The last spot in the rotation will probably come down to either Tricky Nichols or Herb Pennock, with Rube Foster, Mark Buehrle, Lee Meadows, and Ted Lyons as outside candidates.
Ed Walsh and Joe Lake still look like the middle of the rotation, but they need to improve, but none of the above have really made their argument, with Buehrle likely falling out of contention.
Ben Sheets, Meadows, Lake, and Foster look set for the rotation. But Frank Smith has been horrible, and Lyons is on his way to AAA. Foster could stumble, and Smith could still pull it out, but any of the others could step up as well for that 5th slot.
The final bullpen slots will be between that group, Victor Cruz, and Wilbur Wood.
Cruz has struggled, and Wood has impressed, as have Koji Uehara, Fernando Rodney, and Ken Sanders, but nothing is settled in the bullpen behind AJ Minter.
Uehara and Akinori Otsuka have been very strong, and Wood is off to AAA. This has the makings of a very fine bullpen.
Carlton Fisk is set at C, but it’s not clear if Hal King, Dave Nilsson, or (less likely) Pop Snyder back him up.
Snyder was sent down to AAA.
SS is pretty open, with Chico Carrasquel holding a slight edge over Luke Appling and Julio Gotay.
If any of these could hit a lick, they could seize the role.
Not all of Rocky Colavito, Cristobal Torriente, Avisail Garcia, and Minnie Minoso will make the team, but at least 2 of them should.
Colavito has struggled mightily, earning a move to AAA. Of this group, Minoso has probably impressed the most.
Ah, Spring Training! Minoso is now struggling to make the roster.
Frank Thomas has struggled mightily, allowing both Adrian Gonzalez and Bob Watson to push into the conversation.
1B continues to be a muddle: Thomas is hitting better, but both Gonzalez and Jose Abreu are smacking the ball.
With a need for additional bodies to play 2B and 3B (and a real possibility of edging Nellie Fox as the reserve 2B), Chicago recalled Rickie Weeks and Joe Crede from AAA Milwaukee.
Weeks has moved up in the pecking order, with both Fox and Crede likely to start the season in AAA.
Near Definite
Likely
Possible
Long Shot
Starting Pitchers
Ben Sheets
Joe Lake
Lee Meadows
Rube Foster
Ed Walsh
Frank Smith
Tricky Nichols
Herb Pennock
Mark Buehrle
Middle Relievers
Victor Cruz
Setup
Akinori Otsuka
Koji Uehara
Ken Sanders
Fernando Rodney
Closer
AJ Minter
C
Carlton Fisk
Hal King
Dave Nilsson
1B
Frank Thomas
Adrian Gonzalez
Jose Abreu
2B
Eddie Collins
Rickie Weeks
Nellie Fox
3B
Dick Allen
Robin Ventura
Joe Crede
SS
Chico Carrasquel
Luke Appling
Julio Gotay
OF
Joe Jackson
Mike Fiore
Kevin Mitchell
Duffy Lewis
Cristobal Torriente
Avisail Garcia
Bob Watson
