More stuff to figure out

The Cubs just keep on giving us things to consider.

* Lee and Soto both hit home runs today in a 7-5 win over the Giants, which was good to see; Hill also put together a decent start, going five innings, allowing 2 ER on five hits and a walk, while striking out six. All three guys had been struggling, so it was good to see them do something for a change.

* New acquisition Reed Johnson started in center to get some at-bats with the team; he went 2-for-5 and scored two runs. If these trends continue... ayyyyyy.

* Michael Wuertz, subject of trade rumors that I think were just planted by Tigers beat writers, since trading him never made sense, had yet another scoreless inning. Spring ERA? 0.00. Carmen Pignatiello finally allowed a run; his spring ERA is 1.00.

* Matt Murton went 1-for-3 with a sac fly RBI; he also preserved a 4-4 tie in the seventh by throwing out Fred Lewis at home plate from left field. Soriano's not the only one with gifts.

* Hoffpauir, Patterson, and Fuld (along with Walrond and McGehee) were officially sent down. The roster on Cubs.com is currently listed at 29: 15 pitchers, two catchers, seven IFs and five OFs. This means four more guys have to get lost between now and opening day. The outfield - Soriano, Pie, Fukudome, Murton and Johnson - seems set, so who else is going?

Well, the current list of seven IFs is Lee, DeRosa, Theriot, Ramirez, Cedeno, Fontenot and Ward. If you have to cut one from that - and I think Lou wants 12 pitchers, so it's likely that someone will get cut - I'd say it's clearly Cedeno vs. Fontenot. Cedeno is probably stronger defensively, while Fontenot is probably stronger offensively and gives the Cubs another lefty bat on the bench. I really don't know what the Cubs should do with Cedeno; unless Theriot absolutely doesn't hit, he's blocked up here, but he tore up the PCL last year to such great effect that it's not clear more time in the minors is going to help him. It's no wonder he was supposed to be part of the now-dormant Brian Roberts deal. But between them I think I'd keep Fontenot for the time being.

As for the pitchers, the 15 left are the five starters (Zambrano, Lilly, Hill, Dempster, Marquis), the closer (Wood), and nine relievers going for what I think will be six spots (Lieber, Marmol, Howry, Marshall, Hart, Pignatiello, Wuertz, Lahey and Eyre). Eyre is apparently injured, so forget him for the time being. That leaves two more. I don't see how Lahey makes it; I assume the only reason he's still hanging in there is, as a Rule V draftee, the Cubs can't option him to the minors. That leaves one, and it's clearly between Hart and Pignatiello, and although Hart was great last year, he hasn't had all that good of a spring, whereas Pignatiello has. Pignatiello is also a lefty, and with Eyre injured the only other lefty in the pen would be Marshall, so he fills a need.

Makes sense to me. Thoughts? Would you send Pignatiello (or Marshall?) down so you could keep Cedeno up, or does 12 pitchers make the most sense right now?