Neil,I know you addressed this to Aaron...but you answered a ton of ny questions here as well....Thanks.

I don't know if you caught it...but Santo mentioned Lou really likes Adduci for his speed as well today @ the ninth inning.

I guess besides Diamond, the only other guy I'm really curious about is Dolis.

As an older fan, the first stat I still look at is batting average...even though I know obp and other stats are more important....but I'm sure the ba is skewed by all the young players as well.

Soriano still has his ko's...Baker hasn't had a hit and Ramirez is way off

any type of pace...BUT it's just extremely early.

Anyway, thanks for your take on things.

Aaron, here is a quote from an article on Cubs.com

"Maybe new hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo is having a positive effect. The Cubs lead all National League clubs this spring in batting average."

Batting average is an old stat and does not tell a full story, but I found that interesting.

As for the play you brought up, Carlos Gomez took at least a double away from Marlon Byrd to end the inning.

The two problems I had with today's game was Ryan Theriot striking out with runners on first and third with one out in the second ... and Micah Hoffpauir doing the same in the eighth.

I will say this about Marlon Byrd, he impressed me when I was in Arizona. He moves very well for a man of his size ... and for all of the noise made about his weight, I saw nothing but a man in tip-top shape. Now Carlos Silva, I will give you. My wife was shocked when she found out who he was ... she thought he was an equipment guy coming off a three-day drunk.

I mentioned some of what I think you are looking for in the recap. But here is a little more ...

Xavier Nady was very impressive in the two BP sessions I saw, the man can hit.

Chad Tracy was good one day and not so good the next. I like Tracy and would like to see him make the team.

Sam Fuld is, well Sam Fuld. But I think Tyler Colvin has a real chance to make the team. He looks like a different player and was one of the few players I saw squaring off on the ball. The ball had that sound when he hit it ... you know what I mean.

Brad Snyder (I know everyone on this site, as it is referred to, is tired of hearing his name) also hit the ball well. Lou mentioned him today and I think he has a shot. I would not be surprised if both Colvin and Snyder are ahead of Hoffpauir at this point.

Hoffpauir did not look good the times I saw him.

As for the pitching, I was impressed by John Gaub, James Russell and Casey Coleman. The other ones outside of Zambrano, Wells, Caridad and Marmol, not so much.

I did not get to see Thomas Diamond pitch.

Thanks Neil, I appreciate the analysis. I'm not quite sure about the validity of the batting average. Theriot, Soto, Fontenot, and Fukudome are well over .300, but everyone except for Lee (who is right at .300 prior to today's game) is not expected to make the team. I would be excited to see Colvin and Snyder on the roster based on their early spring stats, but I don't see that happening. I think the final 2 spots go to Blanco and Fuld, with the others being Hill, Nady, and possibly Tracy. I hope I'm wrong, but that's what it seems to be with all Piniella's comments in the offseason and recent weeks.

Hoffpauir is a disappointment. Supposedly he spent the entire offseason hitting with Rudy, and yet didn't get any better it seems.

How Silva is on any MLB roster isbeyond me....Players like him that are indifferent, especially when they're making $10+million should be fined and/or suspended. The NFL compensates players regarding their weight, working out, etc. It's about time MLB adopts this strategy too, as it's players keep getting richer and more ridiculous contracts, and as we've seen with the likes of Bradley, Soriano, Silva, etc., they won't do what the teamtells them to do (ie.-Soriano to use lighter bat, Bradley to behave, and Silva to lose weight), it unfortunately leaves teams in horrible situations where they have to eat the entire contract to get rid of a bad player that doesn't even want to get better and live up to his contract. The problem I have with that scenario is the team has a contractual obligation to the player, but it appears the player doesn't have any obligation to the team, setting forth a terrible precedent.

It's a shame about the pitching. I guess Z, Wells, and Dempster look in top shape, and Caridad, Russell, and Marshall look good as well. You could probably add Samardzija too. But no other guys have really seized the day, and captured spots

Thanks again for the analysis

Obviously, I wasn't there, but was following along on mlb.com mobile for play by play, and I have to say I was a little disheartened. It sure seems to me like last year. Theriot gets on with a double, Fukudome walks, and Lee, ARAM, and Byrd go down swinging for the fences. I have no idea how hard they hit the balls, because as I said, I wasn't there, but it sure seems a LOT like last year, doesn't it? Ironically, we lost the game, and while it's only Spring Training, you can point to that inning as the reason we lost. Spring Training is supposed to be a time for players to work on things, get better, and learn from their mistakes the previous year. It seems like the Cubs have learned NOTHING in their approach at the plate, and for all the garbage Hendry was trying to sell us on with Rudy essentially being the savior of the team, all you have to do is look at Byrd, and see that Hendry put all his eggs in one basket, as Nady is injured and didn't figure to be a starter anyhow, and Tracy might not even make the team...this, all on the heels of being one of the ugliest offenses in the game last year.

WOW!!! That's all I have to say.

Neil, I know you'll do the recap, so it's probably a moot point, but could you please provide info on your own scouting report regarding these players, specifically our starters and how they look, and the likely candidates for 4th/5th starter, the pen, and bench.

Thank you for your hard work!

Sounds like Ronnie Woo Woo in the background (ninth inning)...kind of irritating at times.

Neil,doyou think Diamond will get an opportunity to pitch in one ofthese games?

I would hope so. He was supposed to pitch Sunday.

Here's the good, the very good and well...

Castro stole second in the seventh, but over slid the bag and was tagged out to end the inning.

James Russell just struck out the side swinging in the eighth

Soriano just struck out for the second time ... both swinging.

Coleman in the game

Groundball out ... infield better be ready.

I just don't trust Marmol.

I trust him more than Gregg, but that isn't saying much, and not quite as much as Woody, and that ain't saying much either.

Is Castro gonna get into the game?

Castro is in the game.

Gerut just missed a homer, game tied at 3 in the top of the sixth

how has he done? had to get a haircut...

Routine fielding, has not hit yet.

Darwin Barney is at second.

thanks neil

You're welcome.

Castro just reached on an infield single to third.

First and third, one out in the seventh. Game tied 3-3.

I have not heard

DLee home run to right field

Are you watching, Neil? I've got em on the web-audio-cast as usual...Wells sounds good again, just wondering how he looks.

DDLLEEEE!

I am listening to Pat and Ron

Fontenot single to center, Wells sac fly.

2-0 Cubs, still hitting in the second

Soriano just missed a homer to right center off of Suppan. Back-to-back doubles for Byrd and Soriano

Nice, quick inning for Wells.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_heyman/03/08/cubs-piniella/index.html

Play ball!

Chicago Cubs Baseball is on the Air!

2:55 estimated first pitch

It's raining at HoHoKam again ...

the apocalypse may be upon us...

NAH...that will happen just as we win the World Series...The Earth will end with the final out.

Knowing our luck, just before the final out!

Bryan...look at the bright side, We don't have to watch Aaron Miles this year.

Thank you Suzy...I do feel much better now. :)

They need to keep Chad Tracy. Having Baker fill in for ARAM if he gets hurt, is pretty weak. That's a HUGE dropoff.

and I think they should keep Fuld too.

Colvin needs to play everyday, put him at AAA.

The only problem is not having a legit backup SS on the bench. Why not go with 11 pitchers and take an extra position player, especially in April with all the off-days ? Somehow, they should find a spot for Blanco too. Fontenot's limited versality really hurts.

There's our opening day lineup. Inspiring!

Today's lineup:

Theriot - SS

Fukudome - RF

Lee - 1B

Ramirez - 3B

Byrd - CF

Soriano - LF

Fontenot - 2B

Soto - C

Wells - P

Also, Piniella said Fuld, Snyder, Colvin and/or Adduci have a shot of making the team

Shoot. He didn't mention Tracy? I was really rooting for Tracy.

Lou was talking about 5th OF options.

Tony, exactly ... the fifth outfielder

It's not over yet...Lou probably can't remember Tracy's name yet.