Chicago Cubs in 09

A month into the Baseball season and we Cubs Fans are already asking ourselves if we (the Cubs) kicked us (the city of Chicago) in our own rearends with the offseason we had for ourselves. I mean technically on paper we improved our bullpen, we improved our RBI's, we improved our power, but please take into consideration for a moment that last year we were the best team on paper in the National if not the entire league, and that did not stop us from going three and out of the playoffs.

Now I have been a Chicago Cubs fan from the moment I left the womb 28 years ago, and I guarantee that I will be for the remainder of my days. When I am lucky opening day falls on my birthday (such as it did this year), and without fail I am tuned in, listening to Pat and Ron, or Len and Bob, (or Harry and Steve, or Chip and Steve), which is why I reserve the right to discuss my feelings on the matter that we are forever stuck in mediocrity as loosely as I please. I show up to Wrigley field no matter what my team is doing. Which is something that I cannot say of our South Side counter parts, but I digress.

2009! As the song goes on the radio before every broadcast "This is our year!" Well let me tell you something Chicago, if it isn't, don't get your panties in a bunch. You can tell our Cubbies are giving it their all, I mean Jim Hendry is pulling out all the stops to put a team together to bring the city of Chicago a baseball champion, and put to rest the northside naysayers. What I dont think Mr. Hendry realizes is that making moves for the sake of making moves does not necessarily mean that you are moving your team in the right direction. let me put this in perspective if I may, Mark Derosa departs from the Cubs to play with the Indians. In turn the Cubs sign Milton Bradley, Joey Gathright, and Aaron Miles to replace him. Now I do not have extensive studies in the area of economics, but 3 overpriced players to replace one that was here at a discount price does not seem like recession economics. Let's put that aside for a moment and check the stats on this young season. We parted ways with Mark Derosa who is batting .235 with 5 homers 19 RBI's and 18 runs scored. Our trio of replacements combined have a gleaming .134 average with 2 homers and 4 RBI's. This is where the disappointment comes into play when you are a Chicago Sports fan, your team spends money on NYC proportions and your investments fail to produce the way they have in the past. (as a side note, are you listening Jay Cutler?) There is a lot of season left, and things can change in a week. I mean when Ryan Theriot is hitting Grand slams anything is possible. Can they use a fifth starter? Is Marshall the answer? Is our bullpen as weak as it has played so far? Only time will tell, but to loosely quote Bull Durham, this is for sure, one hundred and sixty some odd games will be played this summer, our team will pitch, field, and bat, sometimes we will win sometimes we will lose, and sometimes it will rain.