The season was a brutal effort to watch as this team, rarely played as one, even though its apparent talent and some individual performances were there, most were not really. I think I knew it when Reed Johnson stated the obvious projection in mid-July saying that now that they reached first place the players can begin playing as a team and not seeking individual results. That actually never materialized.

Now Aramus Ramirez has laid the mantle of responsibility on Hendry as he knows what is wrong and has the where-with-all to fix it. On the outside to me it is obvious, this team offensively and defensively was never balanced. The pitching was essentially there although the gamble on Gregg went sour in August, for the most part Cubs cut payroll and still added to their starting pitching staff. Wells is a good middle of the rotation keeper---an innings guy now 11-9 and could end up 12-9, isn't that what Marquis was for two years?  Gorzalanny is another very good 5th starter and a lefty to boot. The problem is the Cubs truly don't have a real horse at the top of the rotation, 3 solid #2 level starters, no real stopper, although Zambrano seemingly has the potential or did have that potential.Does this mean allowing Harden go free agent, I think so.

Back to the position player squad. As Ramirez stated, Hendry knows it, so what is known. Up the middle we have a promising catcher who needs to work really  hard over the off season and not smoke dope and come to ST like he did in 2008. Hill is a back up and a fair one. I think Al said it best last March that if Hill starts more than 32 games we are in trouble. Okay, we have a 2B/utility player starting at SS, marginal 2B/utility players starting at 2B and a RF'er starting at CF. Cubs need a real SS, and then if you want platoon 2B/utility players at 2B fine. Now if a Colvin-Johnson platoon in CF is the answer let us see.

The other big problem are the corner OF'ers, we have bipolar manic-depressive and/or schizophrenic in RF and a DH who can only hit fastballs in LF. Now my family  has had its share of disorders and there is love, therapy and medicine for those in need but not a place in the batting order...say good-bye to the soap-opera drama although I doubt there will be any takers. Zoltan sees the biggest contract gulp and the best addition by subtraction.

As for LF, Cubs can't move to the AL and Soriano needs something more than his knee scoped. Do the Cubs do a Jason Giambi and basically have the most expensive part time player. All I know is that someone eyeballed his knee problem back in May, was that DML because I saw it too in July when I saw Soriano try to stop at 3B on a base hit where he had to take an extra base. He stepped so gingerly that I knew he was hurt.

The bench, well talk about unbalance, the Cubs have two first baseman who play the corner OF and possess some power, a utility IF'er who left his bat and glove in STL, and another utility IF'er who can't play SS. Cubs need much more speed, more real glove versatility and more leadership---sounds like DeRosa and Johnson

So let us see what Hendry does?