Chicago Cubs: What the 2012 Roster Should Look Like

To clear up any confusion, I am not Theo Epstein. It's an easy mistake to make. We're both incredibly talented.

I think I know and understand what Jed Hoyer and Theo are doing with the roster. More Magellan than Columbus but hell, even if we veer drastically off course, but discover something great in the process I'm in.

I heard a great phrase recently that applies to so many facets of life if not life as a whole: "If you're eating a sh*t sandwich, chances are you probably ordered it". This phrase perfectly describes the fragile psyche of a Cubs' fan. We complain. We feel bad for ourselves. We lament our situation - constantly.

This needs to stop.

First we must understand that the Cubs are undoubtedly going to be bad this year. I had the privilege of attending the 3/15 game against the Diamondbacks. 12-2. Brilliant. Pitching was brutal as usual. Though Marmol actually looked okay. Situational hitting was nonexistent. This is what I expect this year to look like. Suspect pitching and worse hitting. I'm cool with it as long as we look at the kids and build.

Now that the season is upon us we must take a solid look and see what the kids can do. I'll get Starlin Castro (going to be a star in MLB for many years to come) and Darwin Barney (the little engine that could who had a very nice spring and packed on some muscle) out of the way. This is our middle infield for the foreseeable future. I know Castro may head over to second if Javier Baez continues to make strides, but that won't happening this year.

First off, Marlon Byrd needs to go. I like Byrd. Solid player, better man. But he is of no benefit to us now. Veteran leadership is most needed on team with lofty aspirations. 3rd place would be considered lofty for us right now.

Soriano is not going anywhere. We all get this. (He is batting .500 this spring.) Let's hope he tears it up as much as he can tear it up these days and becomes a needed commodity at the trade deadline.

Vitters should have been on the Opening Day roster. Ian Stewart is not the answer. Unless the question is "Guy we got in the Colvin trade". I am so sick of hearing about Vitters. I don't care if they don't think he's ready. He's as ready as he's ever gonna be. He either needs to step up or be an afterthought in a bigger trade. If he actually played to his potential, he could be our guy for the next 10 years. If not? Well, at least we know.

Wellington Castillo is another guy who needs to find out who he is. Beaten out by Steve Cleavenger for the backup spot on the Opening Day roster is not a good sign. From what I have been hearing, Castillo calls a good game, pitchers love his defense, he has a rocket arm and hits for a nice average with a little pop. Soto is nice, but unless his hitting gets better, his average at best defense is not enough to keep him on the roster.

I am a huge Tony Campana fan, which makes sense being that he is a microcosm of the Cubs as a whole: potentially exciting, unbelievably frustrating, and underachieving at the worst time. I'm just not sure he has the eye at the plate to be any everyday player or even a good enough guy off the bench. You can't teach speed, which he has and he plays nice defense. But how much do you pay a guy to solely pinch run and come in as a defensive replacement? And who is he replacing and why? Is he coming in for Soriano to protect a 6 run deficit, don't expect that to happen too often.

Joe Mather is really annoying me. I make it a habit to hate all Cardinals, the actual birds, ex-Cardinals, Cardinal fans, people of St. Louis, people of Missouri, people who have ever lived in Missouri, and people who say Missouri without adding "bites" somewhere in the sentence. Mather is playing really well and looks like a solid if not above average outfielder. If there is one thing we don't need its another "could be good" outfielder.

With that said, he needs a place on the roster. As has been said many times by just about all of us, Byrd needs to go and Soriano needs to tear it up in the first half so someone will take him off our hands for the stretch run, same goes for Dejesus.

The starters, surprisingly, could be adequate. Dempster will go 10-13 along with a 4.00 ERA. Garza will go 13-10 because he's a better pitcher and his ERA will hover closer to the low 3s. Samardzija is the wild card. I'm guessing 8-12 is a good number for him. He has the potential to post an ERA that sits in the high 3s but I'm guessing low 4s is more appropriate. Volstad and Maholm are going to take the mound every 4th and 5th day and underwhelm us every time. If either one of them wins eight I would be shocked. I am guessing a 6-15 year for both is about on target.

Happy Opening Day All! Having moved to Texas a year ago is tough on days like this. Wish I was at Murphy's downing a Bloody getting ready for the Old Style. It's going to be 51 and sunny. Can't complain about that!