The 2013 Chicago Cubs as I see it today

The Chicago Cubs 2013 opening day lineup as I see it today: 

1. David DeJesus – CF
2. Nate Schierholz – RF
3. Anthony Rizzo -1B
4. Alfonso Soriano – LF
5. Starlin Castro – SS
6. Ian Stewart – 3B
7. Wellington Castillo – C
8. Darwin Barney – 2B

Puke inducing.  There isn’t a much better way to describe this diatribe-inviting lineup. 

The Cubs starting rotation though, looks much better:

1. Matt Garza
2. Jeff Samardzija
3. Edwin Jackson
4. Travis Wood
5. Scott Feldman/Carlos Villanueva

DL. Scott Baker

When Scott Baker returns this spring from Tommy John surgery he will join Edwin Jackson as another solid #3 MLB starter in this rotation.  Travis Wood, Scott Feldman and Carlos Villanueva each have the potential to be #3 big league starters as well, but each also has experience in the bullpen giving the Cubs plenty of flexibility.

Bottom line: the Cubs should have a deep and effective starting rotation. Good pitching, solid defense and anemic offense.  Do I smell the number two wild card in the Cubs future?  If absolutely everything goes right, it could happen. Cubs fans are at least allowed to dream.  

Year end lists

There's nothing like being completely overwhelmed by year end lists chalk full of songs you've never heard.  It's always fun to root for certain songs that you've become fond of to see if and where on the list your song will appear.  Reading these lists is obviously a lot more fun when you've dutifully been paying attention to the music scene over the course of the year.  This year, that was not the case for me. But the lists are still fun and it's always nice to see what you missed out on, what hidden gems may be waiting to be listened to and enjoyed.

Just for fun, I wanted to take a snap shot of my most listened to songs on my iTunes.  No thought required, just a simple list of my most played songs.  Therefore, what should be my "favorite" songs.  Making a year end list is always so difficult, I never feel like I get it right in the end.  So while I try to come up with my favorites of this year, (and this is really just for me to see how it changes over time) here are my most listened to tracks on iTunes over the past five years:

1. 134 plays: Washed Out - Hold Out
2. 126 plays: Cut Copy - Out There on the Ice
3. 106 plays: Animal Collective - The Purple Bottle
4. 98 plays: The Tough Alliance - Miami
5. 97 plays: Cut Copy - Lights and Music
6. 94 plays: Air France - Collapsing at Your Doorstep
7. 92 plays: Gauntlet Hair - I was thinking...
8. 91 plays: Little Dragon - Feather
7. 88 plays: Cut Copy - Hearts on Fire
8. 84 plays: VEGA - No Reasons
9. 82 plays: Animal Collective - What Would I Want Sky?
10. 80 plays: Of Montreal - I Was Never Young
11. 79 plays: Of Montreal - The Party's Crashing Us
12. 78 plays: Animal Collective - Grass
13. 78 plays: Cut Copy - Saturdays
14. 78 plays: Neon Indian - Terminally Chill
15. 75 plays: Animal Collective - Winter Wonder Land
16. 75 plays: Animal Collective - Water Curses
17. 75 plays: Blood Diamonds - Grins
18. 74 plays: LCD Soundsystem - Tribulations
19. 72 plays: Gold Panda - Marriage (Star Slinger Remix)
20. 72 plays: Memory Tapes - Plain Material 

Marmol Watch

The 2012 Marmolade has not been as delicious as Cubs fans had previously come to expect when they tossed back a frosty mug of Marmol's finest in years past. However, after coming off the DL in late May, Marmol has once again looked like his old self.  According to Muskat Ramblings, "Carlos Marmol is 6-for-6 in save opportunities in his last nine outings with a 1.04 ERA, giving up one earned run over 8 2/3 innings, walking five and striking out 15."

That may be due in part to this hilarious note I came across at Bleacher Nation:

I knew the Cubs’ coaching staff didn’t like Carlos Marmol shaking off the pitches that his catcher was calling, but I didn’t know they were this serious: since he came back from the disabled list in late May,Marmol has not been allowed to shake off his catcher. If he shakes off a sign, he owes pitching coach Chris Bosio a case of wine. Not coincidently, Marmol has been excellent in the last month and a half.

What to make of the Cubs lineup

Dale Sveum is losing sleep over the order of the Cubs lineup, according to this ESPN Chicago report, and it is not hard to see why. The Cubs best hitter, Starlin Castro, had 10 home runs a year ago, leaving the Cubs with no consistent run-producer, or a prototypical leadoff man. If Alfonso Soriano can continue his hot spring, he at least seems like a logical choice for the cleanup spot in the order. Likewise, if Darwin Barney translates his improved offense this spring to the regular season, he would be a good candidate to hit second. David DeJesus was signed with the thought of his high on-base percentage working well in the leadoff role, however he has had a slow spring coming off a bad 2011 season. In the end though, his proven OBP track record and limited pop may work best leading off games.

Here is my opening day lineup if I were Dale Sveum:

1. David DeJesus

2. Marlon Byrd

3. Starlin Castro

4. Alfonso Soriano

5. Geovany Soto

6. Brian LaHair

7. Ian Stewart

8. Darwin Barney

Bullet of the Day

Courtesy of MLBTradeRumors.com:

"On this day in 2002, the Yankees released outfielder Ruben Rivera, who allegedly stole teammate Derek Jeter's glove from his locker at the club's Spring Training complex and proceeded to sell it."

Bullet of the Day

This one comes courtesy of Bleacher Nation's Brett Taylor, writing for Bleed Cubbie Blue:

The Tampa Bay Rays have picked up a new mascot: a giant cat, dressed like a DJ. Dubbed "DJ Kitty," the mascot started as a scoreboard gimmick, and has evolved into a fully-formed excitement-provider. All other teams are jealous.