I'm not sure how much more of it I can take, but today's Sun story (http://www.suntimes.com/sports/deluca/263046,CST-SPT-deluca19.article) is one of a myriad of poorly postured stories that have me shaking my head this off season - PLEASE, please baseball season - come soon - perhaps real live games will root out the poor math and lackluster writing that I've been barraged with - or at least distract these writers with scores, off field antics and steroid scandals.

The Sun's De Luca didn't start the movement and unfortunately he'll likely not be the last to use the numbers so misleadingly. It seems I've read thirty stories this off season about how the Cubs are spending $300 million dollars on this year's team... yeah right, sure they are and LaRusa is coming back to the White Sox. Yes, the Cubs this off season have committed to spend at least $300 million over the next several years, but really folks - can we come up with a better way of phrasing things? I know $300 million is one of those nice big juicy numbers, but can we back away from the exciting (and ambiguous) phrasing and bring a little more insight to the table?

The sad thing is the way these numbers are being batted around pretty soon we'll hear on WGN and ESPN televised games about the '07 Cubs $300 million dollar payroll... leaving the average fan likely wondering how the Cubs came up with that kind a money for this season. I know that writers get stuck with having to come up with stories that will either intrigue or goad the reader into paying attention - but I know you all can do better.