from everyone in the media, fine with me. I think this team will do just fine, health being the key. Extracting a certain individual from the clubhouse I think will help.

…is hard to argue with. (Then again, doesn’t every team’s hope hinge on health?) But two things in particular annoy me:

1. He writes, “Nady is recovering from a shoulder injury and might not be ready for defensive duty by the start of the season.” Um, correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Nady have an ELBOW injury (i.e., Tommy John surgery)?

2. He chooses to end his article with the same, lame, stupid, boring goat/bartman reference that we see every year. And, no, I’m not going to give him a break because it’s in Haiku form.

I hope I’m right.

I think a comment like this merits a little attention.

On the field, everything must fall in place for manager Lou Piniella’s team to make the playoffs.

I believe a lot has to go “right” for the Cubs to make it to the playoffs. Rebound years, better health, and most importantly a starter has to step-up as their true ace. I don’t really care who it is, cause I have serious doubts about BigZ being that guy. With that said, anything can happen, and in sports it usually does.

high expectations for the Cubs, at least from the media, have not helped the team. The Cubs, in my opinion, are the ultimate underdogs, and will be until they win the World Series. Let the mainstream media doubt the Cubs; only the attitudes of the players matter.

Remember 2003, when we had a 3 games to 1 advantage over the Marlins in the NLCS? People who barely followed the Cubs started to jump on their bandwagon, and it was almost expected that we’d make the Series. The Marlins assumed the underdog role and this, in part, helped them defeat us. Believe me, psychology in sports, as in all aspects of life, is very important.

and one which will reign true, Im afraid

If most of the team stays healthy, it’s hard to say that they can’t compete for the division.

The Cardinals’ aren’t “amazing” on paper. They’re better than the CUBS, but who knows if that translates into dominance again.

Does anyone think that after Carp and Wainwright, the Cardinals really have much of anything to fear in that rotation? Relief pitchers are the most inconsistent variable in the game of baseball. Who is to say Franklin is as good this year?