That, according to U.S.S. Mariner: "There’s a real chance that you could find several gold bars, one of the first photographs in american history, and the original copy of the declaration of independence. Or you might find a pair of false teeth, a hoard of rats, and a shirt containing remnants of the bubonic plague." You know, the Cubs aren't all that different. One of the best things the Cubs have going for them is that they play in the NL Central. And they don't have Carl Pavano as their opening day starting pitcher.

"The goal now is to go down and help that team win and try to make the Triple-A all-star team. Maybe I can get invited to the Futures Game or something. I’m still 26." -- Mark Prior, on his demotion, as quoted by the Daily Herald. Though there is definitely some frustration in Prior's comments: "There’s not much I can say. I’m a controlled player. I do what I’m told."

I have no greater worry heading into Monday's opener than the Cubs' outfield defense. We're almost in 1999 territory, when there were games when the starting outfield was Henry Rodriguez in left, Sammy Sosa in center, and Glenallen Hill in right.

. . . unless your name is Mark Prior, who will be sent there to start the season. Prior threw 3 innings today, allowing 3 unearned runs on 2 hits and 2 walks. (Prior was clearly hurt by some bad outfield defense today.) He is still throwing in the mid-80s. The Sporting News' Stan McNeal thinks that Prior's once-supposed perfect mechanics "have been flawed all along," based on an anonymous coach who "refused to give details and wouldn't go on the record." Perhaps. Perhaps it was the line drive to the elbow, the collision with Marcus Giles, the heel problem, or too many pitches thrown. Likely, some combination.

In any event, the pitcher formerly known as The Franchise is now a minor leaguer. A rich minor leaguer, but still a minor leaguer.

Jim Hendry says this: "We'll make a spot for him when he's ready, I promise you that." It is better to not make promises unless you know you can keep them. Prior is now on the outside looking in. Not only does he need to improve at Iowa, someone in the rotation will have to falter. That's possible, even likely, but not certain.

So much for the chance that Kerry Wood would still make the opening day roster. "When the meeting broke up about 9, Hendry emerged, and only after media members pressed him did he confirm what already had been in the public domain: Wood’s troublesome right shoulder is acting up and will put him on the disabled list for an indefinite amount of time," reports the Daily Herald's Bruce Miles. I know we're supposed to move on with Wood and Prior, but, frankly, it's not easy.

http://mvn.com/mlb-cubs/2007/03/21/cedeno-makes-teami-jump-off-a-cliff/

Earlier this month, The Cub Reporter's Rob G. stated, in a headline, that if Ronny Cedeno made the Cubs team, then Rob G. would "jump off a cliff." The implication was that Cedeno was not deserving of a roster spot and that by adding Cedeno to the team, then the Cubs were worsening their chances for success in 2007. Well, according to The Score AM 670, Cedeno has been added to the Cubs roster and Felix Pie has been sent down, yet again, to AAA. Will Rob G. keep his word?

In any event, let's check out young Cedeno's ST stats at:

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/stats/sortable_player_stats.jsp?c_id=chc

The countdown to get Carlos Zambrano signed to an extension before opening day is on. The Tribune is now saying that Zambrano could play for the Mets, or the White Sox, next season. (What, are the Cardinals the next possibility?) What could be the holdup? We know both sides are at five years.

Peter Gammons highlights (sub. req'd) something exciting about this season: There are plenty of teams with (legitimate) World Series aspirations. "The best division may be what used to be considered a joke, the AL Central. 'We have four teams (Minnesota, Cleveland, Chicago and Detroit) that could be in the World Series or finish fourth,' says one of the general managers. . . . All the AL East GMs believe that whoever gets the most consistent starting pitching from New York, Boston or Toronto will win . . . . The West comes down to the health of the Angel starters vs. the health of Rich Harden and Bobby Crosby in Oakland . . . . The NL East has three potential World Series teams in the Mets, Phillies and Braves, and with the rise of the Brewers and the restructuring of the Cubs, the Central, any one of four teams could win." This promises to be a fun year.

Interesting times around the Iowa basketball program. "New Mexico and Iowa coach Steve Alford have agreed to the final details of a contract and Alford will be introduced as the Lobos' new coach at a news conference Friday, multiple sources in both camps said Thursday morning," reports ESPN.com's Andy Katz. Alford had four years left on his contract at a Big Ten school he had been at for eight years. Clearly, he wanted out; there is a signifant contingent of Iowa fans who do not like Alford personnally or as a coach or both. (I can't comment on him as a person. As a coach, he wasn't bad, but he wasn't Lute Olson or Tom Davis either.)

Attention, Cubs fans – new book on the 1908 season is just out. (I know because I wrote it). It’s called Crazy ’08 – How a cast of cranks, rogues, boneheads and magnates created the greatest year in baseball history (HarperCollins, $24.95; foreword by Robert Creamer). The Chicago Tribune reviewed it warmly on March 18, and Sports Illustrated liked it, too (the March Madness cover). Go to crazy08.com for more.

The Cubs play the Rangers today. Rob G. asks whether we can forgive Sammy Sosa.

We have a new feature in the right sidebar: Squib Hits. Squib Hits is a CubsNet.com blog that contains just short posts not worth a full length front page article. Comments will be open. Here's the welcome post.

The Sun-Times' Gordon Wittenmyer finds a scout that says of Alfonso Soriano in centerfield: "I don't think [Soriano's] going to do it as a center fielder. There's [playable] balls he's not getting within eight to 10 feet of.'' Wittenmyer counters that with another scout who says, "He'll be fine." The Cubs cannot afford to mess this up.

The Cubs are still being cautious with Cliff Floyd and his left foot. That means more at-bats for Matt Murton, even against righthanded pitchers, early in the season, reports MLB.com.

With the news this morning that Kerry Wood would likely end up in extended spring training to start the year, a little air went out of our balloons. Don't count him out yet, though. He threw a bullpen session Monday and Larry Rothschild isn't discounting Wood heading north, reports MLB.com.