The Chicago Cubs and manager Lou Piniella have finalized their opening day 25-man roster.  Mark Prior, Angel Pagan, and Rocky Cherry were sent to Triple A where they will try to make the team in the future.  Expect Prior to be the first one called up once he gets a few starts down in the minors.

The Opening Day lineup will have Alfonso Soriano in center, Matt Murton in left, Lee at first, Aramis Ramirez at third, Jacque Jones in right, Michael Barrett catching, Mark DeRosa at second, Cesar Izturis at short and Carlos Zambrano on the mound.

It’s going to be an exciting year for the Cubbies and I can’t wait for the regular season to start up!  I’ve never asked for a Monday to come any sooner!

Buy and Sell Cubs Tickets Right Here!

Wade Miller was named the fifth starter in the rotation today by manager Lou Piniella.  Miller threw better then Mark Prior, and also isn’t being set back my injuries like Prior is.

Miller was 2-0 with a 3.63 ERA in five spring starts, giving up seven earned runs on 22 hits and four walks over 17 1/3 innings. Prior will make his third start and fourth appearance of Spring Training on Wednesday. So far, Prior has a 9.82 ERA, giving up eight runs on 12 hits and seven walks over 7 1/3 innings.

Cubs Blog

Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood will not be ready by Opening Day and was to be examined Monday after feeling discomfort in his right shoulder, while Mark Prior’s fate will likely be determined Wednesday.

As I reported yesteday, I didn’t think Wood would make the opening day roster with his recent setback.  A shoulder isn’t something you mess around with, you have got to take it slow.  Anything the Cubs get out of Wood or Prior this year will just be extra.  Don’t even count on them at this point.

We are all hoping that his recent setback isn’t anything serious, and he might just need to do some more stretching before throwing or maybe even warming up a bit longer.  If it is serious, well don’t feel to bad because we have players that can step up and fill the roll in the bullpen.

The Cubs made four more roster moves yesterday as they sent Felix Pie, Tomas Perez, Les Walrond, and Koyie Hill.  All players except for Pie will be heading to minor league camp.  Pie will be sent to Triple A.

Pie was a long shot at making the team our of spring training.  I think it all came down to if Jacque Jones ended up getting traded.  Since the trade didn’t happen, there really isn’t any room for Pie in the ourfield at this time.  Of course, one injury can change that in hurry.  Pie will be up with the club this year at sometime, we just don’t know when for sure.  He is a promising player, and hopefully he kicks butt in Iowa!

Buy and Sell Sports, Concert, and Theater Tickets Here! Great Prices!!!

They injuries just keep on happening with Kerry Wood it seems like.  After yesterday’s loss against the Angels, Wood says his shoulder is a little sore today.  I doubt Woody is going to be available opening day and more then likely will join the team around April 10th.

I would rather just wait with him, like we have for the past 3 years then to mess around with a outing here, and then have to have him sit for the next 3-4 games.  He is taking a roster spot from another arm like Angel Guzman or Rocky Cherry who can help out the team more then he can right now.

Sell your extra Cubs Tickets with our partners at StubHub!

Wow! That is all we can say about Mark Prior and the four innings that he threw today.  Only allowing three hits and one run in four innings good for Prior.  Another good thing was he was clocked at 93 MPH on a fastball in the third innings that was a called third stirke, and he threw the curve ball over the plate for some strikes.

Prior thinks he will be ready to pitch April 7th if he grabs the 5th spot in the rotation.  I don’t think that is going to happen at this point, he needs a few more starts in Spring Training and in the Minors before I feel he will be ready.

Chicago Cubs Blog

Former Cub player Sammy Sosa was back on the same field as the Cubs today as his Rangers played the Cubs at HoHoKam Park.  Sosa fot a mixed reaction from the fans, but most of them cheered him on.

Sosa went 1-3 on the game and for the season is batting .410 with three homers and eight RBI’s.  You can’t complain with that at all!  I want to see Sammy do well this season and gain back some of his fans.  I know there are Cubs fans that could care less about him, but I’m not like that.  Sammy did a lot of the Cubs and for the city of Chicago.  Sammy says Chicago will always be his first love for baseball and he was blessed to have the opportunity to play for the Chicago Cubs.

It was the Cubs who got the victory in the game 11-7, but for the Cubs management, players, and Sammy Sosa to all be on the same field and talking was a win win for everyone in my opinion.  It will be exciting when the Cubs travel to Arlinton to face the Rangers in interleague play!

Get your Cubs Tickets from a 100% guranteed source!

The Cubs have made a few more roster moves today as they get down to their 25 man roster to begin the season.  Today pitchers Sean Marshall and Carlos Marmol were sent to the Triple A Iowa team.

Marshall would have been a contender for a spot in the rotation except he had some arm troubles at the beginning of spring training and he needs more innings and time to get his arm back into shape.  It is going to be hard for him to grab a spot in the rotation this year with other minor leaguers throwing some really good innings in spring training.

Marmol on the other hand more then likely will spend most of the 2007 season at Triple A.  There just isn’t room for him on the 25 man roster right now.  Unless some injuries or some players are traded I would expect to remain in Iowa for the 07 season.

Chicago Cubs Blog

Great news I think, Matt Murton will be the starting left fielder for the Cubs as the season starts.  Cliff Floyd really doesn’t have the defense to be an everyday player in the outfield like Matt Murton is.  Sure Murton isn’t going to win you a gold glove, but he has played the position alot more then Floyd has in the past few years.

Piniella says they want Floyd healthy for a stretch run in August and Septemeber so they aren’t going to rush him into playing time early in the season.  Sounds more like a part time player to me and getting some cuts in as a pitch hitter until the middle of the season.  Of course, injuries can change this plan in a hurry.

Cubs Blog

Cubs reassigned LHP Ryan O’Malley, LHP Carmen Pignatiello, C Jake Fox, 1B Micah Hoffpauir and 3B Casey McGehee to minor league camp; optioned C Geovany Soto to Triple-A Iowa.