Chicago Cubs Ticket Blog

Cubs pitchers are headed this Wednesday to Fitch Park, a few blocks away from HoHoKam Park, for the Spring Training.  The pitchers and catchers will start their official work out on Thursday while position players are expected to turn up by Feb 18.  Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, however, will arrive earlier than the others this Friday as he prepares for the US Major Leagues.  Fukudome, who had been in Japan these previous 9 years, signed a 4-year contract with the Cubs for $48 million to play right field.

For the starters, there are 8 candidates to fill the five spots in rotation.  Most probably, three of those spots will be taken by Zambrano, Ted Lilly, and Rich Hill, so it’s a choice among Jon Lieber, Jason Marquis, and Ryan Dempster for the other two spots.  Lieber just got back since 2002 after sustaining some injuries and playing for the New York Yankees in 2004 and the Philadelphia Phillies last year.

Lou Piniella and Larry Rothschild have other things to think about.  Kerry Wood, Bob Howry, and Carlos Marmol are all interested in the position left open when Dempster was moved to the rotation.  They will all be given the chance to finish games.