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Levine: Anthony Rizzo Envisions Powerful Cubs Lineup

By Bruce Levine-

MESA, Ariz. (CBS) -- The greatest Cubs power lineup of recent vintage had Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano pounding out home runs for the NL Central-winning teams of 2007 and 2008.

Now fast forward to spring training 2015, and projections of the best Cubs power team since the late 1960s begins to come to mind after the long ball barrage that Jorge Soler, Javier Baez and Kris Bryant put together Tuesday in Goodyear, Ariz.

The young Cubs trio hit back-to-back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning off Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer. Word traveled like wildfire of the power surge in the desert, though the Cubs tried to keep perspective.

"We try not to get too far ahead of ourselves," Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. "You have seen it the last few years, and now we see it is different with all the talent we have. We want to keep utilizing it and keep getting all of them better."

Although Rizzo envisions a lineup of those young hitters putting up huge slugging numbers in the near future, neither Bryant or Baez is a sure bet to make the 25-man roster out of spring training. Bryant figures to be sent back to Triple-A for service time reasons, and Baez has struggled with strikeouts.

"I saw a headline (on TV) about it," said Rizzo, who had Tuesday afternoon off. "They had some impressive swings. Nothing really amazes me with anything they do in this camp, with all the talent we have."

Rizzo and shortstop Starlin Castro had to do most of the heavy lifting in 2014. They were the only batters to have more than 50 RBIs in a Cubs lineup that struggled. Looking ahead, it appears likely that both hitters will see a better pitches to hit with run producers above and below them in the lineup.

To the youngsters, Rizzo can certainly impart his trials and tribulations after failing in his major league debut with the Padres in 2011, when he hit .141 with a .523 OPS, one homer and nine RBIs in 49 games. Rizzo turned it around and is one of the top young power hitters in the game now, just three years down the road.

Rizzo's experiences can only be a plus for the young power hitters getting their first taste of major league pitching.

"At this point, I am not full of knowledge," Rizzo said. "I do have past experiences, so I am not going to go preaching to anyone except to tell stories. I believe telling stories is the most empowering way to get a point across."

Both Rizzo and Castro showed quality leadership ability last season in embracing Soler and Baez when they made the late-season jump to the major leagues. Rizzo singled out Soriano as someone who did the same for him in his first Cubs season.

"He was just awesome every day," Rizzo said of Soriano. "He always came to the field being a nice person. That was very comforting to me. This was Alfonso Soriano! He was the man and still is. You want everyone who comes up to be comfortable. You also want them to do the right things. That means doing the right little things every day. Those pay off in the long run."

As spring training goes, none of the four Cubs home run hitters -- Welington Castillo as well -- from Tuesday were in the starting lineup Wednesday .

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.

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