WALKING TO AN IMPROVEMENT

The Cubs walked 500 times last year. Cubs' opponents walked 573 times.

Good News: This is an improvement of the differential by about 100 runs.

Bad News: This means that the Cubs started the season about 15 runs behind before anybody ever hit a ball.

Pie will make it worse. Fukudome will make it better. Theriot (wherever he plays) will improve it. Dempster starting will probably improve it. Cedeno, if he plays, will make it much worse.

Best guess? About the same differential next year.