It looks like today is, in Mike Quade's words, a "sit down" day.
As in he's gonna sit down with Jim Hendry and figure out who's going to start the season doing what.
Carlos Silva is potentially the biggest name to not be in the plans as he had planned, as it would appear that Andrew Cashner is in as the 5th starter.
At least that's what I expect of Quade if the vision for Cashner is to start - you shouldn't put him in the bullpen and he's too valuable to send down.
Here's a cool Quade Quote: "Barney's not automatically a utility guy."
This spring Darwin Barney has 13 hits and 3 walks in 35 at-bats, a .421 OBP, and he's pretty slick with the glove.
Of course you think about Blake DeWitt and how he got here and you know, did the Cubs really trade Ted Lilly for...ahhh, lets not think about that right now.
But what do you do with DeWitt?
And given all the circumstances, I guess this year it makes the most sense to have Wellington Castillo starting. That means AAA. But for all the love we initially gave Koyie Hill way back when with the thumb thing and having to learn to catch the ball all over again, today he's perhaps the worst guy on the roster.
And you wish Castillo could come up, but you don't want him to sit...it's a Catch 22.
For 4th outfielder Reed Johnson came in and played like himself, easily beating out speedy newbie Fernando Perez. So we'll have some chances to marvel at That Beard and Reed's shining, extraordinary effort.
(DOH! It's 10 pm the same night I posted this. I just read the Trib and found out Reed's only got 7 hits all freaking spring. So... I don't know. This race is closer than I thought.)
I'm sure something will surprise us in the next couple days.
Can they move Silva?
During the Sunday game on tv, Len and Bob were talking about the bats.
For the Cubs to do anything this season, the bats can't be sleepy.
You'd like to have options there, right?
It would be awesome if they could figure out a way to keep Scott Moore around.
Anyway, an interesting day.
Lets see what Mike Quade and Jim Hendry decide in the most important meeting between the two since Hendry gave Quade The Job.
10 days, guys.
