Cashner & Wells Go Down: Rotation Options Now

The Cubs surprised everyone today by announcing that they have lost two of their starting pitchers after just one time through the rotation. Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner have both been placed on the 15-day DL.

Cashner has a strained right rotator cuff. He left Tuesday's game with the injury, so that was not as much of a shock as Randy's injury. Wells has a strained right forearm.

Losing two starting pitchers this early in the season is a huge hit to a 3-3
Cubs team that fell to the D'backs today. This is about the time that the Cubs regret letting Carlos Silva and Braden Looper go instead of offering one of them a bullpen spot. In spring training, the Cubs had four solid options for the back end of the rotation. All four are now out of the picture- one retired, one released and two injured.

After tomorrow's off day, Carlos Zambrano and Matt Garza will work the first two games in Milwaukee. Then Wells' spot will come up in the rotation. Casey Coleman is expected to be called up from Triple-A Iowa to make the start. Coleman did a great job last year in a starting role and had a fairly good spring. While Coleman is a no-brainer at this point, Cashner's rotation replacement remains a question mark.

Todd Wellemyer, who received a few starts in spring training, is still trying to recover from hip injury. He will start the year at Fitch Park until he is ready to pitch in game situations. Of the rest of the Iowa Cubs projected rotation (Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Roberto Coello, Thomas Diamond, J.R. Mathes and Coleman), Thomas Diamond makes the most sense to come up to the big leagues. He didn't fair too well last year, bouncing back and forth between the pen and starting five. However, Diamond still has the most experience among the four.

The best option could be in the Cubs bullpen. Lefty James Russell was a starter in the minor leagues and could easily move back into that role. Jeff Samardzija is expected to remain in relief for now, while Marcos Mateo is also out of the question.

Most likely, Mike Quade will decide to skip the fifth spot for a while. Ryan Dempster can pitch on regular rest on Monday thanks to the off day Thursday. The Cubs have another day off next Thursday. Q could avoid using more than four starters until either Cashner or Wells returns, depending on how long they are out.

Two roster additions will be made before Friday's game, one of which will be Casey Coleman.

Blogging from Mesa (#1)

I'm having a great time so far in Arizona. Here's all the latest, including news, my observations, personal experiences, and roster moves!

• Braden Looper announced his retirement today. He was told that he was not going to be on the Cubs roster so he decided to call it quits.
• James Russell, Andrew Cashner and Jeff Samardzija have all been told that they are on the team.
• The Cubs announced five more roster cuts yesterday. Scott Moore, Bobby Scales, Fernando Perez, Augie Ojeda and Matt Camp were all sent to minor league camp.
• Speaking of minor league camp, I went to Fitch Park to see the workouts this morning before going down the street to HoHoKam for the game. I enjoyed seeing the young guys practice, I would recommend stopping by Fitch Park if you're in the area.
• To relay another personal experience, I saw Cubs GM Jim Hendry at Don & Charlie's tonight. Don and Charlie's is a great place to go for a baseball fan. The restaurant is literally covered wall-to-wall in baseball memorabilia.
• Last night I went to Diamond's to eat. Ivan DeJesus was there hanging out and I've hear that Greg Maddux is a frequent visitor. Diamond's was originally called Harry and Steve's owned by Harry Caray and Steve Stone. It has been under several different owners and had several different names since then.
• Since Perez was sent down to Iowa, Reed Johnson will make the team as the Cubs fifth outfielder.
• I've been especially impressed by Darwin Barney during the two games I've seen. He was rewarded by being named the starting second baseman, to platoon with Jeff Baker, earlier this week. Blake DeWitt, who homered today, will start the season on the bench.
• The Sun-Times reports that Carlos Silva is expected to make the team unless he is traded.
• Randy Wells was officially told today that he is the fourth starter.
• The roles of Andrew Cashner and Carlos Silva have yet to be determined. One will be the fifth starter, while the other will pitch in middle relief.
• RHP Kevin Correia will pitch for the Pirates on Opening Day at Wrigley Field.
• Robert Redford, an actor, will throw out the first pitch for the opener. Ron Santo Jr. will sing The 7th Inning Stretch.

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

Non Roster Invites Released

With Spring Training report dates and Cactus League games approaching, the Cubs have released their list of 21 non-roster players that will be in big league camp.

They have announced the signing of Braden Looper and Augie Ojeda to minor league deals that include invites to camp. The pattern of ex-Cubs returning continues as Ojeda joins a group that also includes Johnson, Wood, Montanez and Wellemyer.

Looper did not pitch in 2010, but it was not injury related. He last put on a big league uniform in 2009 with the Brewers. Augie Ojeda is a switching hitting infielder that played for the Cubs from 2000-2003 and most recently with the D'backs from 2007 to 2010.

Here are the other 19 NRIs:

• Chris Carpenter
• Angel Guzman
• Jay Jackson
• Trey McNutt
• Todd Wellemyer
• Scott Rice
• Steve Clevenger
• Chris Robinson
• Matt Camp
• Brian LaHair
• Scott Moore
• Bobby Scales
• Marquez Smith
• Jim Aducci
• Josh Vitters
• Brett Jackson
• Reed Johnson
• Lou Montanez
• Brad Snyder

17 days until pitchers and catcher report to Mesa, AZ!

Zambrano to the Bullpen

Well that was the most surprising Cubs news I've heard in a long time. According to the Chicago Tribune the Cubs have decided to move Carlos Zambrano into a setup role. How often do you see the Opening Day starter moved to the bullpen before the end of April?

To me, this move makes sense. Zambrano needs to get going and the Cubs need an 8th inning man. The match could work out perfectly. Big Z is handling it okay, but he seems to be under the impression that this move in temporary, while Lou Piniella says that the Cubs are looking for stability.

Ted Lilly will return to the rotation on Saturday to take Zambrano's place. Another roster move will have to be made in order to make room for Teddy. (Vote on the right sidebar for which reliever you think will be sent down!)

Bruce Levine is reporting that the Cubs have scouted Braden Looper, who's currently a free agent. David Kaplan says that they could be looking to make an even bigger move, but he mentioned tonight on Cubs' Tenth Inning on WGN Radio that "not many deals are made in April."

After Lou told the media that Zambrano would be used in the eighth, the Cubs went out an snapped a four game losing skid with a big win over the Mets. Alfonso Soriano has a great game. Perhaps better things are on the way!