We have many great articles planned leading up to the 2010 Fantasy Baseball season including sleepers, busts, rookies, strategy, full player rankings and projections all wrapped up into a nifty draft kit to help you win your league next year. Stay tuned for more, but for now, here's a team preview for you.

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2009 RECORD: 83-78, 2nd in NL Central

By all accounts the Cubs 2009 season was a disappointment. The Cubs expected to be contenders in the NL Central, but suffered an abundance of injuries, and were outclassed by the Cardinals.  The Cubbies and their fans expect to be back in the playoffs in 2010.

Stat table note: The better the ranking number, the better the stat, in all categories. For example, for the SO cat for hitting, a #2 ranking means that the team tallied the second fewest strikeouts. For the BB and SB cats for pitching, the #1 teams allowed the fewest bases on balls and steals.

LINE-UP

1. Theriot, Ryan SS
2. Byrd, Marlon CF
3. Lee, Derrek 1B
4. Ramirez, Aramis 3B (shoulder, expected to be ready for spring training)
5. Soriano, Alfonso LF (knee, expected to be ready for spring training)
6. Soto, Geovany C
7. Fukudome, Kosuke RF
8. Baker, Jeff 2B

Injuries and poor performances plagued the Cubs in 2009. They turned what had been a very strong line-up in recent year into a below average one in 2009. Despite the injuries, the Cubs still managed to hit their share of long balls, finishing fifth in the National League. However, the Cubs finished dead last in the majors in stolen bases. Their only stolen base threat, Theriot, managed about one-third of the steals the Cubs compiled in 2009. However, things are looking up in 2010. With Ramirez and Soriano healthy, Lee coming off a big year, and expectations high for a slimmed-down Soto after an awful 2009, the Cubs could return to the top of the pack in the National League in offense. Their only significant new addition is center fielder Marlon Byrd. Byrd had an excellent 2009 with the Rangers, but I think the signing was a mistake. Byrd is not as good as he played last year, and the Cubs would have been better off going with a youngster like Tyler Colvin or Sam Fuld in center. The Cubs have excellent bench depth. With Kevin Millar, Mike Fontenot, Chad Tracy, Micah Hoffpauir, Xavier Nady, Colvin, and Fuld all battling for spots on the bench, the Cubs will have plenty to turn to should injury strike or one of their regulars struggle.

STARTING ROTATION

1. Zambrano, Carlos RHP
2. Dempster, Ryan RHP
3. Lilly, Ted LHP (shoulder, out until at least last April)
4. Wells, Randy RHP
5. Gorzelanny, Tom LHP
6. Marshall, Sean LHP
7. Samardzija, Jeff RHP
8. Silva, Carlos RHP

The Cubs starters were very good in 2009. The three headed monster of Zambrano, Dempster, and Lilly provided the Cubs with three reliable, although not spectacular, arms. The real surprise was the emergence of Randy Wells, who actually ended up leading the team's starters in ERA. With all four of the aforementioned back, and a sleeper at the back of the rotation in Tom Gorzelanny, the Cubs staff is shaping up nicely for 2010. However, there are some concerns. For one, Lilly, arguably their best starter, will be out for at least the first full month of the season, and Wells needs to prove to everyone that last year was not a fluke. Add in the temperamental Zambrano, and you have all the ingredients for a potential disaster. However, with talented youngsters Marshall and Samardzija, and veteran Silva in reserve, the Cubs have something to turn to if things take a turn for the worse.

BULLPEN

1. Marmol, Carlos RHP
2. Guzman, Angel RHP (triceps, expected to be ready for spring training)
3. Grabow, John LHP
4. Patton, David RHP
5. Berg, Justin RHP
6. Stephens, Jeff RHP
7. Gray, Jeff RHP
8. Caridad, Esmailin RHP

With Kevin Gregg out of the way, young fireballer Carlos Marmol has a stranglehold on the Cubs closer position in 2010, after Gregg spent much of 2009 as the Cubs stopper. Marmol is prone to rough patches, but he is absolutely lights-out when he is on. He could emerge as an elite closer in 2010. After Marmol, the Cubs have two very good arms in Angel Guzman and lefty John Grabow. After that the depth chart gets frightening, but things aren't as bad as they seem. Assuming Gorzelanny is the fifth starter, Marshall, Samardzija, and Silva will provide the depth in the pen the Cubs need.

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