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Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Yahoo! Contributor Network - Yahoo! Sports

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Apr 5th 2012, 02:59

By Mike Patton, Yahoo! Contributor Network

The Chicago Cubs began the 2011 season by losing a three-game series to the Pittsburgh Pirates at home. The Cubs dropped the first game to Pirates starter Kevin Correia and went on to have a miserable year, finishing 71-91.

Cubs fans are hoping that 2012 will begin on a better note, starting with the first series against the Washington Nationals, which kicks off on April 5 in Chicago. The Cubs underwent many changes during the offseason and will enter the season with new leaders, including: team president Theo Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer and manager Dale Sveum.

As a Cubs fan, I'd love to see these changes translate to success on the field as soon as possible, but I am patient enough to know that this may be somewhat of a rebuilding year for my team. Still, a series win against Washington could always give Chicago confidence and momentum to carry forward into the early part of the schedule.

The 2012 opening day lineup for the Cubs will differ slightly from last year's. Third baseman Ian Stewart and first baseman Bryan LaHair will likely replace Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Pena at the corner infield spots to begin the season. Right fielder David DeJesus is the other new starter. Catcher Geovany Soto, second baseman Darwin Barney, shortstop Starlin Castro, center fielder Marlon Byrd and left fielder Alfonso Soriano will all be familiar faces returning to their positions.

Starting pitcher Ryan Dempster will make his second consecutive opening day start. Unfortunately he will face one of the best young pitchers in the game in the Washington's Stephen Strasburg. Strasburg holds a career 6-4 record and has totaled 116 strikeouts in only 92 innings. Dempster will have to pitch better than he did in last year's season opener, when he allowed six runs in 6.2 innings.

If the Cubs are going to have success this season, much of the offensive load will likely need to be carried by Castro and Soriano. Castro played great in 2011, his first full season, hitting .307 and leading the league with 207 hits. He also added 10 home runs, 66 RBIs, 91 runs and 22 stolen bases. On the other hand, Soriano hit only .244, but did contribute 26 home runs and 88 RBIs. I'll be looking for these two players to jump out to a great start this year and provide some offensive leadership.

The Cubs do not have a terrible team and should be able to compete in the National League Central in 2012. Either way, opening day has finally arrived and fans will be able to see the new team take the field.

Mike Patton is a sports fan who grew up in New Orleans cheering for the New Orleans Saints, Chicago Cubs, and LSU Tigers. As a kid in 1987, he made his first trip to Wrigley Field and also slept outside of the Louisiana Superdome to purchase playoff tickets for the Saints' first postseason appearance. Follow Mike on twitter @MikePattonGBS.

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