As expected, the Cubs demoted Rich Hill to triple-A Iowa today, reports the Daily Herald. They called up Sean Gallagher to take his spot on the roster. Gallagher will go to the bullpen and Jon Lieber will go to the rotation. Sean Marshall remains in the bullpen, despite the fact that after last night's game Lou Piniella said, "I would think that if we did something, we'd put Marshall in the rotation, for now." Marshall has not thrown more than an inning in a game this year since being recalled, though, and in his last four appearances he has faced just five batters. It would take some time before he was fully stretched out. One of the strange things that occurred this spring was the Cubs not giving Marshall a chance to make the rotation.

The last time Hill was at Iowa, in 2006, he was utterly dominant in 100 innings.

Lots of notes from the first day of camp, from the Chicago Sun-Times and MLB.com:

Jason Marquis, Jon Lieber, Ryan Dempster, and Sean Marshall are battling for the final two rotation spots, after Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, and Rich Hill. One gets the impression that the best of the four--Marshall--is the least likely to get a job.

The Cubs won't take any action against Aramis Ramirez for being "dedicated entirely" to his cockfighting roosters when he is home in the Dominican Republic. "It's understanding and respecting what's acceptable in their culture,'' said Oneri Fleita, player development director and head of the Cubs' Latin American operations. ''We tend to think we have all the answers in our country, but there are people in other parts of the world that think their [customs] are better than ours.'' Moral relativism is alive and well in the Cubs front office.

"Piniella said former Notre Dame football star Jeff Samardzija, who pitched his first full season of professional ball last year, will get a longer look in camp this year and could be ready to make his major-league debut this summer if his progress remains on pace." Samardzija pitching for the big league club this summer would be a miracle.

Angel Guzman might be pitching off a mound by July. Guzman almost became the Cubs' closer last May before going down with an elbow injury and having Tommy John surgery.

This is a good sign: "Eric Patterson was one of the early position players in camp. He has spent most of his Minor League career as a second baseman but will get some playing time in the outfield." That's a good sign because the last we heard from Patterson was that he was being demoted to double-A from the big league club for showing up late to the park last September. (That demotion resulted in Sam Fuld's promotion, which resulted in this, and after this, has Fuld fighting for the starting centerfield job this spring.)

Kevin Hart didn't have a job this winter other than working out, so he learned to cook mashed potatoes.

The Cubs have signed Jon Lieber, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. MLB.com (no article yet) reports the deal is worth $3.5M. The S-T speculates that "the move could pave the way for the Cubs to trade young pitchers to Baltimore for Brian Roberts." Ken Rosenthal speculates that this "could signal a trade of right-hander Jason Marquis or the return of righty Ryan Dempster to the bullpen." (Hat tip: Wrigleyville23.)

I appreciate Lieber's service to the Cubs from 1999-2002 as much as anyone. But why this now? Lieber will be 38 in April. Over the past two seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies, Lieber has thrown 246 innings with a 4.87 ERA.

Guaranteeing Lieber's contract almost certainly means that Sean Marshall (who was 34th in adjusted ERA out of 127 starting pitchers with at least 100 innings pitched last year) is out of the rotation and perhaps gone from the team in a trade for Roberts, unless the Cubs find someone to take Marquis' contract and move Dempster back to the bullpen (which likely means putting him back in the closer role). Oh, and Sean Gallagher and Kevin Hart do not get chances to compete for the starting rotation.

Ted Lilly, Rich Hill, and soon . . . Sean Marshall, the guy (we soon forget) finished 2nd on the team in 2006 in starts. "Sean Marshall will be called up to the Cubs this week, although when and where he'll start remains top secret," reports the Chicago Tribune. Marshall has a 1.82 ERA for AAA Iowa in 4 starts so far this season.

(Courtesy of The Sports Xchange) One of the duties of new Cubs bench coach Alan Trammell is to work with the infield.

The four-time Gold Glove-winning shortstop, who helped turn 1,321 double plays in his career, is looking forward to his duties with an infield that has two Gold Glove players and a pair of question marks.

First baseman Derrek Lee and shortstop Cesar Izturis are former Gold Glove winners whose 2006 seasons were shortened because of injuries.

Baseball America's Jim Callis discusses the Cubs' eight rookie starting pitchers this year in his latest "Ask BA" column. (Hat tip: Chicago Cubs Minor League Baseball.) He says Rich Hill (5-2, 3.05 ERA, 52/19 K/BB ratio, in 59 innings since the All-Star break) is the only "lock" to be in the 2007 starting rotation. Read the rest. Luke Jasenosky and Derek Smart also have praise for Hill.

(Courtesy of The Sports Xchange) Les Walrond's emergency start on Sunday, in which he was not able to complete three innings, was likely not good enough for him to make another start for the Cubs.

Sean Marshall, who has been out since the third week in July with a oblique strain, had his first rehab start yesterday, pitching for the Iowa Cubs. (Hat tip: WGN TV Sports Cubs Baseball Blog.) Unfortunately, it didn't go well. Marshall lasted just three innings, allowing three runs on two hits and five walks. Control has been an issue for him in the big leagues this season, as he's allowed 4 walks per 9 innings.