LITV,
The bullpen is our strength! All guys out there will have a periodic moment but they have held this season together. We have two weaknesses: Starting pitch is the one that is erratic. Other than Z and Dempster, no one else to rely on. We need to get Lieber in the rotation and then get production from Marshall or Hill (I dont care which one) and Lily. Lou is having to use way too much of the bullpen on a regular basis...we need these guys to eat innings! Second need is CF. Reed is a nice fill and thank God we got him before the season but relying on him and or hoping Pie flips a switch is a bad idea. I think we are contenders but if we want to go to the dance and particularly if we want to win it, then we need more! I think we will have enough to get to the allstar break and be right in the mix but JH needs to do some dealing by then to give us a legit shot to win it all. The time is now to mortgage whatever and get this done.

Good lord man, get a grip on yourself. They've got talent, a good manager, and prospects available for trade at the deadline. If the Cubs aren't considered a contender in the NL, then virtually no team is.

I'll take Chrissie Hynde over some lame-ass boxing reality show any day of the week.

"A, o, oh way to go Ohio..."

If this were July and the early trend continued then I would worry. But I think we're OK and the longer we get into this season I think you'll see the results. Personally I like the fact we've won 3 extra inning games. This is huge for the rest of the season.

What does "wuertz what can I say mean" The guy gave up 3 runs ALL YEAR.

Woody has 2 walks in 8 innings
Wuertz has a 3.86 ERA.

Hendry is going to have to make some deals asap if this team is going to have any realistic chance of making a run. As it stands right now, the Cubs simply have too many holes to be considered a legitimate contender. I'm not saying that they can't get into the playoffs with the current team (although I wouldn't necessarily bank on it) but I think we're probably looking at another three and out.
What I don't get is why Hendry would be so reluctant to trade prospects. He has to realize that if the Cubs bomb out again this season, his career as a gm is essentially over. Plus, the Cubs ability to evaluate and/or develop young talent hasn't exactly been encouraging over the last several years. There's basically nobody in the system who I'd say is untouchable if the right deal came along.
He's worked magic in the past and so I'm still holding out hope that he can do it again.
As for the prospect of trading Felix Pie-at this point his poor showing in the majors has probably negatively affected his trade value. I'm not saying they couldn't deal him, but I can't believe other teams are going to give up a lot for a guy who is, at best, a project.

Eternal optimists are great. No one wants the Cubs to win more than I. But if you can't take a step back and look at something other than stats, then I can't help ya.

Did anyone read the part about wanting a convincing victory? This team is supposed to have been built for offense. How's that working out? I know, I know - "It's early". That's my point - who says a team's bats can't be hot early? Not the White Sux or D-Backs. They can't miss the ball. Ramirez is lazy and Soriano is stubborn and selfish.

All I'm asking of any of you Pie-in-the-sky-ers is to be objective.

And Wuertz giving up three HRs is not a good thing, you know that, right?

And Wood is hot-or-cold - you need to be able to rely on the closer, and right now, we can't do that.

the Starting pitching is pretending right now. Minus Z and Demp.

I think the Cubs will win their division.

I know that Soriano's bat will wake up so he can hit a bunch of solo HRs and knock in 70 runs again (when that number would be 30 or so higher id he'd suck it up and learn to bat in the middle of the lineup). However, I have doubts about Ramirez. He doesn't seem all there.

And the rotation is a mess (minus Z and Dempster). Lilly's very sucky so far. Marquis is unimpressive, too. 4 or 5 innings from your SP is murder on your bullpen.

expect them to be in fifth our fourth in a month. They are playing crappy teams right now and will tank soon.

But you all have to see the flaws, too. Thinking there aren't any is ludicrous. We've all been burned by high hopes in the past.

Have a great day, everyone.

Yet another diary from a ledge jumper. How can you people enjoy a baseball season? Yes, the Cubs have problems. Hopefully some will get addressed but I can guarantee that Hendry won't get a new CF, a new SS, 2 new starting pitchers plus TPWSNBN during the season. They are not ever going to be a perfect team. Soriano is always going to swing at bad pitches.

There will be ups and downs, hopefully more ups than downs but enjoy it. It's baseball, the best sport around. Sweating over every little problem won't result in anything but ulcers.

How people can look at a team right now and predict with any certainty how a team is going to fare in a series in October.

In recent memory it seems rare that the teams winning the world series were "supposed" to win it. Just ask Joe Torre. Injuries happen, players develop, and schedules get weaker and stronger as the season plays out. It seems to me that if a team is good enough to get into the post-season, they are good enough to win the world series. Since 1990, the team that has won the most games in baseball has only won the world series 3 times (in 17 tries). That is almost a 1 in 6 chance for the best team. The playoff team with the worst record has also won 3 times in the same span. To me that points to the fact that once you get into the postseason, anything can happen.

We have a team that has a good shot at making the postseason. This isn't going to happen every year. Let's enjoy this year and let the story unfold.

I'm in the Land of Cheese for the next 4 days, and I'll be wearing my Soto and/or Sandberg jerseys proudly as often as possible

... I wonder if they're jumping off cliffs, threatening to trade all their young talent, blaming their descent on Jim Leyland's smoking habit or the distractions of their new mascot.

It could be a lot worse. Our manager could be a smoker.

Contenders or Pretenders on April 14th? Come on we are only 12 games into the season, there are 150 games left.

Some history, back in 2003 I told Al that on July 15th we needed to pack it in and wave the white flag, then Z hit a HR and beat Houston and the Cubs went onto the playoffs. Last year the Cubs were 10 games under 500 on May 30th and they turned the season around and won the division.

This team is not set, they have one fantastic strength, the bullpen. Lilly and Hill are not right, there are a bunch of starts to get them right. They have a reborn Lieber sitting ready to come in and perform while Z and Dempster look right.

What they are missing are two essential players up the middle while three utility/platoon players are in their stead. I actually think SS is more important than CF. If not Pie, than the Cubs have options, move Kosuke over and play DeRosa or recall Murton or bring up Patterson and play Johnson in a platoon.

SS is a problem in that a lighter hitting Theriot is not the defensive SS, but my bet is that Vizquel will be available in May and he could be an interesting insert.

Ask that impatient question September 1st and enjoy the ride.

(scratching her head)

Sori is batting .175
Ramy is batting .234
Riot is batting .244 with a .326 OBP
Lilly has a 9.95 ERA
Howry has an 8.59 ERA
Hill has a 5.00 ERA

And this team is 7-5. They have a winning record with most of their mainstays off to slow starts.

They have a winning record and the best is yet to come.

I admit that I don't have much faith in Riot or Pie, but if the other guys get it going, (and I firmly believe they will), this will be a very good team.

Ask the question again at the ASB.

This makes me so happy they won those 3 extra inning games.

I walk by the Sears Tower every day. Would be worried about being hit by all the people jumping off of it.

Soriano, Ramirez will get untracked.
Lilly will end up winning 14 games
Wood will get 30 saves and win 6 games
Now, Hill, Theriot, Pie and Marmol, all keys to this team winning 93 games or winning 82 games. They have no past, we can only hope.
These players need to perform, and as of right now, way early, only Marmol has been decent.
I like this team, but some trends are carrying themselves over from last year, can't lay a sac. bunt down, screwing up a double steal, 3 up and 3 down in a inning and Cub hitters seeing maybe 7 pitches, shoddy "D", and the overuse of the bullpen.
Lets see if they can get corrected, if not, it will be a bumpy ride.

Another name that might come up in the pursuit to upgrade center field AND help the top of the lineup. Kansas City likes Joey Gathright in center and may be amicable to eventually moving DeJesus, albeit for the right price.

Burowski blew another save tonight and even though he lead the league in Saves last year, I imagine the Indians would entertain offers for another possible closer. How 'bout Howry, Cedeno and Murton for Peralta and a mid level prospect?

Tigers pen is in total shambles and would entertain offers as well. Wonder what it'd take to get Carlos Guillen? Most likely too much.

According to AZ Phil over at the Cub Reporter, Chad Fox threw 2 scoreless and hitless (35 pitches-21 strikes)innings against team China. Aparently he was throwing the ball pretty good and could be 2-3 weeks away to being ready, if everything goes according to plans. It’d could get interesting if he sails through his rehab.

How will Dusty Baker be received when he returns to Wrigley Field with Cincinnati on Tuesday night?

“They boo everything now, so they might boo him,” Derrek Lee said. “I don’t see the reason why, but I wouldn’t be surprised.”

waaaaaaaay to early.