Alfonso Soriano got off to a slow start this season and spent some time on the D.L. But since his return, Soriano has been absolutely on fire and it has really propelled the Cubs’ offense. Soriano has played in 25 games in May and he is 35 for 102 (.343 avg, 1.070 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 9 homers, 24 RBIs and 1 stolen base. His recent hot bat has made his season numbers look pretty good and the Cubs hope he keeps swinging a hot stick. Soriano has now played in 38 games for the Cubs this season and he is 45 for 159 (.283 avg, .876 OPS) with 25 runs scored, 11 homers, 29 RBIs and 3 stolen bases.

Carlos Zambrano has been the best pitcher on the Cubs for some time now. He has started 10 games this season for the Cubs and he is 6-1 with a 2.45 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. But, he’s a complete ballplayer as he can flat out hit the baseball too. He has played in 14 games this season for the Cubs as a hitter and he is 8 for 30 (.267 avg, .700 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer and 2 RBIs. The home run he hit was the 13th of his major league career.

The Cubs have placed reliever Chad Fox on the 15-day disabled list with ulnar neuritis in his right arm. Fox has had arm problems his whole major league career so this comes as no surprise. He has pitched in 3 games for the Cubs this season and he is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. The Cubs have recalled 23-year old, righty reliever Jose Ascanio from the minors to replace Fox both on the roster and in the bullpen. Ascanio has pitched in 17 games (0 starts) in AAA ball this season and he was 1-0 with 9 saves, a 2.08 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. In 21.2 innings this season, Ascanio has allowed only 14 hits while whiffing 23 batters in only 21.2 minor league innings. Ascanio has pitched in 13 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 1-1 with a 5.06 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP.

The Cubs have placed Daryle Ward on the 15-day disabled list with a bulging disc in his lower back. Ward has played in 30 games this season for the Cubs and he is 5 for 25 (.200 avg, .812 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 1 homer and 6 RBIs. The Cubs have called up 28-year old lefty swinging Micah Hoffpauir to replace Ward on the roster. He will likely fill the same role as Ward did which is pinch hitting from the left side. Hoffpauir has played in 1 game this season for the Cubs and he is 0 for 1. He also had played in 9 games in AAA ball this season and he was 11 for 34 (.324 avg, 1.009 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 3 homers and 12 RBIs. The Cubs will likely miss Ward’s stick off the bench.

The Cubs have signed 37-year old lefty swinging center fielder Jim Edmonds to a contract for the remainder of the 2008 season. Edmonds has already played in 2 games for the Cubs this season and he is 2 for 9 (.222 avg). Edmonds had a rough time in San Diego this season before they released him. He played in 26 games for the Padres this season and he was only 16 for 90 (.178 avg, .498 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 1 homer, 6 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. The Cubs hope that Jim Edmonds has something left in the tank as he has had an impressive major league career. Edmonds has played in 1,842 games in his major league career and he is 1,819 for 6,371 (.286 avg, .903 OPS) with 1,160 runs scored, 363 homers, 1,127 RBIs and 65 stolen bases. The Cubs also sent Felix Pie to the minors. Pie played in 30 games for the Cubs this season and he was 14 for 63 (.222 avg, .572 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer, 7 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He also whiffed an amazing 23 times. The Cubs appear to be losing patience with Pie who was once considered a can’t miss prospect.

The Cubs’ first round pick this season, 3B Josh Vitters, is off to a slow start for the Cubs in the minors. He started late due to a left wrist injury and he hasn’t played much yet. The 18-year old righty swinging Vitters has played in 4 games in A-Ball so far this season and he is 3 for 14 (.214 avg, .643 OPS) with 1 run scored and 1 RBI. Vitters has also whiffed 5 times already but all three of his hits have been doubles and that’s promising.

Ryan Dempster has been the Cubs’ second best starting pitcher so far this season. After years of relieving, Dempster has really excelled this season in the rotation. Dempster has started 6 games for the Cubs this season and he is 4-0 with a 3.16 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Dempster needs to sharpen his control as he has walked 19 batters in 37 innings this season and that needs to change if he is to remain effective. He has only allowed 22 hits in 37 innings this season and that is why the walks haven’t hurt him yet but his stuff isn’t good enough to keep missing bats like he is right now.

Backup shortstop Ronny Cedeno was rumored to be involved in trades with the Orioles all winter long for Brian Roberts, but, he has really been a asset so far this season for the Cubs. Cedeno has played in 22 games for the Cubs this season and he is 18 for 47 (.383 avg, 1.047 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 1 homer, 16 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Mike Fontenot was given his big chance last season as many scouts didn’t think he would prosper because of how small he is. But, he proved them all wrong last season and he’s doing it all over again this year. Fontenot has played in 26 games this season for the Cubs and he is 15 for 51 (.294 avg, .869 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 2 homers and 11 RBIs. Fontenot & Cedeno have been huge contributors off the bench for the Cubs and they have been the silent assassins of the team.

The Cubs are glad that Derek Lee has re-discovered his power stroke so far this season. Lee has played in 31 games for the Cubs this season and he is 43 for 127 (.339 avg, 1.032 OPS) with 28 runs scored, 8 homers and 23 RBIs. Lee would even have better RBI numbers if the batters ahead of him were getting on base often. Lee also is still showing Gold Glove defense at first base as he has been the Cubs’ best player by far so far this season.

The Cubs have tired of watching young lefty starter Rich Hill walking batters so they have sent him to AAA to work on his control. He still has good stuff but he seems to have lost some of the swagger he had last season. Hill has started 5 games this season for the Cubs and he is 1-0 with a 4.12 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. Hill has only allowed 13 hits in 19.2 innings this season but he walked an amazing 18 hitters and that’s why he is in AAA ball right now. The Cubs will give Hill’s rotation spot to veteran righty Jon Lieber who has been great as the Cubs long man in the bullpen so far this season. Lieber has pitched in 9 games (0 starts) for the Cubs so far this season and he is 2-1 with a 1.86 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. Lieber has allowed 21 hits in 19.1 innings this season but he has only walked 2 batters. Lieber will likely do a solid job for the Cubs.