"Look, if Sean pitches the way I anticipate and stays healthy, he's got a leg up for the fifth spot, yes," Piniella said.

There are several things at work here. First, the Cubs like the work Marshall did last year, starting seven games and relieving in 27. They also were impressed that he went to the minor leagues for seven games and did so without complaint.

Piniella also likes the idea of a second lefty in the rotation behind Ted Lilly, a 17-game winner last year.

Samardzija is the most interesting X-factor, and Piniella has said he's probably sixth in this derby. Samardzija came up last year and worked exclusively out of the bullpen, impressing with his fastball and splitter. The Cubs must decide whether he's a starter or reliever long term. If they want him to start, they may send him to Class AAA Iowa to work on all of his pitches. If they want him in the 'pen, he's a good seventh-inning man.

Gaudin started 34 games for Oakland just two years ago, and he'd like to start again. Heilman, obtained in a trade late in January, has been promised a shot at the rotation, but he's likely to settle into middle- or even a long-relief role.

WHERE, WHEN: HoHoKam Park, Mesa, Ariz. First exhibition game is Feb. 25 against the Dodgers.

TOP CANDIDATE TO SURPRISE: RF Milton Bradley brings a lot of baggage with him after signing a free agent contract in January. The Cubs profess not to be worried about Bradley's past outbursts, which have landed him in hot water and even gotten him injured. Their main concern will be keeping Bradley on the field by avoiding some of the nagging injuries that have plagued him in the past. Bradley led the AL in on-base percentage and OPS (on-base-plus-slugging percentage) last year. If he can play 140 games, he could have a monster year for the Cubs.

TOP CANDIDATE TO DISAPPOINT: OF Kosuke Fukudome lost his job in right field after a horrid second half last year. He'll compete for playing time in center with Reed Johnson. Fukudome was an on-base machine during the first two months of the 2008 season, and then he fell off the face of the earth. Now entering the second year of a four-year, $48 million contract after coming over from Japan, Fukudome is under severe pressure to show that other teams haven't figured him out once and for all.

AUTHORITY FIGURES: Lou Piniella is 182-141 in two seasons as Cubs manager. However, he has yet to win a playoff game as the Cubs have been swept out of the NL Division Series in both of his years. Veteran players have learned to tune out some of Piniella's rants, which come from frustration. Actually, he has mellowed markedly in recent years and isn't above apologizing to a player if he feels he's come on too strong. Piniella also has been tough on pitching coaches, but Larry Rothschild returns for his eighth season with the Cubs. Rothschild began under Don Baylor and then survived the Dusty Baker years. Piniella's coaching staff with the Cubs has remained intact since he arrived before the '07 season.