Breaking down contenders for the Cubs' fifth starter

The Cubs have been big this spring on telling the media and the public "not to read to much into" their spring-training machinations.

That goes for pitchers Rich Harden and Carlos Zambrano throwing under the watchful eye of the trainer. It apparently also goes for Jeff Samardzija starting the Cactus League opener, Wednesday in Mesa, Ariz., against the Dodgers.

Samardzija, who worked last year as a rookie out of the bullpen in the second half of the season, is in the mix to become the fifth starter but his "opening-day" start this spring means little in the grand scheme.

Manager Lou Piniella already has said lefty Sean Marshall has a leg up on the competition, which includes right-handers Chad Gaudin and Aaron Heilman.

Since the Cubs don't break camp until early April, the battle for the fifth starter's job is far from over. It has only just begun.

"It's going to be what's going to be best for the team and how everybody fits into the equation," said pitching coach Larry Rothschild. "There's no guarantee that a guy who throws really well is going to be the right guy for that spot, given that somebody else is throwing pretty well.

"It's kind of hard to put it into a definition right now. It's really going to be how the staff fits best together."

In addition to that, the Cubs say they'll do what's best for the individual pitcher, too.

"Younger pitchers, obviously, are always going to be aware of what's best for them in the long run, which is always going to be best for us in the long run," Rothschild said. "There's a trade-off there. We'll be aware of that."

With all of that in mind, here's a look at each of the candidates:

Marshall: The 26-year-old lefty got a baptism of fire in 2006, starting 24 games for a bad team and holding his own.

He split time between big club and the minors the last two years. Marshall clearly was good enough to start or relieve on most teams last year, and he impressed the Cubs with his positive attitude toward having to go to the minor leagues for 7 games.

"I'd rather start, but anything I can do to help the team win some games and give the team some good innings and put some zeros on the board, whether it's in the bullpen or starting or coming in and getting a couple of lefties - whatever," he said.

Marshall said he worked on his curveball and changeup this winter. He also hopes his positive attitude helps.

"Everything happens for a reason," he said. "I had to adapt to a couple different situations, and I was happy to do it. It made me happy that the coaches and the staff appreciated it. That's how I am. I'm a go-with-the-flow guy."

Samardzija: Although the former Notre Dame football star wants to start, and do it in the big leagues, the Cubs are still trying to figure out what they have and where he fits.

Samardzija started 54 of the 59 games he pitched in the minor leagues. His numbers weren't always great, but the Cubs say to tell those statistics to shut up, that Samardzija was working on different things at different times (on orders from the organization) and that he may have even gotten a little bored in the minors.

He did well under the big-league microscope last year, going 1-0 with a 2.28 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 272/3 innings in relief.

The Cubs will "stretch him out" to start this spring. That way, he'll be ready to start in the bigs, go back to the pen or even open the season in Class AAA Iowa's rotation, if the Cubs believe that's best.

"His delivery looks good," Rothschild said. "The ball is coming out his hand well. Hopefully, the other pitches will follow suit. I think the consistency, with the command of the fastball, handling the strike zone with it, and being able to use the split for strikes and once in awhile to take hitters out of the strike zone with it and not be all that predictable with it."

Gaudin: People may have forgotten, but as recently as 2007, Gaudin started 34 games for the Oakland Athletics.

When the Cubs got him with Harden last July, they put him in the pen, and he did well until being felled by a mysterious back injury.

Gaudin looks to be in good shape this spring. He's also eager to start.

"I came in ready and willing to do anything," he said. "I know what it takes. I'm willing to make that sacrifice as far as the different types of situations you've got to go through between starter and reliever.

"That's how I feel I'm most successful, as a starter. That's what I enjoy doing. That's where I'm at my highest peak, I feel in my mind."

Heilman: Like Samardzija, Heilman is a Notre Dame product and a longtime favorite of Cubs general manager Jim Hendry.

Heilman went from the Mets to the Mariners to the Cubs this winter. He hasn't started since 2005, when he made 7 starts among his 53 appearances for the Mets.

The Cubs obtained him last month, and at the time he expressed appreciation that he'd be given a shot to start.

Heilman will see a lot of innings this spring, but the numbers seemed stacked against him making the rotation. The Cubs, however, may value his veteran presence in the pen.

"We're going to stretch out eight or nine pitchers here in spring training and give them a good start," Piniella said. "You never know about an injury. We're going to let these guys compete."