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Chicago Cubs Offense Runs Deep For The 2007 SeasonCopyright © 2007-2008 Patrick Hickey Jr.While no one doubts that adding Alfonso Soriano and getting Derek Lee back healthy will be a huge benefit for the Cubs this season, upon closer inspection, some of the smaller pieces added to the team's offensive game plan in 2007 look like they may in fact be able to play an even bigger role in the team's success. Leading the Major Leagues in pinch-hit RBIs [17] and a .645 slugging percentage last season, Daryle Ward looks to be the team's new bench leader and despite putting up solid numbers as a starter most of his career, Ward, who hit seven home runs in only 130 at bats last season, has no problem coming off the bench. Considering how poorly Chicago has pitch-hit over the past few seasons [.195 in 2005 and .216 in 2006, with only seven homers combined], it's easy to see that Ward is just what the doctor ordered for the ailing Cubs bench. "Mainly, it's attitude; having a better attitude for each at-bat to make the best of it," Ward told MLB.com in regards to his pinch-hitting style. "Pinch-hitting is a hard thing to do. If you go into it with a negative mind frame, it'll be even worse. I just think I can do the job no matter what the situation is." If the addition of Ward to the Cubs bench this season wasn't enough, Chicago's dugout pine will also be home to former All-Star and left-handed slugger Cliff Floyd [until he can find a way to outplay slick-hitting youngster Matt Murton], who's looking to get his career back on track after an injury-riddled 2006 with the Mets and last year's starting shortstop, the speedy and rambunctious Ronny Cedeno. Last season's surprising rookie, Ryan Theriot [.328 BA, 44 hits in 53 games] will also be available off the bench and provides the team with another versatile youngster who can play both the outfield and the middle infield, while contributing offensively. Rounding out the Cubs bench is backup catcher extraordinaire Henry Blanco, who gives the team a competent backup catcher that can hit and call a game effectively. With so many options off the bench for Lou Piniella and his staff, the Cubs will be in much better shape if the injury bug rears its ugly face during the course of the season and may even have the depth to make a deal for another starting pitcher if the need arises. Not bad for a team that was completely void of bench depth last season. While Chicago's bench looks extremely solid this season, the new additions in the Cubs starting lineup, mainly Mark De La Rosa and last year's late-season acquisition Caesar Izturis, give the team the bottom of the order depth on offense they haven't had since the days of Mark Grace, Ryne Sandberg and Andre Dawson. Hitting seventh and eighth in the Cubs opening day loss to the Reds, De La Rosa and Izturis are capable of not only driving opposing pitchers crazy, but also give the team a formidable double-play duo. Starting a game at every infield position last year for the Rangers, De La Rosa not only had the best offensive season of his career, hitting .296 with 13 homers and 74 RBIs, he also managed to commit only five errors in 136 games. Knowing how valuable his versatility can be to a Cubs team that is looking to cause serious havoc in the NL Central this season, De La Rosa is looking forward to the opportunity to prove that last season was no fluke. "I've done it so much, it's really not a big deal to me," De La Rosa told MLB.com, regarding his ability to play both the infield and outfield. "The way I approach it is I'll do whatever I can to help the team win. Bottom line, if injuries present themselves and I have to move for the betterment of the team, I'm willing to do that. The way I look at it, if I was the manager and somebody goes down, I'd move me, too." In the case of Izturis, who feels that he's still capable of winning another gold glove at this point in his career, the only thing that is stopping the 27-year old Venezuelan is his health. Limited to only 54 games last season, due to injuries, Izturis, if healthy, knows that he can show the rest of the league and the fans in Chicago that he's still the same player that was an All-Star and Gold Glover winner less than three years ago. "I'm the same guy, but honestly, I do not think the [Chicago] fans have seen me for what I am," Izturis told MLB.com this off-season. "I know who the real Cesar Izturis is. Cesar Izturis is a player that played with the Dodgers, a Gold Glove winner, an All-Star. That's who Cesar Izturis is. This year, I will stay healthy and they will see that." With both De La Rosa and Izturis at the bottom of the lineup producing, the big bats at Wrigley like Lee and Soriano will have a much easier time getting onboard as well, providing the Chicago faithful with more than ample baseball talk outside the water cooler all spring and summer long. About The Author:
*** Digital Reprint Rights *** *** Author Notification *** We ask that you notify the author of publication of his or her work. Patrick Hickey Jr. can be reached at: joconnor888@hotmail.com *** Print Publication Reprint Rights *** If you desire to publish this article in a PRINT publication, you must contact the author directly for Print Permission at: joconnor888@hotmail.com
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