As Al and others know, I'm not the upbeat, positive Cubs fan that most are.

Due to the mobility of both our children and my increasing age, Cubs baseball has gone waaaay down on the priority list.  Sleep for me is more important right now.  I've watched less baseball this year then in any other year.  I would follow in the papers and on sports radio and listen to a large number of games, but actual viewing has been spotty.

Sadly, I chose the first two playoff games to jump back in.  And what did I see?  A repeat of the Arizona series.

Lee, Ramirez and Soriano?  Not a lot to talk about there. 

The new "ace"?  Chooses game 1 of the playoffs to have his worst performance of the year.  I read that he walked the same amount of runners in game 1 than he did in the month of September.

The solid defensive squad?  Inexplicably, each of the infielders commits an error. Even Derrick Lee, increasingly known more now for his glove than his bat, botched a grounder.

The run-scoring machine of the regular season?  It's non-existent to this point.

How can all this happen at the most important time of the year?  The brighter the lights shine on this team, the more they seem to wilt.  It's unexplainable at this point.  The odds would say that somehow, someway, eventually the Cubs would win a World Series.

But it's not going to be this year.

Disappointment for me regarding this team doesn't exist anymore.  Performances like the ones in game 1 and 2 are not the exception, sadly they're the rule. 

I can only hope that perhaps playing at Wrigley in the postseason is something this team can't quite master.  Maybe the road trip will help.

I talked to a fellow Cub fan friend of mine in Florida before yesterday's game.  He said "I think this is just one of those things that isn't meant to be". 

I think he's right.

http://www.drafttek.com/round12008pt.php

I'd say these are the most interesting yet.  I know someone who posts here does the Bears position rankings.

This was the first mock I've seen that has Clady, Otah and Williams all picked before #14, which would have the Bears picking Mendenhall, unless they went with the B.C. lineman.

Pretty intriguing selections.

From eastcoastsportsnews.com:

"The Buffalo Bills reportedly reached a tentative contract agreement with Cardinals WR Bryant Johnson on Sunday night ...the contract agreement is expected to be finalized by the two parties sometime this morning and is considered to be a done deal unless Johnson has a change of heart."

Well, cross another one off the WR list.  I'm very surprised over Angelo's lack of urgency regarding a WR free agent.  I would think Johnson would be an upgrade, but what do I know.

Now, will Losman/Evans be dealt? Maybe to Detroit?

"Rumors: Bears Targeting Faneca...The Chicago Bears are prepared to offer Steelers OG Alan Faneca a rich multi-year contract when free agency kicks off at 12:01 am est."

http://www.eastcoastsportsnews.com/AlsHotNwsRms.html

I'm not quite sure I like the idea of breaking the bank on a 30 something year old lineman.

Anyone familiar with him?

I've seen a few mocks that have the Bears taking him.  I also read he's been training with Earnest Byner resulting in a reduction of body fat from 14 to 8 percent.  It sounds like he's ready to put on a show at the combine.

Is he more of a Benson type or is he quicker?

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7445434?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=49

"The Cubs and Padres are among the teams showing interest in Jenkins, along with the Giants, Rangers and Royals."

This one catches me by surprise.  Hendry isn't usually interested in guys who struck out 116 times in 420 at bats with an OBP of .319.

Jim, put the pen in your pocket and the contract back in the briefcase.  Please.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3030144

Pretty interesting read.  Does Selig want to risk the potential court showdown if the highest bid is not the winner? Zell will be looking for the highest bid for himself and the stockholders.  This should be a very interesting story to watch unfold.  

Maybe this will lead to the disbandment of the "Good Old Boys" club in MLB.

**WARNING WARNING WARNING POSSIBLE "NEGATIVE" STORY REGARDING CUBS...READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.... http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070918cubsbrite,1,3877212.story?coll =cs-cubs-headlines

"According to sources, the Cubs told CSN not to show Cuban or even to talk about his presence at the park during the telecast."

I was starting to think that maybe this outfit was going to start being run like an actual big-market franchise and then these kinds of stories come out.

What is the problem if Cuban is at the park?

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/552786,CST-SPT-cub12.article

"In fact, for the same reasons, this Cubs season should never have gotten to this point -- trailing Milwaukee by a game in the National League Central with 18 to play and defying logic with a once-heralded, veteran lineup that falls so short so often it's doubtful it can rise in time to be a force in this division race."

Pretty good summary.  This team is not going to hit some magic switch and start dominating good teams.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/deluca/96509,CST-SPT-deluca14.article

Article says Hendry was overruled on Bochy.

Well let the Uncle Lou era begin.

Also says Hendry was overruled on Bochy. ...................................................
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I'll preface this by saying that Hendry should be fired for assembling this crap called a baseball team.

That being said, I'm trying to figure out what Dusty does for his 4 million a year.

Is he paid that for his greatness in baseball strategy?

Is he paid that for keeping a team focused?

Is he paid that because "free agents will want to play for Dusty"?

Is he paid that for his ability to see something wrong in a player and help correct it?

His supporters will say that noone could win with this team.  

My question is:  Does that mean Dusty needs an absolutely perfect lineup with no injuries to show his greatness?  Because my reply would be that it wouldn't be too hard to manage under that scenario.  Dusty seems to do well when he has one of the greatest chemically enhanced players in history to fall back on.  But when it's time to manage on the fly and adapt, that's not what he's about.

I would say that given the rosters, Joe Girardi has shown that he's twice the "manager" that Dusty Baker is.

Fire away, everyone.