Chicago Cubs 2010 Preview, Predictions & Odds

With the MLB Baseball season just around the corner, we are providing season previews for all 30 teams to give you the baseball betting edge. Follow the best MLB Baseball Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2010 season preview. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the MLB in our recommend sportsbooks. View the rest of our 2010 MLB Season Previews here.

Chicago Cubs 2009 MLB Record: 83-78
Chicago Cubs 2009 MLB Home Record: 46-34
Chicago Cubs 2009 MLB Away Record: 37-44

Chicago Cubs 2010 Betting

Chicago Cubs Odds to Win the National League: 6/1
Chicago Cubs Odds to Win the World Series: 14/1

Chicago Cubs 2010 Preview & Prediction

New boss Cubs owner Tom Ricketts held a news conference and they are going to win the World Series. For a fan base that has been cheering for a team that hasn’t won a World Series since 1908, those were welcome words. But will his tenure turn our to be a trick? Or treat? That remains to be seen. But Ricketts is a Chicagoan who was a Cubs fan before he bought the club and would love to be known as the owner who broke that title-less streak. It’s a money investment to be sure, but he does care if the team wins or loses. While Ricketts embraces some of the lore of the Cubs, one thing he is not going to stand for is talk of the infamous Cubs curse. Let the fun begin… This is not a bad team. But it doesn’t jump out as a powerhouse, either. Cubs fans have long shed their appreciation of the team’s being Lovable Losers, and it appears that the organization has an owner who won’t put up with it, period. In 2009, most experts thought the team would win a third straight division tide because the National League Central was considered weak. The Cubs ended up 7.5 games behind St. Louis, which should once again field another strong squad in 2010. The Cubs should have a fourth straight winning season but will have a tough time securing a playoff bid.

Chicago Cubs Manager: Lou Piniella (23 Seasons) Record: 1845 – 1740

Chicago Cubs 2010 Projected Batting Order: RF Kosuke Fukudome (L), SS Ryan Theriot (R), 1B Derrek Lee (R), 3B Aramis Ramirez (R), LF Alfonso Soriano (R), CF Marlon Byrd (R), C Geovany Soto (R), 2B Jeff Baker (R)

Chicago Cubs 2010 Projected Rotation: RH Carlos Zambrano, LH Ted Lilly, RH Ryan Dempster, RH Randy Wells, LH Tom Gorzelanny

Chicago Cubs 2010 Projected Closer: RH Carlos Marmol

2010 Chicago Cubs Rotation:

Three starters registered double digit win totals last year, bur ace Carlos Zambrano was not one of them. Zambrano finished 9-7, and many of his emotional antics did not go over well with manager Lou Piniella and the Cubs brass. However, Big Z worked on slimming down during the off season and is planning a return to form. Rookie Randy Wells’ solid-bur-unspectacular 12-10 record may be misleading. In his first six starts, he gave up only eight earned runs in 38.2 innings, and all he had to show for it was two losses and four no-decisions. If he pitches like that again and gets some offensive support, he is in for an ace like season. Ryan Dempster gave the club 200 innings; now he want to return to his 17-win 2008 season form. Left hander Ted Lilly was also solid (12-9, 3.10 ERA) but may miss some time after off season shoulder surgery. Another left hander, Tom Gorzelanny, is the leading candidate for the final spot, but if Lilly is on the shelf, the battle for the last two pitching spots could be the most interesting in spring training.

2009-2010 Chicago Cubs Bullpen:

Despite a roller coaster season as a setup man, Carlos Marmol was given the keys to the closer’s job late in the season and notched nine saves in September. His walk total (65, to go with 12 hit batters, in 74 innings) was alarming but was somewhat offset by 93 strikeouts. He enters the spring as the favorite for the closer’s role. Cubs fans no doubt are in for some anxious moments in the ninth inning. Still, the Cubs have hopes he will be an upgrade over the departed Kevin Gregg, who blew seven save opportunities before he was demoted on Aug. 18. Right hander Angel Guzman, who held opponents scoreless in 40 of his 55 appearances, appears ready to take on a larger role as a primary setup man. John Grabow came to Chicago in a trade with Pittsburgh, and opponents hit .209 against him in 30 appearances. He will likely be a trusted left hander for Piniella. Fellow lefty Sean Marshall is hoping to latch on as a starter, but his numbers are considerably better as a long reliever and setup man. The other jobs will be up for grabs with several young arms hoping to get their shot.

2010 Chicago Cubs Middle Infield:

Shortstop Ryan Theriot’s average dipped from .307 in 2008 to .284 in 2009. He remains a dependable defensive player, although his range and arm have come under criticism. Some believe he is better suited for second base. Jeff Baker, whose .305 average in his 69 games with the Cubs was a pleasant surprise, might be the frontrunner for a starting job at second base, although Mike Fontenot and Andres Blanco could give him a run for his money. Fontenot was the Opening Day second baseman in 2009, after hitting .305 with nine homers in 119 games in 2008. Bur he hit just .236 with nine homers in 135 games last year. He is hoping to redeem himself in 2010 and prove he’s worthy of being an everyday player.

2010 Chicago Cubs Corners:

Third baseman Aramis Ramirez is usually good for 100 RBI’s each season, but last year he played only 82 games because of injuries. Still he drove in 65 runs, which was second on the club. The main RBI man of 2009 was first baseman Derrek Lee, who had III to go with 35 home runs. For those who thought he was on the downside of his career after three so-so seasons, he showed he still has something left in the tank. And with 2010 being the final year of his contract, the 34-year-old has plenty of incentive to put up a monster season.

2010 Chicago Cubs Outfield:

This turned out to be a huge problem in ’09. The Cubs had more headaches with Milton Bradley than they expected. General manager Jim Hendry sent him home for the rest of the season Sept. 20 for conduct detrimental to the organization. They finally dumped him to Seattle on Dec. 18 for under performing pitcher Carlos Silva and then later in the month signed Marlon Byrd to play center. Last year in Texas, Byrd hit .283 with career highs in home runs (20) and RBI’s (89) Left fielder Alfonso Soriano and last year’s center fielder, Kosuke Fukudome, have long and expensive contracts and have under performed the past two seasons. The Cubs are crossing their fingers for breakout years from those two. With Byrd on board, Fukudome moves back to right.

2010 Chicago Cubs Catching:

The National League Rookie of the Year in 2008, Geovany Soto, slumped during his sophomore season, hitting only .218 with 11 homers and 47 RBI’s in 102 games. Some blame his weight, while some blame his participation with Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. Whatever the reason, the Cubs already have several question marks on offense this season, so it is vital for Soto to get back on track.

2010 Chicago Cubs Bench:

Backup catcher Koyie Hill was given a little more work than he expected due to Soto’s injury. Hill started 26 games in a row and became only the third Cubs backstop in 50 years to start more than 25 straight. He’s not known for his offense, but he threw out 40 percent of runners trying to steal. If Blanco can’t land a starting infield job, he should earn a job as a reliable defensive replacement at second and short. Fontenot can be a nice fill-in player at second and third base. Sam Fuld, who hit .299 in 65 major league games in 2009, hopes to break camp as a backup outfielder. Backup first baseman/outfielder Micah Hoffpauir hit only .239 in 105 games in 2009 but showed power, swatting 10 homers in 234 at bats. He has a good shot at returning if he has a strong showing in the spring.

Chicago Cubs 2010 Season Predictions

We predict that the Chicago Cubs will finish 2nd in the NL Central Division .

Chicago Cubs 5-Year Win Trend

2009: 2nd NL Central 83
2008: 1st NL Central 97
2007: 1st NL Central 85
2006: 6th NL Central 66
2005: 4th NL Central 79

Will the Chicago Cubs will go all the way to the World Series? Or, will their season be lackluster? Either way, you can still enjoy Chicago Cubs betting at our feature sportsbooks. Chicago Cubs Betting is serious business; where you can make a ton of money placing informed, smart Chicago Cubs bets. Check out these highly reliable, trustworthy, online sportsbooks.

Join Sportsbetting.com Today and Bet on the Chicago Cubs and receive a 110% Sportsbook Bonus!