Editor’s Note: Staff Writer Travis Cordes briefly analyzed the five midwest MLB teams in anticipation of the 2010 season.

Chicago Cubs

2008 Record – 83-78 (second, NL Central)

Projected Lineup:                       Projected Rotation:

Ryan Theriot, SS                              Carlos Zambrano

Kosuke Fukudome, RF                     Ted Lilly

Derrek Lee, 1B                                  Ryan Dempster

Aramis Ramirez, 3B                           Randy Wells

Marlon Byrd, CF                                 Carlos Silva

Alfonso Soriano, LF                                        

Mike Fontenot, LF                              Carlos Marmol – Closer

Geovany Soto, C

Who would have thought the best offseason move for the Cubs would be losing a player, rather than gaining one? While Zambrano will continue to prove he needs anger management therapy, Chicago is delighted to have clubhouse cancer Milton Bradley now causing problems in Seattle. Aside from the loss of Bradley and the signing of Byrd, this lineup is nearly a carbon copy of last season. Of all the regional teams previewed here, their lineup is the most similar to last years’, which may not be a good thing, as they proved to be inconsistent for the most part. They did, after all, finish just five games over .500 despite all the talent they have.

The Cubs need:

1. To stay out of slumps and get continued production from their veteran players. While Lee is the most consistent slugger they have, he’s getting close to over the hill and will need to be the rock of a lineup has a small upside, but a big potential down side. Things could soon turn to bad news if Fukudome has as dismal of a season as he had last year as the second hitter this season.

2. Find a way to get production on the base paths. Chicago ranked dead last in the majors in stolen bases last season, as they relied too much on the long ball all year. If their proven sluggers continue to be injured or have their careers deteriorate, they won’t be able to rely on home runs like they have in the past, and good station-to-station running is a part of deviating from that trend.

Player to Watch: Aramis Ramirez

Ramirez had injury problems hamper him all last season, and the Cubs will need him to return to providing more offensive production. This will be a key factor to the success of their offense this season.

Chicago White Sox

2008 Record – 89-74 (first, NL Central)

Projected Lineup:                                Projected Rotation:

Juan Pierre, LF                                          Mark Buehrle

Gordon Beckham, 2B                                  Jake Peavy

RF Carlos Quentin, RF                            Gavin Floyd

1B Paul Konerko, 1B                                    John Danks

A.J. Pierzynski, C                                          Freddy Garcia

CF Alex Rios, CF            

Andruw Jones, DH                                          Bobby Jenks – Closer

Alexei Ramirez, SS

Mark Teahen, 3B

This is exactly the lineup that manager Ozzie Guillen has been wanting since his tenure with the White Sox began six years ago. Several offseason additions gave the team a load of different types of offensive players and a formidable rotation. The addition of Juan Pierre gives Chicago a bonafide leadoff hitter, who will be followed by 2009 AL Rookie of the Year contender Gordon Beckham, the powerful Carlos Quentin and consistent Paul Konerko. Scoring runs likely won’t be a problem, and coupled with several experienced starters, this team is poised to take home the AL Central crown in 2010.

The White Sox need:

1. Alex Rios to return to his old self. The front office made a gamble on the former Toronto slugger that had a breakout season two years ago, but he then failed miserably last season. A solid comeback for Rios amidst the other sluggers could definitely spell trouble for opposing pitching staffs.

2. For their bullpen to stay consistent. Erratic outings and injuries have plagued Jenks in the past, and in order for this team to preserve wins they will need to get more solid innings out of their relievers

Player to Watch:

Jake Peavy’s story is an interesting one. He has never pitched full-time in the AL, and we still don’t even know if he really even wants to be in Chicago. If you remember, he originally turned down their offer to stay in San Diego, but ended up leaving anyway just before the trade deadline. If you had to ask me, I don’t think the White Sox are going to get everything out of Peavy that they saw from him during his dominant last couple of seasons with the Padres.

Kansas City Royals

2008 Record – 65-97 (fourth, AL Central)

Projected Lineup:                                Projected Rotation:

Scott Podsednik, CF                                    Zack Greinke

Chris Getz, 2B                                              Luke Hochevar

David Dejesus, RF                                          Brian Bannister

Billy Butler, 1B                                          Gil Meche

Rick Ankiel, RF                                          Kyle Davies

Jose Guillen, DH

Alex Gordon, 3B                                          Joakim Soria – Closer

Yuniesky Betancourt, SS

Jason Kendall, C

The Royals had a significant amount of roster shuffling in the offseason, but don’t expect these moves to pay huge dividends for them. They got more athletic in the outfield with Podsednik and Ankiel, but their lineup still lacks any real power. Greinke finally came through and developed the potential I’ve been seeing in him for the past four years, but the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner can’t carry the extremely young rotation by himself.

The Royals need:

1. Alex Gordon to become what they wanted out of their No. 2 overall draft pick in 2006. Injuries have been part of the problem, but the former Husker has yet to blossom into the dominant hitter they hoped they were getting.

2. Someone else to step up in the rotation. Bannister showed glimpses of great stuff last year, but proved to be too inconsistent in the long run. Kansas City will need either him or former first round draft pick Hochevar to step up if they want to win more than 70 games.

Player to Watch:

Look for Billy Butler to develop into a perennial All-Star this season. His swing won’t produce gaudy home run numbers you might expect from a three or four hitter, but that’s because of his quick, level swing. Butler is a line-drive machine and can find gaps or take the ball to the opposite field just as well as anybody in the league.

Minnesota Twins

2008 Record – 87-76 (first, AL Central)

Projected Lineup:                                Projected Rotation:

Denard Span, CF                                          Scott Baker

Orlando Hudson, 2B                                          Nick Blackburn

Joe Mauer, C                                                        Carl Pavano

Justin Morneau, 1B                                          Kevin Slowey

Michael Cuddyer, RF                                          Francisco Liriano

Jason Kubel, DH

Delmon Young, LF                                          Jon Rauch – Closer

J.J. Hardy, SS

Nick Punto, 3B

The Twins’ biggest wish came true in the offseason when they were able to lock up golden boy Joe Mauer for eight more years. An absolutely class move was made by Mauer, who took what was at least a $60 million pay cut to stay with his home town team. However, the unfortunate big news from the Twins’ camp was the loss of closer Joe Nathan for the season. The team should be able to produce runs without a problem, so it will be up to the middle of the road pitching staff to help them stay in games. Minnesota has several solid starters, but they don’t have one dominant hurler. Instead, each one seems to be a third spot in the rotation kind of pitcher on most other teams.

The Twins need:

1. Francisco Liriano to stay healthy and consistently have the nasty stuff everybody knows he can throw. If the Twins want a clear shot at winning the AL Central, they will need one or two starters (including Liriano) to step up and be a 15-game winner.

2. To get acclimated to playing outside in Minneapolis. Target Field proves to be a beautiful venue, but a power outage may be in order at the beginning of the season, because we don’t know whether it will be a hitters or pitchers park. At the same time, colder temperatures in April and May will possibly make home runs harder to come by early on.

Player to Watch:

JJ Hardy came to the Twins after a down season last year with the Brewers. The rest of the lineup is similar to last season, so it will be interesting to see whether or not Hardy can pull out of his slump. While I don’t expect him to hit the morbid .229 he did last season, I don’t think he will return back to 2008 form when he hit .283 with 24 bombs. However, if he does, this Twins lineup will get that much scarier.

St. Louis Cardinals

2008 Record – 91-71 (first, NL Central)

Projected Lineup:                                Projected Rotation:

Skip Schumaker, 2B                                      Chris Carpenter

Colby Rasmus, CF                                          Adam Wainwright

Albert Pujols, 1B                                          Kyle Lohse

Matt Holliday, LF                                          Brad Penny

Ryan Ludwick, RF                                          Jamie Garcia

Yadier Molina, C                                        

David Freese, 3B                                          Ryan Franklin – Closer

Brendan Ryan, SS

A great baseball team begins with a great rotation, and this might be as good as it gets in the NL this year (along with the Giants and Phillies). They lost Joel Piniero to the Angels, but the addition of Brad Penny and the upside of the young Jamie Garcia make this a seriously formidable lineup. Offensively the Cardinals still one of have the best 1-2 punches in the league with Pujols and Holliday, so runs will be aplenty for them this season.

The Cardinals need:

1. Ryan Ludwick to return to his 2008 form. Ludwick regressed from his breakout performance two seasons ago, and if he gets on track this lineup goes to another level of scary from where it already is.

2. The pitching staff to stay healthy. We all know how dominant they can be, but with the injury problems in the past (especially for Carpenter) it has faltered at times. But I don’t foresee this being much of a problem.

Player to Watch:

Colby Rasmus has long been atop the Cardinals best prospect list, and had his much anticipated debut cut short at times last year due to injury. But if he stays healthy and manager Tony LaRussa keeps him in the #2 spot, expect for his average to skyrocket because of all the fastballs he’s going to see while hitting in front of Pujols.