Here we go:

My two remaining backups are Theriot and Pagan. Theriot can play everywhere and doesn't need more time in AAA. Pagan can bat left and has speed.

My rotation is:

Z, Hill, Prior, Lilly, Marquis. Everyone has Hill as a lock but I still think he's 50/50. He's only had two good months but his potential is awesome! Marshall can replace him if needed. I really think Prior will pitch this year. If not, Miller will pitch.

In the Pen will be Ohman, Novoa, and Marmol. Marmol, along with Cotts, can make spot starts and pitch in long relief situations. Marmol will be the closer in 2009 if Wood doesn't work.

This is assuming Jones is still on the team, (I think he'll be traded for sure during ST) I think Floyd will be a super backup and get 1 to 2 starts per week. Pinella loves "The Kid" Murton.

This is what I think the lineup WILL be:

Soriano, Derosa, Lee, Ram, Jones, Barrett, Murton, Izturis, Z

This is what I think it SHOULD be:

Murton (high obp plus he will be pitched to with S, L, and R behind him!), Soriano, Lee, Ram, Jones, Barrett, Derosa, Izturis, Z

That's all I got...

Ahh, the perfect activity for a slow morning at work.

Starting Rotation:

Zambrano
Lilly
Hill
Prior/Miller (if healthy)
Marquis

Relief:
Marshall (long man)
Cotts
Ohman
Wood
Eyre (set up)
Howrey (set up)
Dempster (closer until Wood's ready to take over)

Line Up:
Soriano CF
Murton LF
Lee 1B
Ramirez 3B
Barrett C
Jones RF
Theriot 2B
Izturis SS
P

Bench:
Floyd
DeRosa
Ward
Pagan
Moore/Cedeno (who ever is better in the spring)

Gotta love Fridays;

CF-Soriano
LF-Murton
1st-Lee
3rd-Ramirez
RF-Jones
C-Barrett
2nd-Derosa
SS-Izturis
Pitcher

Starting Rotation
Zambrano
Lilly
Prior
Hill
Marques

Miller and Marshall step in for whoever isn't healthy or struggles.

Relief
Marshall/Miller
Ohman
Cotts
Wood
Howry
Eyre
Dempster

Bench
Floyd
Ward
Theriot
Pagan

I'm being lazy.

I agree with nick except Cedeno instead of Pagan. Unless pagan has a awesome ST.

Fellas:

I've noticed a few of you have ALREADY penciled in Prior & Wood. As Jason B would say, "You Know Better". God willing, they will be set to go come April,but we have been through this over and over. I'm still waiting for that trade for a CF.

I will add onto the laziness.

I agree with Nick's opening day roster. And yes, Cedeno and Pagan could go either way. I think Cedeno may have a slight edge because of his ability to back up at short/second. Also, Michael Wuertz may find his way into the bullpen if Lou feels he needs another right-hander. Ohman may be trade bait.

I love Murton in the number two slot. Great contact hitter and patient at the plate. That's all I got. GO CUBBIES!

No one likes my idea of Murton in the One hole and no one likes Marmol?...

Will,

Though Murton is a good contact hitter and has a good OBP, Soriano will hit one. Murton is not fast enough and the idea of Soriano behind him on the bases could prove dangerous. Murton in the 2-hole is perfect, with that type of protection, the kid could hit .330. Also, he seems to be a baseball purist, one willing to bunt, hit behind the runner, stick to the fundamentals. He could be a huge key to the season. Also, he has shown the plate discipline to allow ample time for Soriano to steal.

I like the idea of Soriano stealing second, Murton bunting him to third, then with one out, you have D. Lee and A-Ram, not bad.

I will add to the laziness. For the first time in a long, long time, the Cubs have multiple options for several spots. Guys will actually have to compete for spots in ST. What a novel idea. Something that I think Dusty never really had was true competition for spots from his guys. Lou by his nature fosters compition and won't take crap from guys complaining about playing time. Well I'm feeling not so lazy now so here gos.........

SP
Zambrano
Lilly
Hill
Marshall/Prior
Marquis

I know that Prior is as always a question mark and we still have Miller but I think Prior has more to prove and barring some freak thing will at least return to his '03 form. If not, again we have multiple options.

Lineup
1 Soriano
2 Murton
3 Lee
4 Ramirez
5 Barrett
6 Jones
7 Izturis
8 Derossa

One of the things that I couldn't stand about Dusty is that he was constantly changing his batting order. I realize part of it was because of injury, but he also moved guys around alot that wern't injured. It seemed he never got a chance for guys to get comfortable in one spot in the batting order. Remember Barrett batting leadoff in '05? Geez...

Bullpen
Cotts
Howry
Eyre
Dempster
Wood
Ohman
Marshall/Miller

I like Marshall for that long relief spot better than Miller. No real reason I just think that he has more potential. This of course leaves Miller pretty much out to dry, and I think real world he'll be on the opening day roster out of the pen.

If they put Murton in the second spot. He could have a monster season. I'm not sure about the platooning though. It almost sounds like Hendry doesn't want to get into the same situation he was in last year with the injuries and no depth. But it is strange having daryl ward and cliff floyd on the bench.

Forgot my bench.

Theriot
Floyd
Ward
Blanco
Cedeno

I definitely think Theriot makes the roster unless he's abominal in ST. Lou stated at the convention that his team will hustle and Theriot defines the word. This bench gives you your catcher, an infielder, an outfielder, 1b relief, and a super utillity guy (Theriot). Unless they trade Jones, I think Pagan is out to dry. He's a decent player, but with Murton, Soriano looking to be here long-term, and Pie in the wings it looks like Pagan can only be a 4th outfielder at best for the Cubs for the forseeable future.

Just read an article on Fox Sports by Dayne Perry, then went and threw up in the trash, According to him Murton lost his job already. Gotta love the "experts".

Ok, here we go:
C- Barrett
1B-Lee
2B-DeRosa
3B-Ramirez
SS-Izturis
LF-Murton
CF-Soriano
RF-Jones

Bench:
Floyd (OF)
Ward (OF/1B)
Theriot (INF/OF)
Blanco (C)
Pagan (OF)

Rotation:
Zambrano
Lilly
Hill
Marquis
Prior (Miller/Marshall)

Bullpen:
Cl-Dempster
SU-Howry
SU-Eyre
SU-Wood
MR-Ohman
MR-Wuertz
MR/LR-Cotts

Let the young guys develop in AAA and give the last spot to Theriot over Cedeno. We have a lot of versitilty/power off the bench, which is great.

Batting Order
1-Soriano
2-Izturis
3-Lee
4-Ramirez
5-Jones
6-Barrett
7-Murton
8-DeRosa
9-Pitcher

Soriano will leadoff, and I do like him there. The only really weak spot (assuming DeRosa does what he did last year) is Izturis in the two hole, but I can't put Murton there because he doesn't know how to move runners over (i.e. bunt, etc...) I think he will gain more power this year and will be better suited lower in the order, where he can pick up some more RBIs.

Assuming all are healthy and just for opening day...
Rotation:
1. Zambrano
2. Hill
3. Prior
4. Lilly
5. Miller

Relievers
1. Marquis
2. Cotts
3. Eyre
4. Howry
5. Ohman
6. Wood
7. Weurtz

Closer
1. Dempster

Line-up
1. Soriano
2. DeRosa
3. Lee
4. Ramirez
5. Jones
6. Barrett
7. Murton
8. Izturis
9. P

Bench
1. Theriot
2. Blanco
3. Floyd
4. Ward

and for everyone else who left out blanco...have you ever seen a team without a back up catcher? no...you dont do that.

The more I think about it. I think Hendry doesn't want to count on youth this year. With this and the lack of lefties in the lineup, I think they are going to plattoon Floyd and Murton with Floyd getting the majority of the time. If he gets hurt, then Murton is a everyday guy.

nick,
I just read that article too. Who the h@#$ is this guy? Wood dosen't like beibng in the pen. Where did that come from. Hasn't Wood publicly stated that moving to the pen would resurect his career and that he felt like he owed the fans? And since when are you supposed to get major productiion from you SS and 2B. Sure you've got guys like Jeter, but who else puts up those numbers from SS? I also like how he completely ingores Soriano's stats batting leadoff last year for a horrible Nationals team. I guess you need more than 40 SB's to be a threat on the bases. Its pissing me off just thinking about the guy so I'll sign off. Maybe I'll go write a book that focusses tottally on the past WS winners and make a fortune being an "expert".

Ryan R,

I agree with you, your not SUPPOSED to have a lot of production from 2B and SS, (but in response to, "...Jeter, but who else put up those numbers...?" but what about guys like Tejada, Michael Young, Carlos Guillen, (and throwing in some 2B) Jeff Kent, Chase Utley...you can't just call him an idiot and totally refute his point.

Starters:
1. Zambrano
2. Hill
3. Prior/Miller
4. Lilly
5. Marquis/Marshall

Bullpen
1. Dempster
2. Howry
3. Eyre
4. Wood
5. Wuertz
6. Marshall/Marquis
7. Cotts/Ohman (I think you've got to trade one)

Lineup
1. Soriano
2. Izturis
3. Lee
4. Jones/Floyd
5. Ramirez
6. Murton/Floyd
7. Barrett
8. Derosa

Bench
1. Blanco
2. Floyd
3. Ward
4. Theriot
5. Pagan

I know you're probably not going to like how I set up my lineup, but I was just trying to experiment with as much R/L/R/L as I could.

I think Steve is right-on with his roster...

The only change I make is that Wuertz is in the bullpen, Cotts is the long reliever, and Marshall gets another year of seasoning in AAA.

Also...if Novoa makes the bullpen, I will lose a little faith in Lou...Novoa needs to be released, or used in a trade.

Finally, Steve's lineup caught my eye because he had Murton in the 2-spot (ala Sandberg) and I think that is a great place for Murton. Steve also listed Theriot as the 2B over DeRosa, which I also agreed with. Still scratching my head on why we signed DeRosa and told him he was the starter...makes no sense. If Theriot stumbles, then DeRosa gets his shot. Otherwise, what message do you send your farm system by letting Theriot light it up, only to be benched in favor of a lifetime backup who had a career year at 32/33 years of age?

All in all...I am VERY pleased with the lineup power, the # of arms in the rotation and bullpen, and the quality of the bench. Cubs win the division!!!

What happens if both Prior and Miller are healthy? Does Miller bump Hill from the rotation? Or Marquis? Or does he go to the 'pen or even AAA?

Marquis is the odd man out.

A few thoughts....

* I stll can't believe that everyone that has posted today has Prior & Wood on the opening day roster. Would love to see it but it probably won't happen.

* As for Mark De Rosa, the 2b job is his to lose.
Lou had great success with Mark Mclemore in Seattle. Mclemore and De Rosa are guys that can play all over and are very valuable to have on a ball club.

* Dayne Perry's latest article about the Cubs was actually regurgitated drivel from an November article that he had written a few days after the Cubs signed Soriano.I would love to ask this dork one question. "How would you go about and improve the Cubs after the 2006 disaster"?

1.Soriano
2.Derosa
3.Lee
4.Ramirez
5.Theriot
6.Floyd (Barrett)
7.Barrett (Floyd)

1.Zambrano
2.Prior
3.Miller
4.Hill
5.Lilly

I put Derosa in #2 because his numbers last year. his OBP. and AVG. shouldn't be ignored. Putting him in front of Lee would give him some good pitches to go after.

I would rather see Theriot come in and take Izturis's spot in Mesa.

I replaced Murton with Floyd. Murtons D scares me too much. Floyd has talent and is hungry, bringing him home only could help.

forgot my 8th
1.Soriano
2.Derosa
3.Lee
4.Ramirez
5.Theriot
6.Floyd
7.Jones
8.Barrett

Austin,
Sorry I wasn't totally clear on my point regarding the SS and 2B positions. What I meant was that in a lineup such as ours, where you have 3 guys that can potentially hit 100 homers between them, and 3 more that can put up average or better than average numbers, I think that we can afford to have two guys in primarily defensive positions put up slightly below avg power numbers. Not every position on the field can put up 25+ plus homeruns and 75+ RBI'S. I think Perry simply dosen't like the trades that were done but dosen't want to come out and say it outright. My biggest beef is that he has written books about winning teams. Obvoiusly the Cubs are not in them. I think maybe he can't bring himself to see a different way of doing it. IF the Cubs win the division, he and al the other experts will say "well, it was a weak division, they won't get anywhere in the playoffs."
Not to toot the Cards horn, but no body gave them a chance in the NLCS much less the WS. Then of course they all went back and said, "look, this is how they did it......". Yes there are a lot of "ifs". But Lou has the ability to get the most out of guys, from lowly bench players to all-stars. I think thats the biggest thing guys like Perry are forgetting.