Drawing up a Roster

Over at Bleed Cubbie Blue, Al opines

Presuming they carry 12 pitchers, that leaves five position player slots. They are likely to be: backup catcher Henry Blanco; Cintron; Matt Murton; Fuld; and Ward.

Lou has said that there will be 12 pitchers, but I don't see this as the bench. If you go back to the last 3 opening days, the Cubs had at least two bench players who could play middle infield. I can't see any way Fuld and Murton both make this team, barring someone going to the DL. Cedeno being the 5th outfielder and utility infielder with Cintron makes sense to me.

Here are those reserve infielders from recent Opening Days

2007: Theriot and Cedeno
2006: Hairston, Walker and Bynum
2005: Hairston, Perez and Macias

I just can't see the team going out with only one guy on the bench who can play middle infield, but three who can play outfield, with only one who can handle center field. And there isn't a starter who can rotate in to the middle infield either. Fukudome can play center, but you still have no one out there with a middle infielder's glove.

Can anyone come up with an opening day roster like the one Al described? I can't. But I can't disprove it either - it was hard enough finding the three I did (although 2006 is fully documented at Baseball America).

Post-Game update

The Cubs actually won today on a walk-off single by Cintron. Maddux left after two innings with a bruise from a ball hit by Derrek Lee.

These are starting to look more and more like real baseball every day - not quite there yet, but close. At least when they play at home, that is.

Not much news on the down-roster spots, but here's an update anyway.

Second Lefty

Pitcher     INN  SO  BB  ER  HR 
Cotts       5.0   1   5   5   0
Pignatiello 4.1   1   0   0   0

No action here. Air Eyre gets some press.

Another Righty

Pitcher     INN  SO  BB  ER  HR
Hart        5.2   4   0   2   0
Lahey       6.0   2   3   1   0

Hart has pulled ahead, according to Cubs.com

Utility

Batter       AB   H  BB  SO  SB XBH
Cedeno       23   4   1   6   1   1  
Cintron      34  11   1   4   0   4   
Fontenot     31   8   4   6   0   3   
Patterson    22   6   2   4   0   2   

Patterson seems to be fading into the background. Fontenot looks to be headed to Iowa.

Tomorrow's Game - Teaser

Another home game, the Cubs face The Angels of The Greater Los Angeles Area. Ryan Dempster starts, and he should throw five innings. Also look for Kerry Wood and Kevin Hart. And by look, I mean tune in on Comcast.

The Angels will send Ervin Santana to the bump. He's had a rough Spring. I'll be back with a new post later with more on Friday's game.