The Northside Media Guide

The first pitch of the Cubs' 2010 exhibition season is less than 24 hours away. While most of the roster spots may be filled, Lou Piniella has stated in recent days his team has six open spots on the active roster ... that will be decided during Spring Training.

Beyond the Opening Day roster (that many focus on this time of year) is the Cubs' Major League roster ... or 40-man roster. It is important for young players, as well as non-roster invitees, to have good springs and make positive impressions on the big league coaching staff.

Here is a look at a few storylines of the spring, a couple of names to keep an eye on and a complete Spring Training roster, with each player's number. If you listen close enough you can hear Pat Hughes practicing his lead-in ...

Pitchers and catchers report on Wednesday ... and if you listen close enough you can almost hear Pat Hughes and those seven wonderful words. With that said, is the Cubs Opening Day roster almost set?

Many players have already reported to Fitch Park, in some cases 10 days before their reporting date (Thursday, February 18 is first on field workout for pitchers. Position players report on February 22 with the first full squad workout on Tuesday, February 23). Reportedly many of the players are excited to compete for jobs this spring.

With health concerns aside, do the Cubs have any spots available on their Opening Day roster?

The 2010 baseball annuals for The Sporting News and Athlon Sports made their way to the newsstands this week.

While Baseball Prospectus projected the Cubs to have a losing season (79-83), the Sporting News predicts the Cubs will reach the post-season ... as the NL Wild Card.

Athlon Sports is not as optimistic as the Sporting News about the Cubs for the 2010 season but still predicted a winning campaign.

With pitchers and catchers reporting in six days, two respected publications have slightly different views of the same team.

With Xavier Nady signing a one-year deal with the Cubs last week, the outfield picture for 2010 became a little clearer. Alfonso Soriano, Marlon Byrd and Kosuke Fukudome are the projected Opening Day starters ... with Xavier Nady and Sam Fuld likely on the bench serving as Lou Piniella's fourth and fifth options.

In order for the Cubs to compete in the division, one of the areas that must show improvement in Twenty-Ten is production from the outfield ... the Opening Day outfield in 2009 totaled just 43 home runs and 80 doubles while scoring 204 runs.

How will Lou Piniella's outfield perform this season? Here are the projections ...

The conclusion of the CCO's three-part series on the Chicago Cubs Projections for Twenty-Ten will look at Lou Piniella's bench and bullpen ... Part one focused on Lou Piniella's starting eight and part two centered on Piniella's starting staff.

The second of the CCO's three-part series on the Chicago Cubs Projections for Twenty-Ten will center on Lou Piniella's starting staff ... Part one focused on Lou Piniella's starting eight.

With Ted Lilly beginning the season on the DL, the starting rotation has as many question marks as the rest of the roster. The Cubs are rumored to be interested in Ben Sheets to fill one of the voids in the rotation. With Lilly and a healthy Ben Sheets, the Cubs could end up with one of the best rotations in the National League.

Pitchers and catchers report to Fitch Park on February 17. That is just 37 days for those scoring at home. The 2010 baseball season is quickly approaching and the first sign spring is around the corner begins on Friday ... Harry Caray referred to the Cubs Convention as the "Unofficial Opening Day."

Jim Hendry recently said he's not done tinkering with his roster. But how will the players currently on the Cubs 40-man roster perform next season? That is the big question.

The CHONE projections for the upcoming season were recently released and provide a little more insight of what type of year is in store for the Chicago Cubs.

In the coming days the CCO will look at the 2010 projections for the players on the 40-man roster. In the first of a three-part series here's a look at Lou Piniella's starting eight ...

Happy New Year from everyone at the CCO!

The countdown has begun for the Twenty-Ten season and here are a few numbers to put it into perspective ... 14, 45, 62 and 94. As in 14 days until the 25th Annual Cubs Convention, 45 days until pitchers and catchers report to Fitch Park and 62 days until the first pitch of the Cubs' Twenty-Ten Cactus League schedule. Opening Day in Atlanta is 94 days away ...

Merry Christmas to all of the Faithful from everyone here at the CCO!

In what has become a Christmas tradition at the CCO, here is a familiar carol with a new twist ...

Monday it was the Starting Eight. Tuesday it was Lou Piniella's Pitching Staff and the third and final part on the CCO's look at the early projections for 2010 ... The Reserves and Rumored Additions.

The Cubs' off-season appears to be centered on where (and when) Jim Hendry will trade Milton Bradley ... as well as how much of the remaining two years and more than $21 million the Cubs will have to send to his new team.

Tampa remains the most likely destination for Pat Burrell. Reportedly Hendry will then try to trade Burrell for a player that fits the improvements the Cubs are looking to make this winter. Bruce Levine reiterated Tuesday that the Cubs have little to no money in the projected payroll for 2010 to make changes. Any deals would have to be dollar for dollar and 'Movin Milton' remains the Cubs first objective of the off-season.

Part Three: The Reserves and Rumored Additions