Al may remember the fact that for the last 4 years I've been saying that the biggest problem the Cubs have as an organization is the lack of fundamental skills necessary to win on a regular basis. The organization hasn't made that a priority.

It was also the main reason why I was against Lou as manager. He talked the talk, but I didn't think he's follow through, and so far, he hasn't. You can't change a fundamental mindset of a team by trading away the most visable offender, as they've tried with Barrett.

I know that Lou can't get out there and play the game for the Cubs and that the players must shoulder a great deal of the blame, but the fact is that this team is fundamentally poor. They can't run bases, they can't move along runners, they can't hit sac flies, they can't bunt, they can't hit cut-off men, they don't do so well with talking walks, etc. You can tell me all day long about what mathematical formulas say the Cubs should be doing, but it's the final product on the field that actually matters. If this coaching staff can't do what is necessary to appropriately motivate it's players to play fundamentally sound ball, then it's time to find people who can. It's time to find ways of getting through to these players.

Usually, an appeal to pride would be a good motivator, but I can't imagine there is anyone associated with the Cub organization that has much pride in the product that's been put on the field this year.

There's still time to turn it around. I believe that. But if they don't whip off a really good streak before the ASB, we'll all be waiting until next year again.

He will be in his Crede jersey and I will be in my Santo jersey. I might get an armed guard and try to look you up, Al.

anyone hear this?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

 Come on folks, you have to laugh. You had to know they would find a way to lose this game? This team is dreadful.

 If you were smart, you would abandon all hope for this season and realize and come to terms with just how bad this team sucks. They're a bad bad bad team. Can't do the little things and can't get a man in from 3rd with not only less than 2 outs but with zero outs!!!! It's hilarious!

 This team is so bad and has so many holes it really is funny.

 Bears first exhibition game is in just a little over a month away.

I'm sorry for the negativism, Al, but the more things change, the more they stay the same. I am so close to admitting that we are as bad as our record. The offense has killed us so often with poor use of great scoring opportunities. We have no real power hitters other than Aram and now, the 2 pitchers we bragged about getting are falling apart. Fundamentally, now that Barrett is gone, we still make stupid mistakes. This team doesn't need tinkering. It needs reconstruction from the bottom up. That includes Lee who could bring a fortune to a good GM.

OTOH, do I want Hendry fingerprints on anything? Nope, terrible idea. Sell the club, hope the new owner wants his stamp on the team immediately and get us a new GM and manager. Yeah, Piniella must go for the new regime to succeed. Frankly, no one deserves to be above the axe including Pie. If I looked at the team on opening day of 2008 and saw 6 new faces, I'd be happy.

End of rant.

And he's hitting .350 with RISP. That's not just getting opportunities, that's taking advantage of them.

We haven't won a world series in 90+ years and yet we are more worried about the ball park, the score board , the ivy and about shelling out umpteen dollars to spend a fathers day weekend. Whenever I watch a cubs broadcast I feel like I am watching one of those you have seen it on TV channels and I am getting sick of listening to the broadcasters trying to act like telemarketers.

Wrigley field or not, ivy or not it still takes at least decent pitching, good defense and clutch hitting to win baseball games. I understand some of the attachment people develop with the ball park etc but I feel like its almost like those peddlers who get you addicted to those harmful things and in this case it is the cubs marketing people.

Winning and loosing are part of a game but its all about how we win or how we lost. Sadly for so many years our teams performed pathetically. For so many years the players look lost out of there almost as if they don't give a damn.

Wrigley field is Wrigley field only because of the ball games played inside it. So we take out of the baseball out of the fantasy world of Wrigley field, the ivy, batters eye box and all that crap they are nothing, useless.

I think it is safe to accept at least at this point that until there is a management overhaul the chicago cubs have no future.

And who's going to win this edition of the X-town classic? Usually the rule of thumb is that the team with momentum is the one that gets beaten. The problem is that both the Cubs and Sox have zero momentum right now. Maybe they'll disappear in a puff of smoke due to the black hole of suck surrounding both teams right now?

How else can you explain 99 years of mediocrity?  Superstars come here and make stupid mistakes.  Highly touted managers come here and can't even get to .500.  Owners spend a ton of money and get junk in return.

Stop with all the other excuses....THEY ARE CURSED!!