Nick's Cub's 25 Man Roster

With spring training games starting tomorrow, I am as giddy as a ten year old at Farrell’s Ice Cream shop. This year unlike most the Cubs roster for the most part is set. There are a couple of battles but if everyone remains healthy here is how I see the team as they head north for the opener April 2^nd in Cincinnati. I am basing this on the assumption that they bring 12 pitchers.

Infield – Locks: Lee, DeRosa, Izturis, and Ramirez. As I see it with the bench the Cubs are going to have there is only room for one middle infielder. The competition looks to be between Ryan Theriot and Ronnie Cedeno. Theriot came up as a Shortstop and eventually moved to 2B so we know he can handle both positions. He can also play a little 3^rd if needed. The question here is what do the Cubs want on their bench, offense or defense. My gut tells me Cedeno starts the year at Iowa and Ryan makes the team.

Outfield – Locks: Murton, Soriano, Jones, Floyd, Ward. Floyd and Ward make the team as left handed power bats off the bench with Floyd getting some AB’s in Left field. Both can also play a little 1B if needed. Now, Theroit has been playing a little Center Field in Mesa but I don’t think the Cubs break camp without Angle Pagan making the team. He can play all three outfield positions and is a switch hitter. Plus he has great speed so you can pinch run him late in games. So, in my mind I can’t see Lou not bringing Pagan North.

Catcher - Locks: Barrett, Blanco. This is a no brainier as both men are locked into their
roles.

Starting Rotation- Locks: Zambrano, Lilly, Marquis, and Hill. Mark Prior seems to have a lock on the 5^th spot in the rotation. If he is healthy (let’s all hold our collective breath) there is no way he isn’t the last man to fill out the rotation. I put Hill as a lock and unless he gets absolutely hammered in Mesa he is on the team.

Bullpen – Locks: Dempster, Howry, Eyre, Wood, and Cotts. That leaves two spots by my math. Michael Wuertz should make the team. He quietly had a real nice 2^nd half last year. It would be an upset if he didn’t make it. That leaves one spot. Will Ohman would look to have that but, the question is do the Cubs need three lefties in the pen. They could keep Wade Miller as a long reliever or a Carlos Marmol, Juan Mateo or Roberto Novoa. Personally, I think the battle is between Ohman and Miller. They could trade Miller if he has a good spring as he could fill out someone’s rotation. My money says that is the case and Ohman heads North but it is a long spring and anything can happen.