I know we are discussing the Sosa 2003 positive test leak elsewhere, and its effect on his legacy, Hall of Fame chances, corrupting effect on our memories, etc, so that should be talked about in those discussion lines.

What I'd like to talk about here is a far more relevant question: Does Sammy's PED bust (and the inevitable storm of stories that it stirs up) take the proverbial monkey off the back of THIS YEAR'S Cubs?

I mean, we know baseball is a game where you can press, and where the "press" (excuse the pun) can put pressure on you to press, and that pressing causes you to lose games.  Sometimes, you just need to be able to play free from distraction, so you can see the ball, hit the ball, catch the ball, and throw the ball and perform to your best ability.

So with fans disappointed to some degree in the Cubs' start, bats being silent for much of the season, new additions not working as planned...isn't a complete side show having nothing to do with this year's team that will distract the media EXACTLY what the doctor ordered?

In other words, is Sammy's bust, in its own way, the equivalent of Lou's 2007 blow-up at the umpire, whiich took focus away from the Barrett-Zambrano duel, and allowed the team to loosen up a bit when it needed to?

I await BCB's thoughts....