Written by “The Heartthrob” Phillip Barnard
Lou Piniella and the boys are back in camp as of the 18th of February, which means Chicago Cubs baseball is headed full speed into the 2010 campaign.
Ted Lilly has already said he’s going to try to be back and ready to go by Opening Day, so we’ll see what happens there. He did mention a little soreness in his knee, so hopefully an MRI can rule out any further delays in getting him back on the mound.
Piniella feels that the players are hungry. Carlos Zambrano has ditched his cutter and has taken on a new mental approach to the season, after the Cubs missed a good opportunity at October last season.
The cubs will put try to put last season behind them, as they begin their 2010 Spring Training schedule on
March 4 against the Oakland Athletics.
After what will hopefully be a successful and healthy spring, the Cubs will kick off the official 2010 campaign on April 1 against the Colorado Rockies in Mesa. From there they play two games (on the 2nd and 3rd) at Chase Field against longtime rival Arizona Diamondbacks.
Once those three are out of the way, the Cubbies head to Turner Field in Atlanta and then to Cincinnati before they open up the friendly confines of Wrigley on April 12 against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Milton Bradley was disposed of during the offseason, Big Z is back on track, and hopefully 2010 will be a great season for the Chicago Cubs. Hopefully….being the key word. The key for everybody this year will be avoiding what has been the downfall of the team over the last few years, that being injuries. The Cubs are notorious for being plagued with injuries that just seem to come at the worst possible time. The additions of Marlon Byrd and Xavier Nady should lend an additional hand as well as Greg Maddux being brought in to shed some expertise to the rotation and bullpen.
The Cubs also underwent an ownership change during the offseason, and the new owners are hoping for the best. So are the Wrigley faithful, as well as myself. Here’s to a successful, INJURY-FREE, and hopefully…division and playoff worthy year for the Chicago Cubs!
Content provided by Associated Content
If they stay injury free, will the Cubs go all the way this season?
