Chicitysports – Chicago Sports News Site
  • BEARS
    • Chicago Bears News
    • Chicago Bears Rumors
    • Caleb Williams news
  • BULLS
    • Michael Jordan News
    • Chicago Bulls News
    • Chicago Bulls Rumors
  • BLACKHAWKS
    • Connor Bedard News
    • Chicago Blackhawks News
    • Chicago Blackhawks Rumors
  • CUBS
    • Chicago Cubs Prospects
    • Chicago Cubs News
    • Chicago Cubs Rumors
  • WHITE SOX
    • Chicago White Sox Prospects
    • Chicago White Sox News
    • Chicago White Sox Rumors
  • SKY
  • MESSAGE BOARD
Navigation
  • About Us
  • About Us
  • Author Page Template
  • Chicago Sports News
  • Chicago Sports Podcasts
  • ChiCity+
  • Editorial policy
  • Editorial team
  • email test
  • Get In Touch
  • homepage
  • homepage
  • Join Our Group
  • Meet the team
  • Newsletter
  • Our Writers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Push notifications
  • Social Media
  • test
  • Test page
  • Testing
  • Want to Write for ChiCitySports?
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Chicago Bulls bring back a nice young player on a three-year deal: Insider
  • Chicago Bears’ Cole Kmet linked to Miami Dolphins trade
  • The Chicago Cubs are predicted to do great at the Trade Deadline
  • Former Notre Dame defensive tackle died at 53
  • The Chicago Bulls sign an interesting player to a two-way deal
  • Chicago Bears WR roster projections revealed
  • This Chicago Cubs crazy trade proposal might not be so crazy after all
  • Chicago Bears defense sent worrying message before training camp
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Want to Write for ChiCitySports?
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Chicitysports – Chicago Sports News SiteChicitysports – Chicago Sports News Site
WANT FREE UPDATES?
  • BEARS
    • Chicago Bears News
    • Chicago Bears Rumors
    • Caleb Williams news
  • BULLS
    • Michael Jordan News
    • Chicago Bulls News
    • Chicago Bulls Rumors
  • BLACKHAWKS
    • Connor Bedard News
    • Chicago Blackhawks News
    • Chicago Blackhawks Rumors
  • CUBS
    • Chicago Cubs Prospects
    • Chicago Cubs News
    • Chicago Cubs Rumors
  • WHITE SOX
    • Chicago White Sox Prospects
    • Chicago White Sox News
    • Chicago White Sox Rumors
  • SKY
  • MESSAGE BOARD
Chicitysports – Chicago Sports News Site
Home»Cubs»Five most exciting things from the Cubs first half
Cubs

Five most exciting things from the Cubs first half

Zack PearsonBy Zack PearsonJuly 11, 20124 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Email
286661 500356 anthony rizzo
286661 500356 anthony rizzo
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

Despite being on pace for one of the worst record in Chicago Cubs history, the emergence of some young players and the pleasant surprise of some veterans built some more hope for Cubs fans headed into the second half of the season.

1. Rizzo living up to hype: After trading away the best young arm in the Cubs system for Anthony Rizzo, the arrival of the young slugger on the North Side was much anticipated since Opening day. Ignoring the fans desires and the team’s needs, Epstein and Hoyer stuck to their plan of making him play 162 games at the triple a level. Rizzo made his Cubs debut on June 26th and has lived up to his expectations so far. In 12 games, he is batting  .354 with four doubles, four home runs and nine RBI’s. All signs point to Rizzo being the Cubs first basemen for many years to come.

2. Dempster is on fire: After a disappointing  2011 campaign, Ryan Dempster has come back with a very impressive first half. Despite two stints on the disabled list, he has a league leading 1.99 ERA. The best part of Dempster’s great first half is his trade value has risen tremendously. Being in the final year of his deal, it was expected that the Cubs would deal him at the July 31st trade deadline, but the return value could be much higher than expected. With many contenders looking to add one more solid arm to their rotation, the Cubs could see a top prospect or two in return for Dempster.

3. Epstein building through draft and international signings: In their first draft with the Cubs, Epstein, Hoyer and McLeod went all out in this year’s draft. With a huge need of young arms in the system, the Cubs drafted an influx of pitching. Although not all of them will turn into major league starters, the Cubs hope a handful of them will turn into possible solid big league starters down the road. However, with their first pick the Cubs drafted a top position prospect, Albert Almora. Epstein has been following Almora for a couple of years and jumped on the first opportunity he had to draft him. After the draft was complete, the Cubs turned to international prospects to help reload their system, and they got one of the top international prospect, Jorge Soler. Adding Soler and Almora into the mix of Javier Baez, Brett Jackson, Matt Szczur, Josh Vitters and Junior Lake, the Cubs have great hitting talent in the minor league system.

4. Young players that have been surprises: Heading into the year, Cubs managment simply tried to just throw together a roster as the begin the reload the system. But the play of some of those fill in players have increased the hope for the future on the North Side. Bryan LaHair finally got his chance to be an every day starter at the major league level and he took off with his opportunity. He became a home run threat into the Cubs lineup that had very little power in the lineup. Even though he lost his starting job to Rizzo two weeks ago, LaHair was still named to his first all star game. Other players that have been nice surprises are Darwin Barney (who is now involved in trade talks), Steve Clevenger, Jeff Samardzija and Travis Wood.

5. The future is approaching: All though it has been tough to watch this season, the future of the Cubs is slowly  coming into place. Two major building blocks, Starlin Castro and Rizzo have taken their places in the Cubs lineup and will remain there for years to come. Prospects like Jackson and Vitters are not to far off from the majors and are expected to be in the starting lineup everyday next season. And the trade deadline will bring the Cubs some more prospects that are almost ready for the major leagues. Hold tight Cubs fans, a baseball genius is building a potential world series team and he is doing a magnificent job so far.

Rumor Bag Filled with Goodies

Rumor Bag Filled with Goodies

Read More

For More Great Chicago Sports Content

Get the latest Chicago sports news, analysis, and breaking stories on the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox, Sky, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, so you never miss a story on your favorite Chicago teams.

Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE

FEATURED
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
Author Image
BY Zack Pearson

Journalist

Related Posts

Bears June 30, 2025

Chicago Bears’ Cole Kmet linked to Miami Dolphins trade

Cubs June 30, 2025

The Chicago Cubs are predicted to do great at the Trade Deadline

Notre Dame June 30, 2025

Former Notre Dame defensive tackle died at 53

Chicago Cubs News June 30, 2025

This Chicago Cubs crazy trade proposal might not be so crazy after all

Blackhawks June 30, 2025

Chicago Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard ‘undoing a couple years’ worth of poor habits’

Cubs June 30, 2025

Chicago Cubs 13-13 month is more concerning than it seems

Leave A Reply

Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
  • Home
  • Message Board
  • About Us
  • Editorial policy
  • Contact Us
  • Our Writers
  • Want to Write for ChiCitySports?
  • Privacy Policy
© 2025 ChiCitySports. Designed by Dope Guys Who Run ChiCitySports

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.