Thanks to Milton Bradley, it’s a whole new game on the North Side. Ugh. Bad puns aside, the Big MB — that’s what I call him — makes things a lot more interesting for the Cubs this year. He could be the missing piece the Cubs have been searching for the past few years (you know, like the Monopoly thimble that has been MIA since 1994).
OK, I’m done with the board game jokes. Or am I? Here now, my predictions for your 2009 Cubbies.
Opening Day
Alfonso “The Fonze” Soriano leads off with … a strikeout, of course. But then he’ll redeem himself by making contact in the second, but flying out to the shortstop, then … just joking, Fonze. I jumped the shark with that one. The leadoff man is on a hot streak and will keep it going with another big day against Colorado as the Cubs win 7-2.
World Series
Baby steps, people. Baby steps. As Cubs fans, we have to take things slowly, that’s why I say Lou Piniella and Co. fall to the Yankees in the World Series. They are even more loaded than the Cubs with CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett giving N.Y. some real pitching for a change. It’ll be a learning experience for the Cubs. Dare I say it? Wait till next year.
Playoffs
I can’t believe I’m actually saying this, but I see the Cubs reversing their last two playoff appearances and sweeping through the first round and topping the defending champion Phillies to make it to the World Series. Crazy, I know, but the Cubs are armed to the teeth.
Record
I’ll make it easy on myself and say 100-62. On paper, the Cubs look better than the team that went 97-65 last season. The addition of Bradley gives them the left-hander they need and the development of Ryan “The Riot” and Mike Fontenot … oh, look at me getting all technical. I’m just guessin’ here. A full year of Rich Harden makes the difference.
