Congrats to Andrew Cashner – he is going to be the Cubs 5th starter during the 2011 MLB schedule.  This came as a bit of a surprise to me, but I love it.  As I’ve written before, I think this is a great move to give Cashner some valuable starting experience in a season in which the Cubs have very low expectations for a good season.

Congrats also to Marcos Mateo who earned a spot in the bullpen on the Cubs opening day roster.  Mateo had a solid spring in which he compiled a 1.29 ERA in 7 spring appearances.

And good riddance to Carlos Silva.  It sucks that the Cubs will end up eating the $11.5 million owed to Silva for this season, but it is the best move for the team.  Silva hasn’t pitched well in over a year, he came into camp out of shape, simply assuming that he would be handed a spot in the starting rotation.  And he became a cancer in the clubhouse when he started with Aramis Ramirez in the dugout after a bad first inning for the entire team in his 2nd spring start.

I like the Cubs confidence in some of their young pitchers.  It won’t always be pretty, but in a year like this where the Cubs have little chance of putting together a quality season, you might as well give some of these guys a shot to see what you really have.