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The Chicago Cubs make their annual trip to Coors Field this week to take on the Colorado Rockies. Both teams enter the series with identical 59-94 records, which is tied for second-worst in baseball.
This series will be key in deciding who gets the second overall pick in the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft. So, the difference between Arkansas RHP Ryne Stanek and Stanford OF Austin Wilson (according to Keith Law's early rankings) will be whoever decides to stick to their usual brand of sucking for three more days.
I don't really care if the Rockies get the second pick or third pick in the upcoming draft, so I'll stay with rooting for them to win. In order to do my part to help ensure that's the case, I'm not going to say anything bad about the Cubs in this preview. Last time I did that, the Cubs took two out of three from Colorado at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs feature the best offense in the universe*, led by this guy, who is the front-runner for NL MVP**.
Soriano has posted a 119 OPS+, while hitting 31 homers and drive in over 100 runs. Anthony Rizzo, who is an intriguing young player, destroyed the Pacific Coast League while at Iowa, and his success has carried over to the big-league level. He has a 117 OPS+ in 333 plate appearances, while going yard 14 times.
*No, they're not. Their collective 84 OPS+ is horrible. They'd be better off with Jerome Walton and Rick Wilkins in their lineup.
**Maybe, if MVP awards were given to notorious out machines.
Meanwhile, on the pitching side of things, their stellar rotation to start the year* has recently given way to a whole bunch of superstar-level** pitchers. Sure, nobody in the original rotation finished with an ERA higher than Travis Wood's 4.23, but these young guys are so much better. Brooks Raley! Chris Rusin! Jason Berken! Bort Jefferies! Rod Steveguy!*** Those guys are going to be really, really good. Tons of upside there.
*Their initial rotation actually was pretty damn good.
**Maybe not, but really, who are WE to judge?
***Those last two names may or may not be made up. You decide.
The bullpen is anchored by on-again/off-again closer Carlos Marmol, who is unhittable for the most part, and has impeccable control.* Shawn Camp and James Russell have done a pretty good job out of the bullpen, as well. As for the rest of they guys, they're all up-and-comers who should dominate for years to come.**
*Marmol walks everybody ever.
**Yeah right! Their names might as well be Base Onballs, Walks McGee, Walker Ballfour, Bob Walk Jr., Dave, Jonathan Sanchez and World B. Free(pass).
Shit. This is going to be bad, isn't it?
Probable Starters
Game 1 -- Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 6:40 p.m. MT
Chris Rusin (1-2, 6.00 ERA) vs. Jorge De La Rosa (0-1, 12.27 ERA)
Game 2 -- Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 6:40 p.m. MT
Jason Berken (0-1, 1.80) vs. Drew Pomeranz (1-9, 5.30)
Game 3 -- Thursday, Sept. 27 at 1:10 p.m. ET
Chris Volstad (3-10, 6.22) vs. Jhoulys Chacin (2-5, 4.73)