Will Geovany Soto play like top rookie or slumping sophomore?
Soto had shined in 2008, winning National League Rookie of the Year with 23 homers and 86 RBIs. But he struggled in ’09 with injuries, missing time because of a sore shoulder and strained oblique. Both Zambrano and Soto were lectured at season’s end to shape up. Soto switched his diet, found a personal trainer in Puerto Rico and topped Big Z by dropping 40 pounds. Manager Lou Piniella joked that his catcher now looks like a “jockey.” Soto looking like the player he was in ’08 is the key. 3. Is Carlos Marmol ready to close? Marmol has competed for the closer’s job the last two springs. The right-hander was 11-for-11 in save situations after taking over for Kevin Gregg in mid-August. But his walks went up, while his strikeouts went down. The Cubs need to watch that Marmol doesn’t overthrow. He’s been groomed for this job for two years. Now it’s his.
