by By Bruce Miles bmiles@dailyherald.com , Chicago Daily Herald

C Geovany Soto: After a Rookie of the Year season in which Geo hit 23 homers, drove in 86 and put up a hitting line of .285/.364/.504, he backslid badly this year, with 11 homers, 47 RBI and a hitting line of .218/.321/.381. Maybe a new hitting coach will help.

C Koyie Hill: Teams always are looking for dependable backup catchers, and Hill established himself in this area. His hitting line of .237/.312/.324 isn?t awe-inspiring, but the Cubs love the way he calls games and handles the staff.

1B Derrek Lee: He?s on my MVP ballot. His hitting line of .306/.393/.579 was a big jump from last year?s .291/.361/.462. He hit 35 homers and drove in a career-best 111.

2B Mike Fontenot: With all the criticism of Milton Bradley, Alfonso Soriano and Geovany Soto, let?s not forget the big slide by Fontenot after the Cubs made him their second baseman. His hitting line of .236/.301/.377 in 135 games and 377 at-bats is a huge drop from the .305/.395/.514 he turned in last year in 119 games and 243 at-bats.

3B Aramis Ramirez: Maybe once and for all, people will realize what a potent offensive force Ramirez is. His season was cut to 82 games because of the shoulder. He turned in a hitting line of .317/.389/.516 with 15 homers and 65 RBI.

SS Ryan Theriot: This will be on interesting arbitration case if it goes that far. Theriot?s line was .284/.343/.369. Last year, it was .307/.387/.359. Theriot hit a career-high 7 homers and drove in a career-best 54. Theriot also struck out 93 times while walking 51. Last year, he struck out 58 times and drew 73 walks.

IF Jeff Baker: The Cubs may have found their "new Mark DeRosa" in Baker, whom they obtained from the Rockies on July 2. With the Cubs , Baker batted .305 (62-for-203) with 4 homers, 15 doubles and 21 RBI in 69 games. He can play first, second and third, and the Cubs may try him in the outfield next spring. His hitting line overall was .288/.343/.425, and with the Cubs , it was .305/.362/448.

IF Aaron Miles: Somebody has to be the worst player in Baseball, or at least the worst veteran, and that dubious distinction may go to Miles, whose hitting line is .185/.224/.242. And to think he completed only the first year of a two-year, $4.9 million contract.

LF Alfonso Soriano: There?s no doubt the knee limited Soriano, who turned in a hitting line of .241/.303/.423, with his OBP slipping below .300 at various points. He had 20 homers and 55 RBI. Last year, the line was .280/.344/.532. The Cubs are counting on a huge bounce-back next year.

OF Kosuke Fukudome: He went .259/.375/.421 after going .257/.359/.379 last year, when he fell off the face of the earth after July. He led the Cubs with 93 walks and 38 doubles. The off-season will determine whether Fukudome returns to right field for good.

RF Milton Bradley: Some "stats" people have defended Bradley?s line of .257/.378/.397, but it was a far cry from last year?s 321/.436/.563 with Texas, for an AL-leading .999 OPS. In RBI, and value them how you will, Bradley had 40, trailing teammates such as Fontenot and Jake Fox. For all the reasons you?ve read about, this was a gross miscalculation by the Cubs in signing Bradley for three years, $30 million.

OF Reed Johnson: A broken foot limited Johnson to 65 games, during which he put up a line of .255/.330/.412. Last year, it was .303/.358/.420 in 109 games. He made $3 million this year and will be a free agent coming up. His re-signing is a big uncertainty.

IF-OF Jake Fox: There was no interest in Jake from other teams last year, but that has changed this year, according to those who know. His line was .259/.311/.468.

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