What exactly will the 2010 Cubs look like? Part 2

Starting pitchers: Ted Lilly, Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, Randy Wells

Spots available: 2 to start the year due to Lilly's injury, 1 after Lilly returns

Possible starters: Sean Marshall, Jeff Samardzija, Tom Gorzelanny, Carlos Silva, Andrew Cashner, Mike Parisi

Early prediction: It's too early to legitimately predict this one, as it will depend heavily on their spring performances. But given Sean Marshall's splits (he's much better out of the 'pen), I'm going to say that Tom Gorzelanny is the fourth starter out of the gate, and that Marshall makes any spot starts that become necessary in late April. According to my math, the Cubs won't need a fifth starter until April 19. Lilly might be back by then, but at the very least it seems likely that Lou could simply use a spot starter once or twice until Lilly's return, and the Cubs could get away with a four-man rotation for most of April.

Relief pitchers: Carlos Marmol, John Grabow, Angel Guzman

Spots available: 3 or 4

Possible relievers: Jeff Samardzija, Jeff Gray, Esmailin Caridad, Mitch Atkins, Justin Berg, Carlos Silva, Jeff Stevens, David Patton

Under-the-radar possibilities: Andrew Cashner, John Gaub, Mike Parisi, Marcos Mateo, Blake Parker, Rafael Dolis

Early prediction: This one's even more ridiculous to predict than the starters. All of the "possible relievers" have some major league experience, while Mike Parisi is the only "under-the-radar" candidate with any experience (12 games with the Cardinals in '08).

Jeff Samardzija (R) should be nearly a lock. Let's hope he can start to provide some legitimate production in his third year as a professional.

Jeff Gray (R) was acquired in the Jake Fox trade, had good numbers with Oakland last year, and can throw in the upper 90s.

I'm going to take a chance here and say Silva (R) makes the squad as well. First of all, he's making an obscene amount of money. Second, he certainly has the potential to succeed (14-8 with the Twins in '04), and given that he's always been a starter, he could become the "long man" out of the 'pen.

I'm going to put Caridad (R) in there as well--he had a 1.40 ERA in 19.1 IP with the Cubs last year.

So here's my absurdly premature February 5 prediction for the 2010 Cubs opening day roster:

Infield
Derrek Lee
Jeff Baker
Ryan Theriot
Aramis Ramirez
Mike Fontenot
Micah Hoffpauir
Andres Blanco

Outfield
Alfonso Soriano
Marlon Byrd
Kosuke Fukudome
Sam Fuld

Catchers
Geovany Soto
Koyie Hill

Starters
Ryan Dempster
Carlos Zambrano
Randy Wells
Tom Gorzelanny

Relievers
Carlos Marmol
John Grabow (L)
Angel Guzman
Sean Marshall (L)
Jeff Samardzija
Carlos Silva
Esmailin Caridad
Jeff Gray*

*Will be replaced on the roster by Ted Lilly when he returns