Breaking News: Cubs Acquire Matt Garza from Tampa Bay

Update 6:00 CT: The Cubs will also get a PTBNL in the deal.

According to Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago, the Cubs and Rays have gotten together for an eight player trade! The Cubs received starting pitcher Matt Garza, who is expected to lead the rotation. They will send Chris Archer, Hak-Ju Lee, Brandon Guyer, Robinson Chirinos and Sam Fuld to Tampa Bay. The Cubs will also add two minor leaguers.

Bruce Miles reports that switching hitting outfielder Fernando Perez is in the deal. If this is true, Perez will be added to the 40-man roster.

This deal is not official yet and it is still pending physicals.

I will update this post with more information this afternoon!

Catching Up Quick Hits: Call-ups, Injuries, Benchings, & More

• The Cubs activated Carlos Silva from the disabled list and he returned to the rotation on Tuesday. Silva was decent in his first game back but the Cubs fell to the Astros.
• Tuesday was a special day for Hall of Fame slugger Billy Williams. A statue was unveiled outside of Wrigley in his honor. He became the second Cubs player to be honored with a statue.
• The Cubs are 9-6 under Mike Quade so far.
• The Triple-A Iowa Cubs lost back-to-back games on Sunday and Monday to Memphis to miss the playoffs. They finished with the same record as the Redbirds but Memphis took the tie-breaker (record within division).
• Reports earlier this week said that Iowa manager Ryne Sandberg would receive an interview from Jim Hendry for the open big league job within the next ten days, but Carrie Muskat reports that team officials denied these reports.
• Tyler Colvin was presented with the "Heart and Hustle" award for the Cubs this week. The final MLB winner will be announced on November 5.
• Starlin Castro was bench for a couple of days to think about some of the mental errors he has made at shortstop. Castro returned to the lineup on Wednesday, his swing as sharp as ever.
• The Cubs made a slew of September call-ups as soon as the Triple-A team's season ended. Veteran infielder Bobby Scales, Notre Dame grad Jeff Samardzija, right handed pitcher Justin Berg, slugging outfielder Brad Snyder, and spark-plug Sam Fuld have all been added to the 25-man roster.
• John Grabow and Esmalin Caridad were moved to the 60-day DL to make room for Snyder and Scales on the 40-man roster.
• Tom Gorzelanny, out with a thumb injury, threw on the side but is not ready to return to the rotation.
• Aramis Ramirez is still listed as day-to-day with a sore right quad.

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

Series Preview: Cubs VS Nationals

The Chicago Cubs will look to rebound after an embarrassing 16-5 defeat in Sunday's rubber match against the Braves. The Boys in Blue are now 51-74, 21.5 game behind the first place Reds. A new era of Cubs baseball begins with this series in Washington D.C.

Lou Piniella announced before yesterday's game that it would be his last as a big league manager. Sweet Lou had to step down earlier than expected in order to tend to his sick mother in Tampa, FL. He said it would be unfair to continue to leave the team and come back, so since it was his last year anyways he went ahead and stepped down.

Lou had a fantastic managerial career but he did not go out the way he had hoped. Third base coach Mike Quade will have a tall task ahead as he takes over as skipper for at least the rest of 2010. All eyes will be on the dugout tonight the new interim becomes the 51st manager in the history of the Chicago Cubs.

Quade and Ryne Sandberg are the two candidates that Jim Hendry has announced for the 2011 opening. Bench coach Alan Trammell will not receive consideration and will most likely leave the team after this season. Ivan DeJesus, who was the Cubs first base coach, will take over Quade's job at third for the rest of the year. Bruce Levine reported last night that minor league roving instructor Bobby Dernier will join the team as the first base coach, but that has not yet been confirmed. Matt Sinatro is also a candidate to take over at first for now.

The Washington Nationals are not in much better shape than the Cubs. They are 53-71 going into this set. The Nats had a decent first half, but they've gone down hill since and now reside in the basement of the NL East. They are 20 games behind the first place Braves.

Washington was blanked in the final game against the Phillies on Sunday 6-0. Ex-Cubs manager Jim Riggleman has not been able to get the job done this season. Third base coach Pat Listach will also receive a lot of attention from the media during this series. He is a former Cubs minor league manager at Triple-A Iowa and has expressed interesting in coming in as Lou's successor next season.

After the Cubs leave town at head for Cincinnati, the St. Louis Cardinals will come to Nationals Park looking to regain the top spot in the Central. This is the Cubs first trip to our nation's capital of the year, but they did host the Nats back in April. The Boys in Blue won the first game, but Washington battled back to win the next two.

Young phenom Stephen Strasburgh will not pitch in this series, but the Cubs will see a familiar face in Jason Marquis on Wednesday. Washington first baseman and free agent to be Adam Dunn could receive a look from the scouts in this set, as the Cubs could be looking for a new first baseman this winter.

Unless of coarse, Jim Hendry is happy with Tyler Colvin's play at first. Colvin sat out most of the weekend at Wrigley in order to take grounders at first base and is expected to debut there during this series. However, Colvin is in tonight's early lineup in right field.

Perhaps Quade and his staff were not happy with Tyler's play at first, because Micah Hoffpauir has been called up for tonight's game, according to a tweet from Gordon Wittenmyer. Geovany Soto is also expected to be activated from the disabled list and in the starting nine tonight. The club will have to make two corresponding moves, so most likely Sam Fuld and Welington Castillo are both headed back to Triple-A without getting much of a chance during there time with the team.

Perhaps the Cubs will pull off an Oriole-like win streak under a new skipper.

Let's just go get a win!

The Late Rounds Are on the Way!

Now, it's time for the late rounds of the 2010 Major Leauge Baseball First Year Player Draft. Today's final day of drafting starts at 11:00am CT. Today rounds 31-50 will take place.

For full details on what has happened in the draft the past two days, click here.

Let's take a look at some late round Cubs draft picks that went on to have solid careers.

• Ryne Sandberg, 20th round, 1978
• Randy Wells, 38th round, 2002
• Micah Hoffpauir, 13th round, 2002
• Tim Lincecum, 48th round, 2003- did not sign with the Cubs
• Sam Fuld, 24th round, 2003- did not sign until he was drafted by the Cubs again in '04
• Micah Owings, 19th round, 2004
• Michael Brenly, 43rd round, 2005- another guy that did not sign until the second time he was drafted. He's not in the bigs yet, but he's still worth noting.

Will the Cubs find a hidden gem today? Follow all the action on www.twitter.com/cubsfarmupdates and on mlb.com!

Catching Up Quick Hits

Sorry there hasn't been too much posting going on this week! It's been a very crazy and busy one. Let's get right into catching you up on all the latest Cubs news and notes:

• Chad Tracy won the final spot on the roster to start the season. He will back up Lee and Ramirez at the corner infield positions and be used as a right handed pinch hit bat with pop.
• Since Chad made the squad, there was no room for Kevin Millar. The Cubs released Millar earlier this week.
• Sam Fuld, Micah Hoffpauir, and Chris Robinson were the final three roster cuts. They will all join AAA-Iowa to start the season. Fuld and Hoff could contribute at the big league level at some point this season.
• The Cubs will honor Hall of Famer Billy Williams with a statue outside of Wrigley Field. It will be unveiled before the game on September 7. This will be the third statue outside of Wrigley, the first two were for Harry Caray and Ernie Banks.
• Angel Guzman plans to be ready to go next season.
• Carlos Silva was a nice surprise this spring. We'll see if his performance carries over in to the regular season.
• Ted Lilly is expected to toss 60 pitches in his minor league rehab start on Easter Sunday.
• Jon Greifenkamp has been added to the front office.
• There are only 3 days left until the day we've been waiting for since last September... Opening Day in Atlanta!

We'll have several posts up this weekend including:

• Season Preview
• "30 Clubs in 30 Days" Recaps
• Getting to Know the Cubs post
• And all news!

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

Quick Hits a Week Prior to the Opener

• Today, Lou Piniella told young outfielder Tyler Colvin that he has made the Chicago Cubs' Opening Day roster. Colvin will play 2-3 times a week.
• There is now one spot remaining on Lou's 25-man club to start the season. The final cuts are expected to be made on Tuesday. Kevin Millar, Chad Tracy, Micah Hoffpauir, and Sam Fuld are all still in the mix, but most likely the final roster spot will belong to either Millar or Tracy.
• Ted Lilly tossed 45 pitches in a minor league start at Fitch Park today. He is on track to join the Cubs in about 3 weeks. He could be ready to return on April 19 in New York.
• Cubs closer Carlos Marmol has sat in the same folding chair for every game since 2007.
• According to the Tribune, Carlos Silva is the number 4 starter and Tom Gorzelanny is the number five guy. One of them will be sent to the pen will Ted returns.
• The Cubs pitchers were masterful today in an 8-1 win over the Reds.
• Bruce Miles reports that Piniella and the Cubs have a pretty idea who will be the 25th man on the roster, but they want to wait until tomorrow to make it official.
• Today was the last chance for Tracy and Millar to open some eyes. Neither did. Tracy was 0-3 and Millar 0-1. Micah Hoffpauir did pick up a single and a walk.
• Derrek Lee has missed the last two games with a foot injury, but he is expected to return tomorrow.
• Be sure to check out today's Down on the Farm Report that I posted over at Chicago Cubs Online.

That's it for now, but I'll keep you posted on Everything Cubs as always.

Weekend Roundup: Berg on the team, Decisions on the Way, & More

Sorting Out the Bullpen
Carrie Muskat reports that Justin Berg has earned a spot in the Cubs' bullpen. He had an 0.75 ERA in an 11 game September callup last season. Prior to that, he went 6-2 with a 2.47 ERA for the Iowa Cubs. Berg will join Esmalin Caridad, John Grabow, Carlos Marmol, and the two guys that lose out of the fifth starter's competition (Silva, Gorzelanny, Marshall, or Samardzija) on the relief core. This leaves one spot left on the Opening Day pitching staff, assumming the Cubs use 12 hurlers to start the year. Rule 5 pick Mike Parisi, NRI James Russell, lefty John Gaub, and Marcos Mateo are the four guys in the mix for this last spot on the staff.

Rotation Decision Nearing
Within the next week we should find out how the starting rotation will pan out. Sean Marshall, Carlos Silva, Jeff Samardzija, and Tom Gorzelanny are all vying for starting jobs. Lou Piniella has an idea of which way he's leaning, but at this point has revealed nothing. The coaching staff will meet to discuss the roster after Monday's game. It should be interesting to see how it turns out!

Sorting Out the Bench
The Cubs have confirmed that they would like to keep an outfielder who can play all three spots because of the fact that backup outfielder Xavier Nady will be limited defensively for the first half of the season. Tyler Colvin and Sam Fuld are the leading candidates for this bench position, with Brad Snyder and James Adduci also in the mix. Jeff Baker (or Mike Fontenot), Koyie Hill, and Nady are all already members of what figures to be an experienced bench. Another veteran bat will be added primarily for pinch hitting purposes. Kevin Millar and Chad Tracy are still battling for this spot. It would appear that Micah Hoffpauir has AAA in his near future.

Injury Updates
Aramis Ramirez will get some at bats in as a DH in today's minor league game at Fitch Park. Ted Lilly will toss a side session today and then his second live BP on Monday. Andres Blanco still can't run at full speed, but he has been able to do some hitting and fielding.

Cubs Idol Winners
Justin Berg got more good news today when he found out that he was the co-winner of the "Cubs Idol" competition. He and infielder Darwin Barney were chosen out of the 8 finalists as co-winners. NFL QB Steve Young was a guest judge today along with the usual panel of Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramiez, Ryan Dempster, and Kevin Millar. Other finalists included Jim Aducci, Starlin Castro, Tyler Colvin, James Russell, and Brad Snyder. Berg and Barney each got $10,000 to a charity of their choice.

Today's Games
This afternoon it's a split squad Cubs team out in the valley of the sun. Half the team will host the Kansas City Royals for the first matchup of the spring between the two clubs. The other split squad takes on the Oakland A's in Phoenix. Carlos Zambrano will pitch at HoHoKam while Tom Gorzelanny tries to make his case for a spot in the rotation against Oakland.

The game against KC will be on WGN Radio. Here's the starting nine:

Theriot, SS
Barney, 2B
Lee, 1B
Byrd, CF
Baker, 3B
Soriano, LF
Soto, C
Snyder, RF
Zambrano, P

The game against the A's is on MLB.com's gameday audio if you have the package. Here's the lineup behind Gorzelanny:

Adduci, LF
Kosuke, RF
Colvin, CF
Nady, DH
Hoffpauir, 1B
Fontenot, SS
Tracy, 3B
Hill, C
Scales, 2B

A good chance to see a lot of Cubs play today! That's it for now, but I'll keep you posted!

Make it 2-0: Cubs 8, Arizona 7

Game Recap
Besides Carlos Zambrano, who was the starting pitcher, the Cubs that took the field at HoHoKam Park today were essentially the "B" team. Big Z retired all six batters he faced in his two innings of work.

Starlin Castro was batting leadoff and starting at short stop. He went 2-4 with a double and a single. Early on, the game was low scoring. After Casey Coleman worked the 3rd and the 4th for the Cubs, the Cactus League battle was scoreless. Then in the bottom of the 5th, the Cubs bats came to life against former Cub Aaron Heilman. Jim Hendry sent Heilman to the D'backs in November, and so far the move looks like a good one. Aaron allowed 4 ER on 5 hits in his inning of work. A Brett Jackson triple was the highlight of the frame.

In the 6th, Arizona got the runs right back, scoring 5 against Jeff Stevens. The Cubs acquired Stevens in the Mark DeRosa trade with Cleveland. He pitched a good fifth, but after one inning of work he fell apart, and was unable to make it through the 6th. Stevens was replaced by another hurler that came over in the DeRo deal, lefty John Gaub. In 1.1 innings, Gaub allowed just two hits but one was a solo homer to make it 6-4.

The Cubs then put a rally together to tie in up, but in the top of inning number 9 the D'backs untied it with a run against Justin Berg to take the 7-6 lead. Brad Snyder came through for the Cubs, cracking a double in the bottom of the 9th to bring Scales and Fuld home to win the game 8-7.

The Cubs have started off the Cactus League with a 2-0 record and have played fairly well in both games. Marcos Mateo, an underrated pitching prospect, also looked good in his one inning on the hill. Josh Vitters was the starting third baseman. The former first round pick had 2 hits and scored twice.

Tyler Colvin has really impressed Cubs brass early on in camp. He has three things going for him:
1. Last year he played great defense when he was called up in September, and the Cubs are hoping to improve their outfield defensively.
2. He put on 20+ pounds of muscle this offseason, and Piniella took notice.
3. He's played great in the Cactus League's first two games, going 2-3 with 2 RBIs today.

Koyie Hill was the starting catcher today. He drove home a run with an RBI single. The Cubs top pick from the 2009 draft, Brett Jackson, reached base all three times. Jeff Baker got the start at second base and went 0-2.

Bullpen Health Update
Carlos Marmol has the closers' duty locked up, but beyond that everything is up for grabs in the Cubs' bullpen. Now, Angel Guzman will most likely not be ready to go on Opening Day. He still has discomfort in his shoulder, and he was going to undergo an MRI today. Jeff Gray is also still sidelined, and he may not be ready to go for the start of the season either. Hendry is working the phone lines, but if he does not bring in any help this bullpen could be in trouble. However, that would give guys like Jeff Stevens, David Patton, Mike Parisi, Mitch Atkins, Andrew Cashner, Thomas Diamond, and John Gaub a chance to make the 25 man roster. Hopefully somebody can step up and become a dependable relief option for Piniella.

Looking Ahead
Tomorrow the Cubs take on the White Sox at 2:05 CT on WGN TV and Radio. Carlos Silva, who reported to camp out of shape, will take the mound for the Cubs. Carlos is trying to prove that he's worthy of a spot in the rotation after coming over for Milton Bradley this winter.

Alfonso Soriano will get into game action tomorrow for the first time since being shut down because of a knee injury late last year. Sori is expected to start in left field, with Xavier Nady serving as the Cubs' DH. Both the Cubs and Sox have agreed to use the DH despite the fact that the game will be played at HoHoKam Park.

Bruce Miles has posted the list of all the pitchers that will go this weekend. Tomorrow afternoon Silva will be followed by Carlos Marmol, James Russell, Andrew Cashner, Jeff Kennard, and John Grabow.

On Sunday the Cubs will play a split squad, with Jeff Samardzija pitching against the White Sox on WGN-TV and Tom Gorzelanny going against the Dodgers. Both games get underway at 2:05.

Other Notes:

• Lou Piniella will not go to Vegas when the Cubs travel there for two games against the White Sox March 12-13. Instead, Piniella will stay with the half of the split squad team that will play in Arizona both of those day. Alan Trammell will manage the team that is Las Vegas.
• Mike Fontenot has a minor shoulder injury suffered while running the bases on Thursday. He will not play again until Sunday.
• Sam Fuld's homer on Thursday landed near his wife Sarah and his young son Charlie. A women picked up the ball, and the Fulds tried to bargain with her for it, offering photos and autographs. However, the lady wanted no part of that and kept the ball.

That's it for now, but I'll keep you posted on everything Cubs as always!

Spring Training Preview: The Bench

Koyie Hill- C
A year ago, Hill quietly had a solid year as the Cubs' backup backstop. When Soto went down last summer, he got the chance to start an unprecedented 26 games in a row behind the dish. A typical backup catcher, he brings good defense and just enough offense to get by (.237 AVG in 2009). Koyie is also a good teammate, a good caller of the game, works well with the staff, and throws out a lot of baserunners. Last year, Hill had to earn his spot on the club in Spring Training, but this time around his job is secure.
My Prediction: Lock to make the Opening Day roster

Xavier Nady- OF
In January, the Cubs added to their outfield depth by bringing Xavier in via free agency. Nady started last year with the Yankees, but played only seven games before being shut down to have Tommy John surgery. Nady is not yet at full health, but has been working on his arm strength with pitching coach Larry Rothchild. He will be used as a DH some during Spring Training early on, so he can start out by getting his ABs in before playing defense in game situations. "X" plans to be ready to go by Opening Day. He will see most of his time in right field spelling Kosuke Fukudome from time to time.
My Prediction: Lock to make the Opening Day roster (unless placed on the DL)

Micah Hoffpauir- 1B
Last year was a weird one for Hoff. The left handed hitter started off the year with a great Spring Training and a good month of April, but then as the weather heated up Micah cooled off. At one point in the summer, he was sent back down to AAA Iowa for a few weeks to work on his hitting. He has to rake with the stick, because his defense is nothing spectacular. If Hoffpauir doesn't play well in Spring Training, he could find himself on a bus to Iowa because the Cubs signed several veteran bats this winter that will compete for bench roles, including Kevin Millar, Bryan LaHair, and Chad Tracy.
My Prediction: Will lose his roster spot to NRI Kevin Millar and find himself starting the year in AAA.

Andres Blanco- SS
The opposite of Hoffpauir, Blanco has a great glove, but doesn't bring much hitting wise. Last year, when the Cubs were hit by a rash of injuries and struggles, Blanco was called up and made the most of his limited duty. Andres' 2009 included several "Web Gem" defensive plays and even a clutch hit or two. However, Blanco's fate is mostly out of his own hands. With so much competition for roster spots, if Mike Fontenot can do a decent job at short stop, there will be no need for Blanco to start the year with the big squad. If Lou is not comfortable with Mike at SS, then Blanco will make the roster as Theriot's backup. Piniella has stressed that he would like to give his position players more rest this season, so a solid bench will be a key.
My Prediction: Starts the year at AAA

Sam Fuld- OF
This kid is really a "gamer". Last year, when Sam was called up, he brought a certain spark to the ballclub. Fuld can run, bunt, hit, and play great defense in the outfield. Last year he made several highlight real catches that were truly incredible! In my opinion, every good club needs a guy like Fuld. Sam's skill is not in question, but roster space is. Xavier Nady seems to have the 4th outfielder's spot locked up, and with 12 pitchers, 5 outfielders may not be possible. However, remember that the Cubs did break camp with 5 outfielders in 2009 (Kosuke, Soriano, Bradley, Gathright, and Johnson) plus Hoffpauir who also plays the corner spots.
My Prediction: Wins one of the two open spots on the Cub bench

Tyler Colvin- OF
This winter, the former #1 draft pick bulked up. According to sources in Mesa, Colvin has added about 25 pounds of muscle over the offseason. Reporting to camp in shape is also a good start, but with the crowded outfield chances are slim to none that Colvin starts the year in the majors. However, catching the eye of Piniella and his staff is always a good idea, because you never know when they'll be an injury during the year. It's good to see Ty working his way back after suffering several injuries that slowed his progress. Colvin was called up and got into a few games late in the 2009 season, making one great play in the outfield.
My Prediction: Will start the year at AAA

Welington Castillo- C
There is certainly a lot of depth at the catching position in the system, which is nice to have even though the Cubs seem set with Soto and Hill at the big league level. If something were to happen to one of the Cubs' backstops, Welington Castillo might be the first guy to get the call-up. His numbers at the plate were down last year, hitting just .232 in 95 games for the Smokies. He also played in the Futures Game in 2008 and in the Arizona Fall League last year.
My Prediction: Will start the year at AA

James Adduci
This winter, Adduci got the opportunity to be one of the minor leaguers to attend the Cubs Convention. James, along with Castillo, Brett Jackson, and Cashner, got to experience the mobs of Cub fans at the minor league Q&A hosted by Vineline. James was busy this winter, as he also played in the Caribbean Winter Leagues. He hit .300 in 131 games under Ryne Sandberg in AA a year ago. This left handed batter will not compete for a spot on the 25-man roster, but the organization has showed their faith in him by placing him on the 40-man roster.

Other Spring Training Preview Posts

• Non Roster Pitchers
• Non Roster Catchers
• Non Roster Infielders
• The Starting Rotation
• The Bullpen
• The Starting Position Players

Now we're set to go for the Cactus League, which is just days away!

40 Players at Fitch Park?

As Jim Hendry reported yesterday, the Cubs already have 40 guys (major and minor leaguers) in spring camp and the required date for pitchers and catchers has yet to come! Workouts for the hurlers and receivers officially get underway next Thursday.

Carlos Zambrano, Tyler Colvin, John Grabow, Randy Wells, Sam Fuld, and Kevin Millar are some of the guys that have reported a week early to Mesa, Arizona, where it's in the 60s and 70s and sunny!

Time for some Quick Hits:

• Theriot and Kosuke will be 1 and 2 in the Cubs batting order, but which one of the two will hit first is still up in the air.
• Former Cubs short stop Nomar Garciapara is looking for a TV job.
• Cubs P.A. guy Tim Sheldon writes an amazing blog from Spring Training each year. He's started 2010 off with the pictures of the Cubs that are already in camp! Be sure to click the link and check out the pics and posts from yesterday and today!
• Wrigley Field will host Elton John, Billy Joel, and Dave Matthews this summer.
• Cubs.com reports that the Cubs are expecting Rudy Jaramillo to help get the hitters back on track.
• Cubbies Crib has posted some nice prospect videos.

We'll have our full "Spring Training Preview" series started this weekend!

Tuesday Quick Hits: Theriot, Packin' the Bags, and More

• There's a snow storm in the Chicago land area, but today an equipment truck left for sunny Mesa, Arizona, where pitchers and catcher will report next week. Click the link for an interesting list of everything included on the truck.
• A group of kids helped send off the Cubs equipment.
• The Cubs first full squad work out is on February 23, and pitcher and catchers start their spring on February 18, which is just 8 days away!
• Cubs GM Jim Hendry feels good about what he was able to do this winter.
• Changes and improvements have begun at Wrigley Field. Bleacher fans will now be able to watch games on flat screen TVs according to the Tribune!
• The Cubs have not spoken to Ryan Theriot's people in a while, and it appears that both sides are ready to go to a hearing. Hendy says that this won't affect the way the club feels about their short stop. This will be the first Cub to go to arbitration since Mark Grace won his case in 1993.
• Cubs single game tickets go on sale Febuary 19!
• Carrie Muskat says that the Cubs are still looking for right handed relief help.
• The Twins have signed former Cub outfielder Jacque Jones, who did not appear in the big leagues last season, to a minor league deal.
• Jim Hendry gave Randy Bush a jacket because the Saints beat Jim's Colts. Hendry says he had a great time at the Super Bowl, even though his team lost.
• The Cubs seem to be leaning towards giving 20-year old Starlin Castro a little more time in the minors according to Bruce Miles.
• The theme in Spring Training will be taking a look at home grown talent.
• Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez are rehabbing well.
• Levine tells us that Ted Lilly will not be rushed.
• Be sure to vote on our new poll on the right sidebar!

Bruce Levine's weekly chat was today, and here are the highlights:

• The Cubs will not sign Felipe Lopez because if chemistry and cash issues.
• Levine still thinks that Castro should be given a shot to be the starting short stop.
• The Cubs are continuing to pursue trades to bolster the bullpen. Right now, they would be putting a lot of pressure on guys like Jeff Gray, Esmalin Caridad, and Angel Guzman.
• San Diego and Toronto are still teams that they would like to strike up a deal with for a reliever.
• Sam Fuld will get a good shot at making the team because he is one of the few guys they have that brings speed and defense.
• There was never any interest in Kris Benson. Bruce says that those rumors started with a favor to an agent by a media member.
• If the Cubs have good health, there's no reason to think they won't contend.
• Bruce thinks that having guys with good "character" is overrated, and Kevin Millar will only help if he can bring something on the field.
• Lilly should be somewhere between 2 and 3 weeks behind.
• Carlos Silva is a total mystery and nobody seems to know what to expect.
• If Jeff Samardzija has solidified his slider and added to his repertoire, than he'll have a chance.
• The Cubs really like Jeff Gray, who they got from the A's in the deal that sent Fox and Miles the other way.
• John Gaub, who came in the DeRosa deal, could be a dark horse that makes the team out of Spring Training.
• Levine's Opening Day lineup: Kosuke, Theriot, Lee, Ramirez, Byrd, Soriano, Soto, Castro, Zambrano
• Despite his success in 2009, the Cubs still feel Jeff Baker is a part time player.
• Bruce is all for the Cubs offering Lilly and Lee extensions after this season.
• A nutritionist will plan the players' meals this season.
• Although Millar most likely will not help the Cubs, he can hit left handed pitching.
• Soriano's days as a leadoff man are done.
• Theriot's hearing will be heard sometime around the weekend of Feb. 20.
• Tracy and Hoffpauir will compete for bench spots.
• Zambrano is Bruce's pick to have a bounce back year.

That's it for now, but I'll keep you posted as we count the days...

Levine's Chat & Miller on ESPN 1000

Chat'n with Bruce
Earlier this week, on Tuesday, Bruce Levine hosted his weekly chat over at ESPNChicago.com. Here's the recap:

• Xavier Nady could be the "diamond in the rough" that pays dividends for the 2010 Chicago Cubs.
• At this point, the Cubs don't really have the money for Heath Bell and are more likely to look at Luke Gregorson.
• Adam Kennedy has been on the radar for awhile, but money is an issue.
• Chad Tracy will compete with Hoffpauir and Millar for the 24th or 25th spot on the roster.
• At this point, trades and minor league contracts are the only things the Cubs can do.
• Starlin Castro is going to get his shot to be the Opening Day short stop. Lou Piniella and his staff will decide in Spring Training if Starlin is ready.
• Levine thinks the Cubs' defense will be improved in 2010, because Kosuke is an upgrade over Bradley in right while Byrd is an upgrade over Kosuke in center.
• Ryan Theriot is the Cubs second baseman of the future.
• John Smoltz is still out there, but at age 43, he may have nothing left to bring.
• Ownership is taking a "wait and see approach" in 2010.
• Ryan told Bruce at the Cubs Convention that he will gladly move to second base to make room for Castro at short.
• Andrew Cashner could get called up to the bullpen at some point this year.
• Cashner could be tossed into the late inning mix if someone goes down, but for now he will start in the minors.
• All indications are that Ted Lilly is on track and will be ready to throw in Spring Training.
• Sam Fuld could make the team over Tracy or Millar because of his speed and defense.
• The Cubs are not thrilled about the direction Theriot's arbitration case has gone.
• A Luke Gregorson for Angel Guzman swap was mentioned by Levine once again.
• Castro is not a patient hitter at this point, but he bring five tool possibilities down the line.
• There have been rumblings of the Cubs trying to extend the contracts of Lee and Lou.

Kevin Millar with Waddle & Silvy on ESPN 1000

• Millar is already in Mesa getting some work in.
• He came up as a third baseman and loves that position. He wants to prove he can play 1B, 3B, and OF.
• Kevin enjoys coming off the bench in the National League because you have a good chance to get in the game each night.
• Millar understands that a lot of people look at stats, but he pointed out that he will also bring out leadership qualities and World Series Winning experience.
• He was a teammate of Derrek Lee and Ryan Dempster in Florida.
• Kevin wants to only worry about the things he can control.
• He thinks he can bring a lot to a clubhouse in addition to being a right handed bat off the bench. "Team chemistry is NOT overrated," he said.
• The experience of overcoming the curse in Boston could help Millar in Chicago. The 2005 Red Sox didn't care about everything people said. They just believed they could win the game each night.
• "This whole curse still isn't funny. It's not the love-able loser thing any more," Millar said.
• He thinks that Jim Hendry has done a great job bringing in some good guys this winter. Kevin expects it to be a different situation.
• At this point, he had not had a chance to talk with Lou Piniella, but Millar is looking forward to playing for Sweet Lou.
• Millar seemed like a very friendly, down to earth guy. Personally, I'm rooting for him to make the club.

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

Cubs Convention Recaps: You Think You Know These Guys?

For the next week our two, I will continue my full recap of the Cubs Convention. Today, we focus on the "You Think You Know These Guys?" session hosted by Garry Meier of WGN Radio. Garry was joined by Ryan Dempster, Ryan Theriot, Micah Hoffpauir, Sam Fuld, and Justin Berg to find a little bit about the personal side of your favorite Cubs.

• Meier first realized what Cub national is really like when he sang the 7th inning stretch last summer.
• He told a story about when he was a journalist was assigned to take a blind sportscaster to the game. He didn't know much about the Cubs, so he was a little nervous. When he went in the locker room to interview Ron Santo, he didn't know who Ron was.
• Ryan Theriot would have pursued a career in modeling if he did not become a pro baseball player.
• Sam Fuld says that when you run into the wall at Wrigley, the pain it depend on what time of year it is.
• Dempster feel that guys on steroids are cheating everyone who's ever played the game of Major League Baseball.
• Fuld thinks that Fenway and Wrigley "are in a league of their own" as far as baseball ballparks because of all the history and tradition.
• "If you can't get excited to play at Wrigley, then it's hard to get excited to play anywhere," Fuld said.
• The law of averages say that sooner or later, the World Series is going to happen according to Theriot.
• Ryan Dempster said it took him about 35 minutes to get from the front desk to the elevator because of all the autographs. If the Cubs win the World Series, Demp thinks the players will need to be air lifted out of Wrigley.
• Justin said after the game a lot of guys like to just go out and get some dinner. Berg likes to play guitar or catch a movie in his free time on the road.
• Being superstitious was discussed. Some of the guys like to wear the same clothes the next day when the team wins.
• Dempster's daughter Riley is doing very good.
• Ryan warms up with some light weights, running, and stretching before he starts to throw. This helps be able to get ready throwing quicker.
• Demp told about (once again) the prank the he did for MLB productions a few year back when he hid Will Ohman's tires around the ballpark.
• Fontenot and Theriot are pretty close. They go to each other's house a lot and hang out. In the offseason they hunt and fish together. Ryan feels like he's baby sitting Mike sometimes.
• Milton Bradley was mentioned at almost every session during the weekend. Hoffpauir didn't have much of a problem with Bradley, calling him a pretty good dude.
• Dempster did one of his great Harry Caray impersonations. Ryan loved watch Harry calling Cub games.
• Justin Berg plans to stick with what has got him to wear he is in Spring Training. He plans to throw strikes and get ahead in the count.
• Micah looks up to Derrek Lee calling him one of the more respectable players in the game today.
• The players try to ignore most of the Internet and blog rumors. They try to stay away from all the rumors out there because they can only control their play on the field.
• Dempster thinks that the new ownership is great. The Ricketts want excellence and excellence all the way around. Improving the facilities is OK right now, because the Cubs already have the team to win.
• Ryan has a good time with the rookie hazing. When Demp was a rookie with Florida, he was put in diapers and a bib. Hoffpauir was pork the pig, Berg was superwomen, Fuld was Mrs. American, and Theriot was a cheerleader.
• Jake Fox sulked after being dressed up. Then the guys put a Sponge Bob outfit in his locker after a big home run.
• Dempster never got a cool nickname growing up. He was always just Demp or R.D.
• Theriot gave himself a nickname last week when he was hunting and he missed a dear twice. Ryan thinks his new nickname should be the barber because he shaves the dear but doesn't kill it.
• Sam Fuld was a little upset (jokingly) when a lady told him that Randy Wells signed over his autograph.
• Theriot says that the energy playing at Wrigley Field is like nothing else because of the fans.
• The Riot would love to be a Cub for the rest of his career. He can't see himself playing anywhere else.
• Hoffpauir would like to make a living via hunting or business. Berg would probably be playing in a band. Fuld thinks being a flower delivery guy would be fun, because everyone would probably like you, and it would be a low stress job.
• Demp believes that the pro baseball players have the best job in the world. When you have families, it gets hard during the regular season. The team spends most of their off days travelling. You just have to try to make most of the time you spend at home.
• Micah thinks you get used to the day games. When you're done with a day game, you get home by 6:00 and have a chance to spend some time with your family.
• Theriot thinks it's an advantage for the Cubs because they get used to it, while the visiting teams do not.
• Hoffpauir goes by the motto that his dad told him when he was growing up, "If you don't enjoy what you're doing, then don't do it." Micah says he doesn't play for the money, but because he enjoys it.
• Dempster says the most fun he has all season is facing Albert Pujols because of the challenge.
• Theriot thinks that it's a good idea to have the mental part of the game involved in your everyday preparation because of the 162 game grind.
• A lot of the guys love the heckling and think it's fun.
• Dempster thinks you hear the heckling a lot more as an away player. Demp likes heckling only when it is clean.
• When Theriot made an error at LSU, a fan threw a boot on the field.
• When Demp played in Florida, you could really hear the heckling because there were only about 4,000 fans.
• Dempster got the chance to play soccer, basketball, baseball, and hockey growing up.
• Theriot says that as minor leaguers, you go into Spring Training hoping to catch some body's eye. Ryan's goal has always been to work harder than the guy next to him.
• Sam's favorite movie is "Field of Dreams". He is a little biased being a baseball fan, but he said that it's "not just a baseball movie".
• Justin Berg likes Old School, while Hoffpauir mentioned The Notebook.
• Hoff said that when you miss a good pitch that you should do something with at the big league level, it's frustrating. You don't get a lot of mistakes in the bigs, so you try to take advantage of it whenever you can.
• In 3rd grade, Hoffpauir put on his career goals list that he wanted to be a professional baseball player. The teacher came over and said, "Really, what do you want to be." He showed her.
• Bringing in Greg Maddux to the front office staff was the best Cubs offseason move so far according to Demp.

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