Projected batting order Bobby Hill, 2B Alex Gonzalez, SS Sammy Sosa, RF Moises Alou, LF Hee Seop Choi, 1B Corey Patterson, CF Mark Bellhorn, 3B Damian Miller, C Rotation Kerry Wood, RHP Matt Clement, RHP Mark Prior, RHP Carlos Zambrano, RHP Shawn Estes, LHP Bench Troy O'Leary, OF Eric Karros, 1B Mark Grudzielanek, 2B Lenny Harris, INF/OF Ramon Martinez, INF Paul Bako, C Bullpen Antonio Alfonseca, RHP (CL) Mike Remlinger, LHP Kyle Farnsworth, RHP Mark Guthrie, LHP Dave Veres, RHP Joe Borowski, RHP Complete Cubs roster  ESPN's Take Q: How good can the offense be beyond Sammy Sosa? The Cubs are going to need to generate runs. First baseman Hee Seop Choi has to put up or shut up this year -- a very solid Eric Karros was brought in to back him up. And Corey Patterson, Mark Bellhorn and Bobby Hill have to set the table. The Cubs should be much better than 67 wins, but they might not be able to jump over the Astros and Cardinals. -- Rob Dibble Last year Mark Bellhorn was a huge surprise, going from journeyman status to hitting 27 home runs. Most people consider that stat a fluke, but Bellhorn always had a little pop in the minors. The Cubs are moving him out of the leadoff spot to sixth or seventh in the batting order, which means if he hits those home runs again he's bound to knock in 80 or more runs. Look at the Cubs' young pitching staff and you immediately see Kerry Wood and Mark Prior as early draft picks. Do you see Matt Clement? Based on last year's numbers, Clement was more valuable than either of the young guns, piling up 215 strikeouts. Watch Wood and Prior go early, then steal Clement late and enjoy. -- Eric Karabell Angel Guzman, RHP In his first full season, he dominated two Class A leagues and led Chicago minor leaguers in wins (11) and ERA (2.19). He throws a mid-90s fastball and has the best changeup in the system. Guzman is set to start the year at Double-A West Tenn. After that, his next stop could be Wrigley?

Manager: Dusty Baker  Home: Wrigley Field (38,902)  '02 record: 67-95  Team page | Schedule | Offseason moves

Catcher: Damian Miller Was acquired by the Cubs from the Diamondbacks last November. Miller was an All-Star selection last season after hitting .263 with nine home runs in the first half. He calls a good game and goes from Johnson and Schilling to Wood and Prior. Not bad. Can he stay healthy? After going on the DL, Miller hit only .205 with two homers last season. First Base: Hee Seop Choi Will be the key to this offense. The 24-year-old rookie from South Korea takes over for Fred McGriff, which leaves a 30-homer, 100-RBI void to fill. Choi hit just .180 with two HR in 25 games last season, but his successful spring leaves little doubt he's ready for the responsibility. Second Base: Bobby Hill Struggled in his call-up last May and was sent back down. In August, he was recalled and showed why he is one of the Cubs' best prospects. But Hill has failed to hit this spring. If he can't improve, Mark Bellhorn and Mark Grudzielanek will take his playing time. Third Base: Mark Bellhorn Was a pleasant surprise for the Cubs last season. Bellhorn showed his diversity in the infield, playing every position beside catcher. The switch-hitter also pounded out 27 HR. With Hill starting at 2B, Bellhorn will make his home at 3B. His 144 strikeouts are misleading because he did draw 76 BB. Shortstop: Alex Gonzalez Will have the luxury of hitting in front of Sammy Sosa. Getting a steady diet of fastballs should help him improve on his 18 HR. He needs to do better than .248 and cut down on those 136 strikeouts if he is to remain in the top of the order. His 21 errors were fifth worst in the league. Left Field: Moises Alou Had the least productive season of his career. A strained calf and a sore back limited his production. Hitting behind Sammy Sosa provides RBI opportunities. He needs to improve to make opposing pitchers have to pitch to Sosa. If not, Sosa could rival Bonds with walks. Thirty HR and 100 RBI are not out of the question. Center Field: Corey Patterson Proved to be very inconsistent in his first full season. He began in the leadoff spot and had a .400 OBP in April. By the end of the year he was batting in the bottom of the order and swinging at everything. He had only eight more hits (150) than strikeouts (142). Right Field: Sammy Sosa Needs just one more HR for 500 in his career. It seems like not too long ago he was chasing his 250th. Sosa has averaged 58 HR and 141 RBI over the last five seasons. Will this be the year he finally gets protection in the lineup or will he continue to be pitched around? He should work well with manager Dusty Baker, who knows a little something about having star power. No. 1 Starter: Kerry Wood Was a lot better then his 12-11 record indicated. Wood not only topped the 200-inning mark for the first time in his career, but he finished third in the NL in strikeouts and sixth in CG and BAA. He throws a mid 90s fastball, a curve with a lateral break, a tight slider and straight changeup. He should win at least 15 games. No. 2 Starter: Matt Clement Is coming off a strong 2002 season. Clement finished fourth in the NL in strikeouts and third in BAA. He cut his ERA down a run and a half (3.60) and finished 12-11 on a team that lost 95 games. Clement relies on a low 90s sinking fastball and slider. He struggles at times with his control, but should improve. No. 3 Starter: Mark Prior Is the definition of phenom. The 22-year-old power pitcher was 6-6 last season, but struck out 147 batters in just 116.2 IP. Prior's 11.34 strikeouts per nine innings were second best to Randy Johnson in the NL. His command (38 BB) is what separates him from most young pitchers. He needs to work on lowering pitch counts and building stamina. No. 4 Starter: Carlos Zambrano Secured himself a spot in the rotation with a successful spring. The 21-year-old righty fits right in with the Cubs' core of young starters. He needs to become more comfortable at Wrigley; Zambrano had a 4.09 ERA at home and 2.98 ERA on the road. Bullpen: Mike Remlinger, Kyle Farnsworth, Mark Guthrie, Dave Veres, Joe Borowski Remlinger and Guthrie were added in the offseason to give the Cubs the setup lefties they never had. Remlinger was a solid 7-3 with a 1.99 ERA in Atlanta, while Guthrie had a stretch of 33 appearances without allowing a run for the Mets. The two lefties, plus Veres, could closes for the Cubs until Alfonseca returns from injury. Veres, Borowski and Farnsworth will battle the righties. The Cubs' pen was second worst in the NL with a 4.86 ERA. Closer: Antonio Alfonseca He strained his hamstring and will be out until mid-May. He blew a career-high nine saves, including six of his last 14, last season. He was primarily the reason why Cubs' starters had so few wins. Now that the middle relief has been improved, Alfonseca should get more opportunities once he returns. The question is whether that is a good thing.

-- Matt Pike, ESPN The Magazine

Record: 67-95 | Finish: 5th in NL Central | Results | Statistics: Batting | Pitching Offense (NL rank) Defense (NL rank) 706 runs (11th) Home: 339 (10th) Road: 367 (6th) 759 runs allowed (11th) Home: 376 (12th) Road: 383 (11th) 2002 Stats Leaders   Average:Sammy Sosa, .288 Runs: Sosa, 122 On-base pct: Sosa, .399 Stolen bases: Corey Patterson, 18 Wins: Kerry Wood/Matt Clement, 12 Saves: Antonio Alfonseca, 19 Home runs: Sosa, 49 RBI: Sosa, 108 Slugging pct.: Sosa, .594 OPS: Sosa, .993 ERA: Clement, 3.60 Strikeouts: Wood, 217