Five days until pitchers and catchers report to spring training. Only five days. 

And the Cubs go into the season with far less questions than the previous.  Questions, in my opinion, that are really just small keys that will lead to the Cubs' success.

The major question I want to see resolved is the closer situation. 

I thank God that Dempster "decided" to take a shot at the starting rotation. I have spent the last two years cringing at the thought of bringing in Dempster in a non-save opportunity. Not saying that he was a horrible closer, he just always managed to give up a walk, a double, and then realize he needs to up his game and he would get the save.

It is going to be a tough decision to pick the closer. In a perfect world, Kerry Wood would be able to handle the workload with no elbow issues and allow Marmol to be a seventh-eighth inning setup man—that would be lights out.

I know Bob Howry earned a shot at being the closer after he stepped up following Dempster's stint on the disabled list, but I do think he is still more of an American League style pitcher. 

Maybe that is just my biased view since he is an ex-Sox pitcher and I could never get into American League style of playing. After the sixth inning or so, the ball game is a totally different managed event.

The next question is in reference to the starting rotation. 

There are eight legitimate players that could be in the starting five rotation. It will be very interesting to see how this plays out during Cactus League games.

My vote for the rotation: Zambrano, Lilly, Lieber, Hill, Marquis. 

I wouldn't be mad at seeing Marshall, Gallagher, or Hart thrown into the spots for Lieber or Marquis.  Marquis is a major question in my book just because of his decline in the second half the past two seasons. Having Marshall, Gallagher or Hart pitching games in triple-A would allow them to be ready when needed. Just like how Hill was handled three years ago.

And yes, I am a Lieber fan. He is a no-nonsense pitcher that goes out and does his job. He doesn't try to force himself to make the perfect pitch, he pitches to the batter and allows his team to make their plays. 

Finally I will talk about a question that people keep bringing up: Will Pie be a good centerfielder? I say give him a full season. The dynamic that Pie adds to the ball club is undeniable. I don't know the official stat, but I do remember at one point the Cubs were 20-5 in games that Pie played.

It isn't all about batting average. I remember watching Andrew Jones when he was younger and his batting average and on-base percentage were lower than the league average, but his ability out on the diamond spoke louder than those stats.

I am just ready for the season to get underway. The Mitchell Report has not diminished Major League Baseball for me. 

I am still going into the season just as all Cubs fans do, with hope and a little bit of luck, our Cubbies could be World Series Champions.

But I will settle for a winning record against the Cardinals...

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