The Cubs’ first round pick this season, 3B Josh Vitters, is off to a slow start for the Cubs in the minors. He started late due to a left wrist injury and he hasn’t played much yet. The 18-year old righty swinging Vitters has played in 4 games in A-Ball so far this season and he is 3 for 14 (.214 avg, .643 OPS) with 1 run scored and 1 RBI. Vitters has also whiffed 5 times already but all three of his hits have been doubles and that’s promising.

Ryan Dempster has been the Cubs’ second best starting pitcher so far this season. After years of relieving, Dempster has really excelled this season in the rotation. Dempster has started 6 games for the Cubs this season and he is 4-0 with a 3.16 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Dempster needs to sharpen his control as he has walked 19 batters in 37 innings this season and that needs to change if he is to remain effective. He has only allowed 22 hits in 37 innings this season and that is why the walks haven’t hurt him yet but his stuff isn’t good enough to keep missing bats like he is right now.

Backup shortstop Ronny Cedeno was rumored to be involved in trades with the Orioles all winter long for Brian Roberts, but, he has really been a asset so far this season for the Cubs. Cedeno has played in 22 games for the Cubs this season and he is 18 for 47 (.383 avg, 1.047 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 1 homer, 16 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Mike Fontenot was given his big chance last season as many scouts didn’t think he would prosper because of how small he is. But, he proved them all wrong last season and he’s doing it all over again this year. Fontenot has played in 26 games this season for the Cubs and he is 15 for 51 (.294 avg, .869 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 2 homers and 11 RBIs. Fontenot & Cedeno have been huge contributors off the bench for the Cubs and they have been the silent assassins of the team.

The Cubs are glad that Derek Lee has re-discovered his power stroke so far this season. Lee has played in 31 games for the Cubs this season and he is 43 for 127 (.339 avg, 1.032 OPS) with 28 runs scored, 8 homers and 23 RBIs. Lee would even have better RBI numbers if the batters ahead of him were getting on base often. Lee also is still showing Gold Glove defense at first base as he has been the Cubs’ best player by far so far this season.

The Cubs have tired of watching young lefty starter Rich Hill walking batters so they have sent him to AAA to work on his control. He still has good stuff but he seems to have lost some of the swagger he had last season. Hill has started 5 games this season for the Cubs and he is 1-0 with a 4.12 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. Hill has only allowed 13 hits in 19.2 innings this season but he walked an amazing 18 hitters and that’s why he is in AAA ball right now. The Cubs will give Hill’s rotation spot to veteran righty Jon Lieber who has been great as the Cubs long man in the bullpen so far this season. Lieber has pitched in 9 games (0 starts) for the Cubs so far this season and he is 2-1 with a 1.86 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. Lieber has allowed 21 hits in 19.1 innings this season but he has only walked 2 batters. Lieber will likely do a solid job for the Cubs.