Notes from the Soap Box

According to the transaction page on Cubs.com, Marcos Mateo was placed on the 60-day DL on Tuesday with a sore right elbow. By placing Mateo on the 60-day disabled list, the Cubs created a spot on the 40-man roster.

The Cubs selected the contracts of Shawn Camp and Joe Mather from Triple-A Iowa and have added both players to the 40-man roster and activated both players. Camp and Mather will start the season with the Chicago Cubs.

The opening of Spring Training ends a very emotional off-season for Cubs fans. We lost a legend, and a hero returned. There was a controversial trade, and free agent signings kept us buzzing. And, as always, there is the promise of youth.

However, one decision stands out as a possible sentinel moment concerning the team's future: The hiring of Mike Quade as manager over fan favorite, Hall-of-Famer Ryne Sandberg. While I want to give my full support to the Cubs' new manager, it is my opinion that the decision has already shaped the future of the franchise. This is how I believe things would have been different this off-season, had Ryne Sandberg been named manager.

In order to compete in the NL Central, the Cubs will have to improve on their poor fundamentals and atrocious defense from last season.

The 2010 Chicago Cubs had arguably the worst defense in the Major Leagues. The Cubs tied with the Atlanta Braves for the third most errors in the league (126) ... only one more error than the Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Cubs led the majors last season in the one category that no team wants to lead the league in, unearned runs. The Cubs allowed 99 unearned runs last year, by far the worst in the majors. And to make matters worse, the Cubs were fourth from the bottom in opponent's stolen base percentage. Teams stole a staggering 114 bases while the Cubs catching corps threw out only 31 runners attempting to swipe a bag.

Another Chicago team broke my heart last weekend and I told myself, like I've done so many times at the end of a Cubs season, there's always next year. No one expected the Bears to make the playoffs, let alone win the division and make it to the NFC Championship game, maybe the Cubs can surprise us this year as well ... I'm definitely ready for Spring Training.

At this point, if everyone stays healthy, Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano and Matt Garza should anchor the Cubs' rotation with Andrew Cashner likely beginning the year as the fourth starter. That leaves James Russell, Randy Wells, Casey Coleman, Jeff Samardzija and Carlos Silva competing for the final spot in the rotation

Is this the best rotation in the NL Central? No, but on a paper it is a very competitive one ... and with Tom Gorzelanny no longer in the mix, Mike Quade will likely begin his first full season as a big league manager without a southpaw in his rotation.

According to Bruce Levine, the Cubs remain focused on adding a starting pitcher this winter ... and possibly another reliever and a left-handed bat for the bench. If Jim Hendry is unable to land his main targets, could the Cubs be forced to move on to backup plans to fill out their off-season list?

With that in mind, here is my list of free agents the Cubs could sign ... if the price is right.

The current state of the Chicago Cubs does not look so good ... but the future appears bright in 2012, and beyond.

While 2011 isn't looking very promising as 2010 comes to an end, there are several things we should keep an eye on that could very well turn out as positives for the future. Aramis Ramirez, Randy Wells, Marlon Byrd, Carlos Pena, and Kosuke Fukudome could help the Cubs in the future.

What did I just say? I must be losing my mind ...

The name and the number may be the same ... but the Lou Piniella that was calling the shots three years ago is not the one at the helm of the Chicago Cubs today.

On June 2, 2007 the Cubs entered play against the Braves with a 22-30 record, in the middle of a five-game losing streak. Their ace pitcher and starting catcher had just gotten into a fight the day before and the Cubs were playing bad baseball. It appeared Lou Piniella's first summer in Chicago was going to be long and disappointing.

Kevin Millar does everything off the field the Chicago Cubs need in the clubhouse. He keeps his teammates loose. He entertains them when the team bus breaks down and reminds them baseball is just a game. Millar has lived up to his reputation in his short time with the Cubs. He has said and done everything the Cubs expected off the field.

Millar has outperformed expectations on the field this spring. He has listened to Rudy Jaramillo and has hit the ball. After nine games and 15 at bats, Millar is hitting .333/.545/.600 with seven walks, a double, a home run and three RBI.

Several of the veterans are "rooting" for Kevin Millar to make the team and the feeling is Millar could break camp on the Cubs roster. But when the games actually count, can Kevin Millar help the Cubs win games?

Be very, very quiet ... Jim Hendry and the Cubs are sleeping. While most of baseball is attempting to make their clubs better for 2010, the Cubs, so far, have not addressed their biggest needs or their number one priority this winter ... dealing Milton Bradley.

It is only December 17 but at some point, Jim Hendry must begin scratching items off his to do list. Granted the Cubs re-signed John Grabow and hired Rudy Jaramillo but unless taking Mike Parisi in the Rule 5 Draft was one of the Cubs' goals this winter ... then two down and several more to go.

Congratulations to the New York Yankees on their 27th World Series Championship. The 2009 season ended exactly one month after the Cubs campaign came to an end ... Warm up the oven, it's time for the Hot Stove Season.

The 15-day free-agent filing period begins on Thursday ... teams have exclusive negotiating rights for the next 15 days in order to try and re-sign their would-be free agents. The Cubs are expected to re-sign John Grabow to a contract at some point over the next two weeks and a day ... but Rich Harden, Kevin Gregg, Reed Johnson and Chad Fox are expected to reach the open market. Johnson might return while Harden, Gregg and Fox will likely have another team in 2010 ... and beyond.

Will the surgery on Ted Lilly's shoulder change Jim Hendry's approach this winter? Will the Cubs offer arbitration to Rich Harden and/or try to re-sign him? Or will they begin the season with a rotation full of question marks?