Chicago Cubs

COACHES
Herman Franks         Manager    367-280  .567
_
Barney Schultz        Pitching
Randy Hundley         Bullpen
Alvin Dark            First Base
Peanuts Lowrey        Third Base

Wrigley Field (39,000, grass)
Distances: LFL-355, LF-352, LC-364, CF-402, RC-390, RF-350, RFL-353
Walls: LFL-15 feet, LF-11 feet, LC-11 feet, CF-11 feet, RC-11 feet, RF-11 feet, RFL-15 feet
1976 All- Stars: C Steve Swisher

• Strengths: One of the best closers in the game.
  _
• Weaknesses: Replacing All-Star Steve Swisher with George Mitterwald behind the plate.
  _
• Key Transactions: Traded CF Rick Monday & RP Mike Garman to LA for LF Bill Buckner & SS Ivan DeJesus. Traded 1B Pete LaCock to KC for Jim Dwyer. Traded 3B Bill Madlock & Rob Sperring to SF for RF Bobby Mercer & 3B Steve Ontiveros. Traded RP Darold Knowles to TEX for Gene Clines. Received CF Greg Gross from HOU for Julio Gonzalez. Received RP Jim Todd from OAK for Joe Coleman. Lost SP Steve Stone to free agency. RP Oscar Zamora retired.
  _
• Starting Pitching: B-
  Rick Reuschel (14-12, 3.46 ERA) again leads the rotation into the new season, along with Bill Bonham (9-13, 4.27 ERA) and Steve Renko (8-12, 3.98 ERA) returning from last year. The addition of promising rookie Dennis Lamp and Mike Krukow (just 4 1/3 IP in '76)gives the pitching staff a solid foundation
  _
• Bullpen: C+
  A very solid and experienced staff with four pitchers appearing in at least 39 games last year. Ray Burris (15-13, 3.11 ERA) will move to the pen from the rotation to help mentor shining prospects Donnie Moore and Willie Hernandez. Ramon Hernandez (2-2, 3.43 ERA), Paul Reuschel (4-2, 4.55 ERA) and newly acquired Jim Todd (7-8, 3.81 ERA) round out the bullpen.
  _
• Closer: A+
  Bruce Sutter (6-3, 2.70 ERA, 10 SVs) is arguably THE best closer in baseball right now.
  _
• Catcher: D-
  Say what you may about the defense of George Mitterwald (.215, 5 HR, 28 RBI), but he is still a downgrade from backup and All-Star Steve Swisher (.236, 5 HR, 42 RBI).
  _
• Infield: C-
  Larry Biitner (.237, 18 RBI) takes over the starting 1B spot for the departed LaCock, while Ontiveros (.176, 5 RBI) replaces Madlock at the other corner position. Manny Trillo (.239, 4 HR, 59 RBI) should continue his solid play at 2B while Ivan DeJesus (.171, 2 RBI in 41 AB) takes over for Mick Kelleher at shortstop.
  _
• Outfield: B-
  The Cubs outfield will have a completely new look as all three positions will have new starters. Hitting machine Bill Buckner (.301, 7 HR, 60 RBI) will take over in LF, Greg Gross (.286, 27 RBI) will man the CF grass while Bobby Mercer (.259, 90 RBI) and his 23 home runs will play RF.
  _
• Bench: D-
  Even though SS Mick Kelleher (.228, 22 RBI) lost his starting job - look for him to struggle to find at-bats as he will be behind Dave Rosello (.242, 1 HR, 11 RBI) on the bench depth chart. After starting last season, Jerry Morales (.274, 16 HR, 67 RBI) and his 16 home runs and 67 RBI will be seeing plaenty of pinch hitting duty. Joe Wallis (.254, 5 HR, 21 RBI) will be subbing all three OF spots. C Swisher (.236, 5 HR, 42 RBI) will look to try and get back his spot behind the plate.
  _
• Outlook: 86-76. The Cubs will improve this season by leaps and bounds - but it won't be enough to win the NL East. They will however, give the Phillies a scare late in September before falling back. The revamped outfield will be a welcome addition to the offense and if the maturity of those rookie pitchers continues to grow, we could very well see the race come down to the wire.