Spring Training

On Friday, pitchers and catchers will report to Spring Training camps across the league. You know it is bad when I opt to write about ST against the All-Cover-Story, a.k.a STE-ROD. I just can't subdue myself (or you, because I'm sure you all have read 1,000,000 other related articles on the subject) to writing about that junk, it is almost as important to me as a new Bravo! marathon of Real Housewives of Orange County.

The Cubs will report to Mesa, Ariz., for workouts on Feb. 17. Over the next few weeks, I will analyze specific areas of the Cubs 2009 squad.

Today: Pitchers.

Health. For the Chicago Cubs, their success goes as far as healthy arms take them. Cubs fans know the misery of mid-season injuries (see: Mark Prior, Kerry Wood, Prior again....Wood, etc...) and the effect it has on making a push for the pennant race. In 09', all eyes will watch as Rick Harden takes the mound as a full-time Chicago Cub. Can he stay off of the infamous DL and give the North Siders 200+ innings? Head coach Lou Pinella has said he will give Harden a day off in between certain starts, opting to rest his arm for the late season playoff run.

If Harden stays healthy, Zambrano doesn't kill an opponent, umpire or teammate, Dempster follows up his 08' regular season performance and (please, Ryan, pretty please) doesn't forget how to throw within 15-feet of the plate in the postseason, Ted Lilly continues to find a way to win (and doesn't smile one time during his outings), the Cubs will be in contention for a third consecutive NL Central Title. The fifth starter, whomever it may be, will need to perform at a high level, and show some consitency to shore up the back-end of the rotation. Many believe that this spot is between Notre Dame grad, Jeff Samardzija, and lefty Sean Marshall. In the end, I think Marshall will get the nod as the numero cinco because he gives the rotation another lefty, and ultimately Samardzija is still learning the ropes of pitching in the big leagues.

The big debate this Spring will be: Who is going to be the closer for the Cubs? This offseason, the Cubs landed Kevin Gregg, a closer who had 29 saves for the Florida Marlins in 2008 and 61 over the past two seasons. Most Cub followers believe the spot will be turned over from Kerry Wood to Carlos Marmol, the young right-handed hurler who had a stellar 08' campaign from the back-end of the relief staff. But according to Lou Pinella--- not so fast! He wants the boys to compete during the Spring and show him who is better for the spot. In my opinion, I believe Marmol has the better stuff for the pressure-soaked 9th inning. However, I also wouldn't mind seeing Gregg get the spot, because that allows pitching coach Larry Rothschild to use Marmol in a variety of flexible late-inning roles. We will see who comes out as the next Cubs closer, and cross your fingers he didn't go to LaTroy Hawkins' Off-Season-Pitching-Camp!

The Cubs relief staff will look somewhat different in 09'. Kerry Wood is hurlin' in Cleveland, Michael Wurtz is soakin' up rays in Oakland and Bob Howry is, well, being Bob Howry somewhere on this planet. New pitchers added this off-season: Kevin Gregg, Aaron Heilman and Luis Vizcaino. Now, all Cubs fans can do is sit back, grab your Old Styles and peanuts, and see what these boys have left in their arms and if Wrigley Field will turn out to be the Friendly Confines in 2009.