the bleachers again. Wood missed all of last season after undergoing elbow surgery, but he's expected to make a full recovery.

Chicago's pitching staff suffered without him. The Cubs ranked at or near the bottom in nearly every major pitching category in the National League last season.

Don Baylor knows how to get a team to win in an offense-friendly park. After all, he led the Rockies to the playoffs in 1995. But while the Cubs should be better than last year, I still have to rank them as my 17th best team in baseball.

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