Four rookies including Colvin and three relievers( Berg, Caridad and Russel) who made the April roster, this on top of last year's addition of  Koyie Hill (a reclamation project) and starting pitcher Randy Wells, David Patton and Micah Hoffpauir who made the squad. All told Cubs have ten players on the 25 man roster who are considered "system players",  including Carlos Zambrano, Carlos Marmol, Sean Marshall, Jeff Samardzija, Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot, plus Angel Guzman who is now DL'd. 

Colvin actually won a spot with his spring training performance as did the three rookies in the pen. This does not include the promising futures of Starlan Castro, John Gaub or Jeff Gray, around the corner or the flame thowers of Andrew Cashner or Jay Jackson, and developing position player talents like Vitters, Castillo, Brett Jackson, Blarney,  Hak-Ju Lee, or LaMahieu.

The question is SO WHAT?  So what----a strong farm system produces a winning team over time. Cubs also are fast approaching an old team, either they win now or they have to break it up and retool fast. Twelve players were born in the 1970's, Derrick Lee (will turn 35 in September) is the oldest by five months over both Lilly and Soriano, while Fukudome and Byrd are turning 33 years old during the season. The question is even thought he Cubs have invested a ton of money in the OF, (the load is Soriano of course) Colvin is pushing that with production. 

I guess I am happy to see the system producing players.