Theriot's Looking Over His Shoulder

From the USA Today - 

Before teen phenom Starlin Castro steals his job, Chicago Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot has a message for those eager to welcome the franchise's latest savior: Only one of them has proven himself at the game's highest level.


"Competition is good because it brings out the best in all of us. But to be quite honest with you, 'What have you done at the major league level?"' Theriot said Thursday at training camp. "Those expectations and that pressure, everybody deals with that differently. I think it takes a little bit more than just ability."

Chicago manager Lou Piniella regularly praises Castro, comparing the rangy, 19-year-old Dominican to former All-Star Edgar Renteria. Though Castro has only 111 at-bats above the Single-A level, Piniella said "the kid" probably would be the shortstop if Theriot gets hurt.
"Come on, man! Knock on wood, bro!" Theriot said, tapping the side of his locker when told of Piniella's comment. "Don't be messing around like that, talking about injuries."
Two hours later, Theriot was struck on the back of his left hand by a batting-practice fastball delivered by young right-hander Rafael Dolis, one of the organization's hardest throwers. After picking himself off the ground and getting looked at by a trainer, Theriot was laughing.
It was only a bruise.
"That's right, Theriot!" Piniella shouted from behind the batting cage. "You can't hurt steel!"
Piniella insists Theriot is his shortstop, continuing a relationship that began in 2007, the manager's first season with the Cubs. Theriot surprisingly won the job in spring training after having played well at second base the previous September.
Still, Piniella clearly is impressed and intrigued by Castro, who batted .376 during the Arizona Fall League after hitting .299 in the minors last year. And many Cubs fans, desperate to snap the franchise's 102-year championship drought, believe some Starlin magic just might be the cure.
"He's got a ton of ability, obviously, and we have to play him (in spring exhibitions) to see it," Piniella said. "If the kid shows he can handle it and we had an injury at the position, why not?"
Most likely, Piniella said, Castro will go to Triple-A Iowa, where he can play every day.
The 30-year-old Theriot, noticeably stronger after an offseason weight-training program, said he hasn't even noticed Castro during camp so far.
"But I guess everybody can't be wrong about him, right?" Theriot said. "So we'll see."
Though he sounds a little defensive as he protects his turf -- he'd rather not return to second base -- Theriot said he's all about the Cubs reclaiming the National League Central Division. They won it in his first two full seasons before going 83-78 last year.
"It would be wonderful to see a guy come up with those tools and use every single one of them," Theriot said of Castro. "It could change my role, sure, but that's all right. My role's been changed quite a bit. The good news is, I've always had a role.

"Be a part of it. Contribute. Win. That's the ultimate goal of everybody here. You put your personal feelings aside and do what's best for the club."