Manager Lou Piniella told the media today that Jason Marquis and Ryan Dempster would be in the starting rotation.  I am suprised to see both of them in the rotation and Jon Lieber working out of the bullpen.  I would rather have Lieber in the rotation, and then one of the other two out of the bullpen.  Maybe this is just to get Marquis some work, so hopefully the Cubs can eventually trade him.

Piniella also said that Kerry Wood would start out the season as the teams closer.  He was in a battle all spring with Carlos Marmol and Bob Howry.  Wood proved to the coaches that he could pitch on back to back days and did a good job so he earned the spot.  If Wood struggles, look for Marmol to be thrown into the position.

The Chicago Cubs trimmed their spring training roster down by three spots on Thursday.  Sean Gallagher and Jose Ascanio were sent to Triple-A Iowa while Josh Kroeger was re-assigned to the teams minor league camp.

Gallagher is a guy that will probably be called up at some point in the season.  That is if he isn’t traded before hand.  Gallagher is a key player in any trade that happens for Brian Roberts of the Orioles so who knows if he will make another pitcher for the big league Cubs.

The spring roster now has 38 players, and includes 19 pitchers, three catchers, 10 infielders and six outfielders.

The Chicago Cubs are going to play Kosuke Fukudome in center field for a couple of games during spring training.  The plan is to get his feet wet just incase he is needed during the season at the position.  Fukudme is still planned to be the everyday right fielder for the Cubs so don’t put much into this right now.

The only way I see Fukudome moving to center field is if Felix Pie starts off very slow or gets injured.  Pie needs to play everyday and hopefully that is what the Cubs will do.  Fukudome would rather play right field as well so this is pretty much just an insurance deal.

If you listen to Friday’s Cubs game, don’t be suprised when you hear Ryan Theriot batting in the lead off spot, Alfonso Soriano batting second, and Kosuke Fukudome batting in the fifth spot.  That is Piniella’s new genious idea out of Cubs Spring Training.

Ok, I do agree that it would be wise to give Soriano a little bit of rest and not expect him to steal 20 bases out of the leadoff spot etc.  But to put Theriot in the #1 spot is just plain stupid if you ask me.  I still think Fukudome is more of #2 hitter as well.

If the Cubs ever get the trade worked out for Brian Roberts, I could see Roberts batting #1 followed by Fukudome, and then Soriano in the #5 spot.  I think that would be a good lineup, but that won’t happen unless the trade for Roberts happens.

What do you all think? Is Lou being crazy or do you think this would be a good idea?