Is anyone sure how the Chicago Cubs will do in 2011?

Another February is finally here and some Chicago Cubs pitchers and catchers have already reported for spring training.

But going into the 2011 campaign, this year’s season has a different feel to it.

This is no longer Year One for the Cubs. There was no National League Central Division title last year. There was just a distant fifth place finish ahead of the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates.

I have to say that I agree with most analysts: I have no clue how well the Cubs are going to be this year.

I do know that with the additions of Matt Garza and a healthy Kerry Wood, the Cubs’ pitching staff could really make some noise in the N.L. Central this season.

The team’s work ethic is looking promising so far. Ryan Dempster is just one of the players who have been working out for the past few weeks in Arizona. A couple of weeks ago, he led over 20 players on a sunrise run over Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale.

But the focus of spring training needs to be on the problems that plagued the Cubs during their 75 win season in 2010.

Former manager Lou Pinella is gone and new manager Mike Quade finally gets his shot to manage a big league club for an entire season.

But was the Cubs’ 24-13 record under Quade anything special? The Cubs did not play good baseball consistently all year and were overdue to go on a hot streak. That hot streak occurred in September, when the games were meaningless to the club.

Can Quade and the Cubs come through when the pressure in on?

Quade does have some good things going for him. He has a stellar pitching rotation that includes Dempster, Garza and Carlos Zambrano, a solid bullpen with setup-man Sean Marshall and one of the best closers in the game in Carlos Marmol.

In the second half of last season, Carlos Zambrano finally looked the $18 million pitcher he is supposed to be. If he can stay healthy and remain out of trouble the entire year, he could put together a memorable season.

At the plate, Quade has some real talent. The Cubs’ addition of first baseman Carlos Pena should certainly give the club the left-handed bat that they have been searching for. Shortstop Starlin Castro is looking to put up big numbers in his sophomore year after batting .300 as a rookie last season.

Castro is projected to lead-off for the Cubs this season. The projected batting order behind Castro is: Marlon Byrd, Aramis Ramirez, Pena, Alfonso Soriano, Tyler Colvin, Geovany Soto and Blake DeWitt.

If Ramirez (.241) and Soriano (.258) can bounce back from poor performances last year and produce like they have in the past, the Cubs could be a dangerous team in the N.L.

But it’s a stretch to believe that Zambrano will stay calm and Soriano will actually live up to his $19 million that he is owed in 2011.

I know that neither one will probably happen, but it’s my wishful thinking that gets me through each season as a Cubs fan.

If the Cubs’ pitching staff has a good year and the hitters actually drive in runs, the Cubs could win 90 games.

If those two things do not happen, the final number of wins will be closer to 70.

I want to believe that this is the year, so the Cubs finish 88-74, sneak into the playoffs as the wild card and actually win a playoff game.

And with Ron Santo’s spirit looking down on the Cubs, anything can happen; even miracles.