The best team in baseball this morning is the Houston Astros, who beat the Rangers on opening night. The Astros feature newly acquired Ronny Cedeno at shortstop. Cedeno was released twice this off season, but somehow he wound up as the Astro's starting shortstop. The Astros are a bad team in a tough AL Western division this year.
The Cubs play in a competitive NL Central. The Reds are poised for another 90 plus win season. The Cardinals are still in the pre-season wild card chase. The Brewers and Pirates continue to hover around .500. The Cubs will settle to the bottom.
Even before the first pitch of opening day, the Cubs have had their set backs. The last was Darwin Barney ripping up his knee in the last exhibition game. He will probably go on the disabled list. Which means that non-roster invitee Brent Lillibridge becomes the Cubs opening day starter at second base.
Ian Stewart, Scott Baker and Matt Garza have all been placed on the DL. Latest word on Baker and Garza is that they may be available in June. Arodys Vizcaino, the injured pitcher from the Braves trade last season, was put on the 60 day DL. There is no word if he will pitch at all this season.
So the Cubs have had a bumpy start before the first pitch in Pittsburgh today.
