Spring Training Roster Projection
The template generally looks like this:
30-36 pitchers
6 catchers
3 1B
3 2B
3 3B
3 SS
3 LF
3 CF
3 RF
PITCHERS: During the first couple of weeks at Fitch Park (prior to the move to HoHoKam Park and the start of the Cactus League season), the pitchers are broken up into three groups of 10-12 pitchers each. There is a status to the three groups, where Group 1 is mostly the big league guys, Group 2 is mostly the guys battling for spots, and Group 3 is everybody else. When a top draft pick guy like Andrew Cashner gets a courtesy-invitation to big league camp to "get a look," he might be assigned to Group 1 just so he can see how the big leaguers prepare for the season. (This happened with Jeff Samardzija).
CATCHERS: Six catchers are needed at big league camp at Fitch Park because the 10-12 pitchers in each of the three groups are further divided into groups of 5-6, and they simultaneously throw in the "Ten Pack" (ten-mound bullpen located north of the clubhouse), so there needs to be one catcher for each pitcher. (In minor league camp where there are five squads, all ten bullpen mounds in the Ten Pack are used simultaneously, so at least ten catchers are needed in minor league camp).
INFIELDERS/OUTFIELDERS: Each position needs to be three-deep at Fitch Park, because the position players also are sometimes broken up into groups of three while taking fielding practice & BP.
Here is how the Cubs 2009 Spring Training roster looks right now (subject to players who might be added prior to the start of ST):
PITCHERS:
GROUP 1:
* Andrew Cashner (TBD)
Neal Cotts
Ryan Dempster
Chad Gaudin
Kevin Gregg
Rich Harden
Ted Lilly
Carlos Marmol
Sean Marshall
Luis Vizcaino
Carlos Zambrano
GROUP 2:
Jose Ascanio
* Chad Fox
Angel Guzman
Kevin Hart
Rich Hill
Jeff Samardzija
Jeff Stevens
Randy Wells
* Bill White
Michael Wuertz
GROUP 3:
Mitch Atkins
Justin Berg
* Edward Campusano (TBD)
* Esmailin Caridad (TBD)
* Casey Lambert (TBD)
Marcos Mateo
* J. R. Mathes (TBD)
David Patton
Rocky Roquet (TBD)
* Jason Waddell (TBD)
CATCHERS:
Geovanty Soto
Koyie Hill
* Mark Johnson
* Welington Castillo (TBD)
* Tony Richie (TBD)
* Robinson Chirinos (TBD)
FIRST-BASE:
Derrek Lee
Micah Hoffpauir
Jake Fox
SECOND-BASE:
Mike Fontenot
Aaron Miles
* Nate Spears (TBD)
THIRD-BASE:
Aramis Ramirez
* Kyle Reynolds (TBD)
* Bobby Scales (TBD - if re-signed)
SHORTSTOP:
Ryan Theriot
Ronny Cedeno
* Andres Blanco
NOTE: Darwin Barney could get NRI if Cedeno is traded
LEFT-FIELD:
Alfonso Soriano
Joey Gathright
So Taguchi
* Tyler Colvin (TBD - DH TJS rehab)
CENTER-FIELD:
Kosuke Fukudome
Reed Johnson
Felix Pie
RIGHT-FIELD:
Milton Bradley
Sam Fuld
Brad Snyder
* Non-Roster Invitee (NRI)
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