The Chicago Cubs finished the first half of the season with a 39-50 record which has them in 4th place in the N.L. Central, 9.5 games behind the Reds. The Cubs are likely going to be sellers at the trade deadline for the first time in a few years. The Cubs do have some nice surprises but also some big disappointments this year and here’s a closer look at them:

Pleasant Surprises: 24-year old lefty swinging outfielder Tyler Colvin has really stepped up as a rookie for the Cubs. He has played in 80 games for the Cubs this season and he is 47 of 179 (.263 avg, .844 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 12 homers, 32 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Colvin will remain the Cubs’ #4 outfielder unless they can find a new home for Kosuke Fukudome at the trade deadline. The Cubs were so glad to get rid of Milton Bradley over the winter that they took back Carlos Silva with the idea of him being a mop up man in the pen. But he won a job in the starting rotation in spring training and he has been very good for the Cubs so far in 2010. Silva has started 17 games for the Cubs this year and he is 9-3 with a 3.45 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. 27-year old lefty reliever Sean Marshall finally has decided to live up to his potential in 2010. Marshall has pitched in 45 games (0 starts) for the Cubs this season and he is 5-2 with 1 save, a 2.03 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. He has only allowed 33 hits in 44 1/3 innings this season while whiffing 49 batters showing just how nasty he has been. 27-year old lefty starting pitcher Tom Gorzelanny is pitching the best ball of his career for the Cubs in 2010. Gorzelanny has pitched in 18 games (12 starts) for the Cubs this year and he is 4-5 with 1 save, a 3.16 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. He has whiffed 76 batters in only 74 innings showing off some good stuff.

Disappointments: A lot of the core players of the Cubs are having terrible seasons and they are a big reason for the record they have in 2010. 34-year old righty swinging 1B Derek Lee just hasn’t looked good at the plate this year. Lee has played in 85 games for the Cubs this year and he is 75 of 322 (.233 avg, .695 OPS) with 42 runs scored, 10 homers and 36 RBIs. 32-year old righty swinging 3B Aramis Ramirez has had a horrible injury filled season. Ramirez has played in 62 games for the Cubs this year and he is 49 of 237 (.207 avg, .648 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 10 homers and 32 RBIs. 29-year old righty starter/reliever Carlos Zambrano has pitched horrible for the Cubs this season before he went all coo-coo in the dugout which resulted in his indefinite suspension. Zambrano has pitched in 22 games (9 starts) for the Cubs this year and he is 3-6 with a 5.66 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. 31-year old lefty reliever John Grabow is hurt now but he has also been pathetic this year. Grabow has pitched in 28 games (0 starts) for the Cubs this year and he is 1-3 with a 7.36 ERA and a 1.87 WHIP.

The Cubs look like they are running in circles so far this season. They are 5-7 on the season which has them tied for 3rd in the N.L. Central with the Brewers, 3 games behind the Cardinals. The Cubs have been outscored 58-52 so far this season so they need to both hit and pitch a little better if they want to start getting on a roll. Maybe that will happen this week as the Cubs travel to New York for 4 games with the Mets and then off to Milwaukee for 3 games.

The Cubs have started the 2010 season with a 2-4 record which has them in fifth place in the N.L. Central. The Cubs have been outscored 30-18 as they have not pitched nor hit well. The Cubs will be playing six games at home this week against the Brewers and Astros so maybe some home cooking can get them back on track.

The Chicago Cubs are 1-3 to start the 2010 season as they have been outscored 24-13. It truly is a team effort as to why the Cubs have stunk so far this season. The Cubs are only hitting .213 as a team with a paltry .633 OPS. They are also having huge issues in the bullpen as only Sean Marshall and Carlos Marmol are pitching well out there. I can’t see the bullpen getting a whole lot better any time soon unless the Cubs either sign someone or trade for some new blood. The Cubs need to get their act together soon because the Cardinals have got out of the gate well.

The Cubs are still in first place in the National League Central with a 83-76 record, 2 games ahead of the Brewers.  The Cubs have three games left this season against the Reds in Cincy while the Brewers have three home games against the Padres.  The big three hitters on the Cubs (Soriano, Lee and Ramirez) are all hitting the ball well right now.  Ramirez is 8 for his last 27 (.296 avg) with 6 runs scored, 3 homers and 9 RBIs.  Derek Lee is 12 for his last 26 (.462 avg) with 8 runs scored, 3 homers and 6 RBIs.  And Alfonso Soriano has been outstanding at the top of the lineup as he is 9 for his last 27 (.333 avg) with 5 runs scored, 3 homers and 7 RBIs.  Look for the Cubs to hold on and win the Central.