The Cubbies started off this spring season in the right way, taking down the Dodgers to kick off this 2009 season.  Not that beating the Manny-less Dodgers in a meaningless game in Arizona is any sort of redemption for being swept in the playoffs last year, but, it does kick off what should be one hell of a season.  With all of the off-season hoopla that went on this winter, let me just recap a few moves, and a few stories that could be big for this year’s squad.

A couple of fan favorites won’t be enjoying the friendly confines this season.  Kerry Wood will get a new start in Cleveland.  I’m sure a lot of people were upset to see him go, but it was definitely in his best interest.  Carlos Marmol has been waiting in the wings and it’s now his time to be the everyday closer.  When he’s on…..his stuff is nasty, so let’s hope he’s on most of the season.  And as for Mark DeRosa…..I’ve never seen such outrage over a utility man being let go by a team.  My sister-in-law actually vowed to quit watching the cubs play now that he’s gone.  Now don’t get me wrong….D-Ro was huge last year.  He was probably our most consistent player and was just an all around ball player.  But after dealing D-Ro, Hendry went out and got some pieces that will most likely make up for what we lost.

Probably the biggest off-season rumor was the deal of all deals to get Jake Peavy.  Talks went on and on all winter, but it’s February and Peavy’s still a Padre.  Could you seriously imagine our rotation if we had Peavy in the mix??  I still hear people saying that eventually a deal will get done, if not this spring, then by the trading deadline, but I just don’t see it happening.

A few new faces will be enjoying the confines this season.  Most notably, Milton Bradley.  I’m not going to get into his past “attitude problems”.  I don’t really care to be honest.  All I really care about is that he comes out and plays the way he’s capable of, and keeps this team winning games.  His on-base percentage alone should make a career year for Aramis Ramirez.  Let’s hope he stays healthy.  The Aaron Miles addition is something else to talk about, but I’ll talk about him here in a minute.  I also love the addition of Joey Gathright. He’s an all out athlete, with ridiculous, I mean, ridiculous speed.  And the dude has crazy hops too.  If you haven’t already checked it out, check out his YouTube video, it’s crazy.

Now I’ve got a few random notes to talk about for a second.  First off,  Rich Hill and Felix Pie are both gone.  Now I know they weren’t crucial parts of the organization, but they were both great prospects that ran out of time in the Cubbies system.  So good luck to both of them, I’m sure they’ll both be fine.  In return for Pie, we got Garrett Olsen, who was supposedly one of the young pitchers the Padres were eyeing in the Peavy deal.  So great, now we’ve got Olsen and can make a move for Peavy right?  Wrong.  Instead we deal Olsen and Ronny Cedeno to the Mariners for the rocket arm of…….Aaron Heilman???  Really?  I’m not sure where Hendry was going with that move, but we’ll see.  It might be the same place he was heading when he signed Paul Bako….who knows?

This note will only take a second.  Dumping Jason Marquis off to the Rockies for Luis Vizcaino was the best move of the off season.  I couldn’t believe the Cubs ever actually offered Marquis that kind of money.

Alright, so now on to a few things that will be big for this season.  I know Kevin Gregg is “competing” for the closer roll with Marmol, but it’s a done deal.  Marmol is as dominant a closer as there is in the league.  Gregg will be the 8th inning guy.  So with Big Z, Dempster, Lilly, Harden, and most likely Marshall in the rotation, with Gregg and Marmol locking up the 8th and 9th, that leaves a plethora of talented bullpen guys to take care of a few middle innings here and there. This pitching staff is going to be the best in the NL by a mile.

With Bradley coming in, Kosuke is gonna have to make the move to center.  He’ll be platooning with Reed Johnson apparently.  I like Reed Johnson in center, but I have a feeling Kosuke is gonna bounce back big this year, and will end up getting most of the playing time out there.  I guess Pinella will play the matchup game with these two, so it’ll work out either way.

Now I can get back to the Aaron Miles acquisition.  He’s a switch hitting utility guy.  Cool.  Everyone seems to have him tagged as the everyday 2nd baseman with D-Ro gone.  Now this is where I have a problem.  Mike Fontenot has been nothing but phenomenal as a Cub.  Mark my words, by June, Fontenot will be the guy at 2nd base, with Miles filling in at 2nd, short, and 3rd when the regulars need a day off.  Huge year for Mike Fontenot….don’t forget you heard it here first.

Alright, that’s about it for now.  I guess we’ll see how spring training plays out.  Mark your calendars, April 3rd and 4th we’ll get a good look at the new Yankee Stadium in two exhibition games vs. the Yanks.  Then the road to the World Series begins with the regular season kicking off on the road against the Astros.  Wrigley’s season opener will go down on the April 13th against the Rockies.  Here’s to hoping the fans hear a whole lot of “Go Cubs Go” at Wrigley this season.