The Chicago Cubs 2012 Opening Day lineup is a mix of faces both old and new, as well as a mixture of players who are on their ways out of Cubs uniforms and those that are possibly just settling in. There is nothing controversial about the batting order drawn up by new manager Dale Sveum, but maybe the most interesting choice is the decision to bat Starlin Castro third.
Castro is almost certainly the best hitter on the Cubs, but he spent the majority of last year batting either first or second. Castro right now may not have the pop you would look for in a third batter, but most observers project him to grow into that power, and installing him in the three hole means that the Cubs may see him more as a Hanley Ramirez than a Jose Reyes.
Here is the full lineup for Thursday's game vs. the Washington Nationals (with the addendum that 1B Bryan LaHair may miss the game with an injury):
- David DeJesus, RF
- Darwin Barney, 2B
- Starlin Castro, SS
- Bryan LaHair, 1B
- Alfonso Soriano, LF
- Ian Stewart, RF
- Marlon Byrd, CF
- Geovany Soto, C
- Ryan Dempster, P
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