The Cubs are quickly making announcements to shore up the spring training news cycle.
So the shaky rotation is falling apart like radial tires after 60,000 miles:
1. Jeff Samardzija is the ace of the staff (?)
2. E. Jackson is #2.
3. Scott Feldman is promoted up the ladder.
4. T. Wood goes from possible AAA to 4th starter
5. C. Villanueva goes from bullpen duty to 5th starter.
It appears that both Matt Garza and Scott Baker will start the season (a month from now) on the DL.
For all the press releases from the front office that this year's pitching staff was better than last season, the reality is that statement is a fiction.
In other news, Steve Clevenger, the back up catcher from last season, is now trying to become a "super sub" by playing first, second, third and outfield in camp. The idea that a .200 hitting catcher trying to learn major league skills at four new positions in less than four weeks seems laughable, sad and strange. The Cubs brought into camp a "known" utility player in Brett Lillibridge, who can also play shortstop. Why the Cubs coaches want to create a forced competition for the last bench spot between Clevenger and Lillibridge is an old dime mystery novel. Inconsequential in the big picture.
If Sveum is looking for balance on his bench, Clevenger bats left handed (which starters at third and first base do). Lillibridge bats right handed. Clevenger has only come off the bench to play catcher and first. Lillibridge has more experience in the double switch context of in-game action.
Neither player is going to make a difference in how many more Cub victories there will be this year.
It is just an observation on how tangential spring training camps can be if the roster is pretty much set in December, especially for bad teams.
