Now that we've been able to get a glimpse of our 2005 Chicago Cubs, what do you think?
Here's what I see.

--Writers and fans started sweating once Sosa and Alou were gone, questioning the ability of the new offense to Get Things Done. We've seen thus far in Spring Training that this season won't be much of a letdown, if any, on the offensive side. Let's be honest, probably not a whole lot was gained or lost in right field, with 30+ HRs and too many Ks both coming and going. If anything, I'm optimistic that Burnitz will listen to hitting coaches and find ways to cut down on the strikeouts, something Sammy wouldn't do. In addition, Burnitz isn't married to any particular spot in the batting order, and his propensity to strike out feels slightly less dangerous if he doesn't mind hitting lower in the batting order. I also don't think the Cubs should overlook the possibility of DuBois filling in one or two games a week in right field while Burnitz is still getting into the swing of things.

--No way to tell whether we'll have yet another year of Porcelain Pitchers or not. We'd all like to believe reports that Wood and Prior really are fine and should be in place for Opening Day, but we spent last year hearing exaggerated optimism on health so much that we just can't believe it anymore. Perhaps the new trainer situation will help bring a little accuracy...if so, then we'll start believing again. Wood most likely IS just fine, and while Prior says he's okay, at least no one's making promises this time around.

--Now might be the time to snag Urbina from the Tigers and latch onto a viable closer. The Cubs face a bottleneck of TYPs (Talented Young Pitchers) but no real closer and the Tigers look to be attempting to move Ugueth. Borowski's strong and healthy, but still quite a gamble in the closer position.

--While people make noise about the Kelton conundrum, Jason DuBois looks to be proving his case for at least platooning with Hollandsworth in left and maybe even Burnitz in right. The versatile Kelton's shown he belongs in the big leagues, but would he get the playing time he needs to stay sharp on the 2005 Cubs? Neifi Perez and Jose Macias offer quite a bit to the infield (and, in Macias' case, the outfield) off the bench, and playing time looks to be scarce already in the outfield, with 5 legitimate starters out there already.

--The bullpen isn't weak on paper, but one must wonder if it's the best it can be for actual game situations. As mentioned earlier, the Cubs face a pitching bottleneck, but half the pitchers who will eventually make the Opening Day Pitching Staff aren't really relief pitchers, but TYPs hoping for eventual starterdom. Remlinger, Borowski and Hawkins are all very good relievers, and it's nice to have around a guy or two who can pitch from the 3rd or 4th inning into the 7th or 8th if needed, but the number of guys who look to be available for high pressure situations before the 8th or 9th inning looks limited to the above three, no matter how talented Mitre, Guzman, Ohman, Weurtz, Wellemeyer, Randolph, Koronka, or anyone else is as a pitcher overall. The Cubs have prided themselves on homegrown pitching for a long time now, perhaps beginning with Madduz and Moyer, but a lack of viable bullpen bulldogs has plagued them for at least as long. 2003 and 2004 were as good as any Cubs bullpen had been in a long time, but 2005 will prove problematic if one or two of the TYPs don't embrace the fire helmet and emerge as strong, reliable relievers.