Weekend Quick Hits: Piniella's Future, Roster Cuts, Injury Updates, and More

• Today the Cubs made the first roster cuts of the spring, trimming 9 off the roster. David Patton (sent to AA) and Mitch Atkins, who was sent to AAA, are among the most notable guys cut from camp. Brett Jackson, Josh Vitters, Steve Clevenger, Blake Lalli, Matt Camp, Jeff Kennard, and Vince Perkins were sent to minor league camp.
• Aramis Ramirez was scratched from yesterday's lineup and sat out again today against the Angels. Rami has a sore right tricep, but he is expected to resume throwing in the next few days.
• Derrek Lee is also still day-to-day after fouling a ball off his foot last Thursday. Lee should be back in the lineup on Tuesday.
• Xavier Nady is expected to start playing outfield the last 10 days of Spring Training. He may not be able to throw at 100% until mid-season.
• It sounds like there are 2 spots left on the Cubs bench. Kevin Millar and Chad Tracy are competing for one of the spots, while Sam Fuld, Brad Snyder, Tyler Colvin, and Jim Adduci are in the mix for the other. Micah Hoffpauir's future is a mystery at this point.
• Kosuke Fukudome's hitting coach is now in Arizona. He is expected to work closely with Rudy Jaramillo in coaching Kosuke this season.
• Ted Lilly threw off the mound again today, and the Chicago Tribune reports that he is ahead of schedule.
• The Cubs fifth starters competition is "still open". Sean Marshall has pitched the best of the four candidates so far, but the lefty is was valuable to the Cubs' bullpen last season.
• Piniella expects the rotation to be decided by March 22 according to Carrie Muskat.
• Angel Guzman will meet with Dr. Andrews tomorrow to get a second opinion on his shoulder tear.
• Tyler Colvin is leading the majors with his .565 Spring Training batting average.
• The Cubs have been committing a lot of errors so far this spring. Many of the miscues were by guys who won't be on the big league roster, but you still don't want to see sloppy defense.
• Crane Kenney has talked openly about the future of Lou Piniella with the Cubs. Kenney hinted that if Lou wants to keep managing, then he'll stick around. However, as Bruce Miles points out, Jim Hendry is in charge of baseball operations not Crane.

That's it for now, but I'll keep you posted!

Spring Training Preview: Non Roster Infielders

Darwin Barney

• Short Stop
• B/T: Right
• Drafted by the Cubs in the 4th round of the June 2007 draft
• Ranked as "Best Baseball IQ" and "Best Competitiveness" (tie) in the organization by Vineline
• Hit .293 with 3 homers and 49 RBIs over 137 games split between AA Tennessee and AAA Iowa in 2009
• My Prediction: Will start the year at AAA

Starlin Castro

• Short Stop
• B/T: Right
• Not drafted
• Rated top prospect in the organization by Jim Callis of Baseball America
• Rated "Best Competitiveness" (tie) in the organizaton by Vineline
• Rated Best range and best arm strength in the organization by a short stop
• Good contact hitter, hits well in the clutch
• Best defensive infielder in the system according to Baseball America
• Is the first player born in the 1990s to be invited to Cubs Spring Training; could become the first Cub born in the '90s to play in a big league game
• Played for the "World" team in the 2009 futures game (part of MLB All Star Week)
• Hit .299 over 127 games between Class A Daytona and AA Tennessee in 2009
• Hit .376 in 26 Arizona Fall League games for the Mesa Solar Sox this offseason
• Hit just .182 in 8 VWL games this offseason
• My prediction: Will start the year at AAA

Blake Lalli

• First baseman
• B/T: L/R
• Not drafted
• Has been in the organization since 2006
• Hit .314 in 118 games for AA Tennessee in 2009
• Hit .292 in 7 VWL games this winter
• My prediction: Will start the year at AAA

Kevin Millar

• First baseman
• B/T: Right
• Signed to a minor league contract with the Cubs earlier this month
• More info on him in from my Feb. 1 post
• Great clubhouse guy
• Won a World Series ring in 2004 with Boston
• My Prediction: Will make the big league roster and serve a bench role on the Cubs

Chad Tracy

• 3B/1B/OF
• B/T: Left/Right
• Signed a minor league contract with the Cubs late last month
• Will look to earn a spot on the club in Spring Training
• Click here for more info from my Jan. 27 post
• My Prediction: Will be released by the Cubs before the start of the season

Josh Vitters

• Third baseman
• B/T: Right
• Drafted by the Cubs in the first round (3rd overall) of the 2007 June draft
• Rated #3 prospect in the organization by Jim Callis of Baseball America
• Puts the ball in play a lot
• Hit .284 over 120 games split between High A Daytona and Class A Peoria
• Hit .353 in 16 Arizona Fall League games this offseason
• My prediction: Will start the year at AA

Tomorrow I'll have a full roundup on all the latest on the Cubs!