I’m ready. Are you ready?

IT’S OPENING DAY!

Here’s today’s Cubs News and Notes. As always * means autoplay on, or annoying ads, or both (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome).

STARRING:

CATCHERS

Victor Caratini

Willson Contreras

INFIELDERS

Javier Baez

Kris Bryant

Anthony Rizzo

OUTFIELDERS

Albert Almora Jr.

Jason Heyward

Kyle Schwarber

Mark Zagunis

UTILITY PLAYERS

David Bote

Daniel Descalso

Ben Zobrist

STARTING PITCHERS

Yu Darvish

Cole Hamels

Kyle Hendricks

Jon Lester

Jose Quintana

RELIEF PITCHERS

Brad Brach

Tyler Chatwood

Steve Cishek

Carl Edwards Jr.

Brandon Kintzler

Mike Montgomery

Randy Rosario

Pedro Strop

With Joe Maddon leading the Cubs’ on-field and support staff and a cast of thousands!

• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Making sense of the Cubs’ 25-man roster decisions. “While there wasn’t a ton of intrigue with these decisions, it’s important to understand how and why they were made.”

• ESPN Picks : Keith Law - 2019 won/loss record {$}; Neil Payne - Favorites and breakouts.
• Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): What could go right — and wrong — for 2019 Cubs. “Here’s a guide on when to get excited and when to worry as the season goes along.”
• Jon Greenberg (The Athletic {$}): A spring conversation with Jed Hoyer. Part One. Part Two.
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): The Cubs need to win to save Joe Maddon’s job and prevent the breakup of the core. Or at least, that’s the perception. “Nothing in life is guaranteed but change.”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Mind over matter: Cubs starter Jon Lester’s secret to getting better with age. “... I’m still going to take a guy that will compete and wants to win and isn’t going to give up, over the guy that has a higher spin rate and is scared to pitch with a guy at second and third.” Bob Nightengale adds on.

• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Luke Hagerty’s comeback stunted by surgery. “Cubs lefty won’t pitch in 2019 due to elbow procedure.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Randy Rosario, Mark Zagunis on Cubs’ Opening Day roster. “I told Rizzo he was on the team,” quipped Maddon, referring to Cubs star first baseman Anthony Rizzo. “He was really sweating it out.”
• Patrick Mooney and Dan Hayes (The Athletic {$}): Javy Báez and José Berríos: Brothers-in-law forging their own paths to stardom. “Off the field, Báez can be so quiet and guarded that you probably didn’t even know that his brother-in-law is an All-Star pitcher.”
• Jeff Burdick (Cubs Insider): Did Javy Báez ghost his shot at becoming best shortstop in baseball? “When asked this winter who was the greatest current shortstop in baseball, Baez unflinchingly told the Chicago Sun-Times, “It’s me.”” Cam Ellis piles on.
• Brendan Miller (Cubs Insider): David Bote made noticeable swing change to hit to high heat. “Look at his hands...”
• Cubs birthdays: Lon Warneke, Shawn Boskie, Julio Zuleta, Ryan Kalish

Food for thought: