Still stellar, Cubs' Dempster picks up 14th win

By Paul Sullivan | Tribune staff reporter MIAMI - After Ryan Dempster earned his 14th victory by beating Florida 9-2 on Sunday, manager Lou Piniella said the Cubs knew coming into spring training that he'd make the starting rotation. So much for the three-way competition for two spots among Dempster, Jason Marquis and Jon Lieber, which lasted throughout camp. Did Dempster know he was a lock? "There was nothing said, but the way I looked at it was I thought I was a good starting pitcher before, and if I came into camp in shape and just showed I was ready to go, I deserved at least a shot to start the season there," Dempster said. "Even in spring training, if you just do what you've got to do and get your work in, things play themselves out. And they tend to work out the way you want them to if you work hard. I'm just going to... [read full story]