Slow Start Blues

The Cubs have dropped three of the first four. Things are not looking very good, but it's still early. There is plenty of time for this team to turn it around. Ever since the start of Spring Training, everyone has known that the Cubs bullpen is weak. That has become even more obvious with the struggles of Grabow, Caridad, Berg, and Samardzija this week. Even Carlos Marmol caused some butterflies in the 9th inning of the only Cubs win so far this year.

Here are the latest news and notes:

• If your not so sure about the present, there's always a future to look to. Here's my "Down on the Farm Report" that I did on www.chicagocubsonline.com today.
• Also be sure to follow my Cubs Farm Updates twitter.
• The Cubs have introduced their "It's a Way of Life" campaign. One Cubs fan will win the chance to throw out the first pitch at the game this summer.
• Marlon Byrd has taken over Cubs.com's player/blogger duty. Last year the position was held by Reed Johnson and Mark DeRosa wrote the site prior to that. Hopefully Byrd sticks around to do the blogging for more than just one season!
• Paul Sullivan tweets that the Cubs could bring Ted Lilly back after just one rehab start and move Tom Gorzelanny to the bullpen.
• Lou Piniella said in his postgame meeting with the media that Carlos Silva was lifted after the 6th inning because of shoulder stiffness. This injury forced the Cubs to go to the bullpen early than they would have.
• The Cubs need Geovany Soto to hit. If not, we could see Koyie Hill getting more and more playing time.
• Tom Ricketts has not been happy with the Cubs start to the season.

Carlos Zambrano will look to improve on his Opening Day start when he faces the Reds tomorrow afternoon.