You Want Cubs Talk... Here is a WHOLE lot of it!

ESPN Chicago has the notes from the Cubs come from behind win found here and yesterday’s game found here.

Maholm felt really good after his first outing.

The Cubs removed Casey Weathers and Esmailin Caridad off the 40 man roster and sent them to minor league camp.

Is anyone else baffled the Blue Jays have not been linked to Garza lately considering they are looking for a starting pitcher?

Brett Jackson is looking great this spring but barring a trade or injury he will not be in Chicago on Opening Day.

I recently talked to a professional baseball scout and he believes that Rizzo, Lake, Vitters, and Jackson will make their Wrigley Field debut this season before September call ups. Rizzo and Jackson are pretty likely but I find Vitters and Lake making the club before call ups very interesting.

Bleacher Nation shows us how bad the Chicago Cubs drafting has been the past decade. NOT PRETTY!

Dale really like Mather’s versatility and it sounds like he is the favorite to make the team right now.

Kevin Goldstein says the Cubs are the “overwhelming favorite” to sign Jorge Soler which is music to my ears. He also says if they do sign him their farm system ranking will go up from the current 20^th best to middle of the pack.

Cubs Den has a good run down of the Cubs offensive strategy and how Dave McKay is impacting the team in a positive way.

Jed Hoyer declines to comment on the Cubs talk of a contract extension with Matt Garza.

The Cubs and Red Sox will announce their PTBNL by the end of the month according to Peter Gammons.

Sveum is committed to Bryan LaHair despite his awful spring so far.

Sveum is also not worried about Marmol because Arizona is really affecting his pitches.

Bleacher Report is offering up 10 questions about the Cubs.

Going with the Theo/Jed mold the Cubs have interest in 28 year old reliever David Pauley according to my sources. Pauley was recently released by the Tigers after a 0-2 record and a 5.95 ERA. Before he was traded to Detroit he posted a 2.15 ERA and a 5-4 record with Seattle. Pauley is clearly a better option for the bullpen than Lopez in my opinion.

According to sources the Cubs have had scouts at 3 of the last 4 Angel games and Angel’s scouts have also been scouting the Cubs. Could a possible trade be in the mix? Matt Garza?

ESPN Chicago has a little article on Bosio making his mark on the Cubs’ staff.

The Chicago Sun Times runs down the good problem the Cubs have 5 pitchers for two starting spots.

Here is a nice story about some Cubs fans on a cross-country trek to break the curse and fight cancer found here.

Hey baseball and video game fans. Do yourself a favor and go get MLB 12 The Show! They have improved the game by leaps and bounds this year so pick it up! It is worth the $60!

Some people have recently questioned my “love” for Castro. Lets put it in perspective a little bit. There is not one player in the ML that I would trade Castro for straight across. Not Pujols… Not Sabathia… Not Reyes… NO ONE!

Now the latest from Levine

· Bruce feels every player on the roster is eligible to be traded in July except Dempster and Soriano because of their NTC. The Cubs are in rebuilding mode so everyone is available according to Levine. I just do not agree… I think Castro, Rizzo, and some others are untouchable.

· He feels Junior Lake’s time is not now and I agree. I think it is this summer.

· Bruce sees the Shark as having a leg up on one of the starting jobs and I agree. He has done nothing but impress but so has Volstad. A friend and I both agree if the season started today the rotation would be Garza, Dempster, Maholm, Samardzija, and Volstad.

· He says forget high priced pitchers like Hamels, Cain, or Greinke next season. Their price tag will be too high and the Cubs will still be a couple years away from being in that position.

· Levine echoing what I have been saying… That a lot of teams are interested in Byrd and the only way Jackson starts in Chicago is if Byrd is traded.

· Levine is very pessimistic about Hayden Simpson future with the Cubs because of illnesses and injuries.

· Following the negative roll Levine is on he thinks the Cubs are not a power team or small ball team. He thinks they will struggle to score runs.

· Bruce thinks Soler won’t establish residency by July. I 100% disagree with that… Whether he signs by then is in question.

· Levine thinks Mather makes the team while Campana is sent to AAA because he has options left.

· He sees a Class A player going to Boston to complete the Theo transaction.

· Levine thinks Jae-Hoon Ha could end up in Iowa this year.

· He sees DeJesus having a good comeback season.

Until Next Time..