Sean Marshall taking command in battle for Chicago Cubs startin...

Sean Marshall may be separating himself from the pack already in the battle for the fifth starter's job.

[Sublime1]

I have said this many times on here. Marshall should have been our fifth pitcher for the last few years. I expect him to win the job and post better numbers than Marquis did.

[Rod from Tennessee]

I'm really a big time fan of Rich Harden, but i can only hope that his shoulder isn't as serious as the Cubs brass make it appear to be.

Interesting thread being run on ESPN. The listing of the 20 best starting pitchers in the major leagues, and no Cub pitcher mentioned in the top 20, and rightfully so imo. However, the pitcher the Cubs brass seem to think they don't need at all, even though he's all but said he'd love to be a Cub, Jake Peavy, comes in as the #7 best pitcher in baseball. Oh well, look at the bright side, a penny saved is a penny earned, and to the Cubs saving some money on payroll is certainly more important than 101 years of losing.

[101st year]

Harden's great, Rod from TN, on those rare occasions when he feels stong ("unfragile?") enough to go 5 innings every eight days or so. Would you take a bet that he'll make it through the year? I wouldn't. He'll fit in well in this 101st year without winning the series, probably going about 10 and 8 with several heart breaking losses including one in the playoffs if he is healthy enough and Lou has the brains and balls to pitch him before getting swept.

[Mr Houston]

Sean Marshall has a lot of potential. He could really be a player we are saying "Wow, what a difference maker" about at the end of the year.

[bobbyw- albuquerque]

I don't know who's dumber, Sullivan for writing what Piniella says or Piniella for saying his inane remarks. Either way, there has to be someone with a sane and sober look at the spring training situation this year. I gave up visiting hohokam after 16 straight years--it's the economy stupid--and try to keep up by reading lines on the internet. So far, notning has happened to awaken my interest in the 09 campaign. perhaps when i sign up for audion games with santo and his cohort, i'll be saved.