Opening Day Anticipation

Ahhhh Opening Day. It might be the most refreshing day of the year for a baseball fan. Every team starts at zero and it's the only week of the year where the likes of the Royals or Nationals might grace the top of their division standings for a few short days. Life begins anew and no matter what kind of off-season a team has, you can't help but feel optimism in the air. As the Cubs turn the corner to Opening Day 2010, let's check out a few memorable Spring Training happenings:

Holy Tyler Colvin: It's too bad Colvin is an outfielder because the Cubs really need to find a permanent roster spot for this kid. He led the team this spring in Avg, Total Bases, RBI, runs scored, and I'm sure a few other categories I've overlooked. How about it Tyler, can you play second base? How about a little third base? You should really work on that because you don't deserve to be merely pinch hitting.

A friend of mine made a good point...wouldn't it be interesting if the Cubs starting outfield by summer was Nady, Byrd, and Colvin? That would relegate the big money guys (Fukudome and Soriano) to the bench. Sure it won't happen, but those three have a very good shot at out-producing them.

The Fat Man Can Pitch! (kind of): Carlos Silva has actually made the starting rotation. How many of you honestly called this one? I think some of us half expected Silva to not even make the roster, especially after his disastrous spring training debut. Since then he's settled down, notched two wins and has given Piniella another back of the rotation option. Go Fat Man!

DLee vs. The Folding Chair: The freak injury of the spring without a doubt goes to Derek Lee, who had a folding chair collapse on him while he was eating in the clubhouse. The fall tweaked his back and cut his playing time short that afternoon, but other than that no harm done.

The No Name Bullpen feat. James Russell & Justin Berg: Chalk up another failure for the Jeff Samardzija experiment, as the Cubs sent him down last week in favor of Justin Berg. Both Berg and fellow newcomer James Russell will start the season with the big club in the head-scratcher that is the Cubbie Bullpen. Esmailin Caridad has some major league experience and four lefties (Gorzelanny, Marshall, Grabow, and Russell) add some depth, but it's a very iffy situation in my opinion. It's a little unsettling that Carlos Marmol is really the only sure thing. He didn't have to battle this spring for the closer's job so hopefully that'll help his confidence. While it'd be nice to think that all of these guys will produce, you have to wonder what type of deal Hendry is going to try to swing by the All-Star break for a veteran bullpen presence.


 Cubs decide on Tracy over Millar: I think this is the most realistic decision, but it's hard to not think about the professionalism and clubhouse demeanor a guy like Kevin Millar can bring to a team. I hope he catches on with another organization. The Cubs need Chad Tracy's ability to play third base, so that seals Millar's fate. Let's just hope he doesn't hit like Aaron Miles.