Fire Ryan Poles | Fire Ben Johnson

Before the season started, many of the so-called experts had the Cubs running away with the NL Central by up to 15 games. They were projected to win 92-95 games. After Hendry dismantled 41% of a 97 win roster, I couldn’t see where all the hype for the Cubs was coming from. My thinking was “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. They would have been better off if they would have left well enough alone.

On Opening Day, I saw this team at .500 at best. With 16 games left in the season, the Cubs will need to win 6 to guarantee a .500 record. Do you guys think that this team has 6 wins left in them?

* I’m tired of watching this bunch of losers with no sense of pride or direction.

* I’m tired of Piniella for making far too many Dustyesque moves and not leading these losers in the right direction.

* I’m tired of Hendry’s lack of vision to properly assemble a group of players that can play consistant winning baseball through the season and playoffs. When he became GM, he should have come up with a plan and stayed with it to fruition instead of changing the plan from one year to the next. Throwing millions of dollars at several players that don’t fit the needs of the team is a recipe for disaster. Hendry is a piss-poor judge of talent.

* I.m tired of these players that once they get their huge payday, become lazy and complacient. Isn’t there any sense of pride in these assholes.

* I’m tired of Sam Zell for dragging out the sale of this team for what will be damned near three years by the time it’s finally sold. The new owner will have many fences to mend. I just hope he will be able fix this fucked up mess in my lifetime.

After the four game debacle in Colorado which dropped the Cubs three games behind the Cardinals, not even a trip to the land of Oz will help this team. The three things that are missing have already been taken by the scarecrow (brain), cowardly lion (courage), and the tin man (heart). Not even the ruby red slippers were available. The only thing left were rose colored glasses for the sheeple.

The six game homestand gets off to a rough start with three against the Phillies. They have been slipping lately losing 8 of 11. But they can heat back up at any time. Taking 2 of 3 would be good, but I don’t expect it. At least they will have the Pirates to kick around over the weekend. If they don’t get their shit together soon, they’ll be out of it by September.

I can’t seem to mention his name without having a middle name. I never liked this guy from the first pitch he threw in a Cub uniform. There was no movement on his fastball, and I knew he was gonna get crushed. I was right.

 Hendry should be kicked in the fucking ass for not bringing in Hoffman when he was available. This team would have been better off if Hendry didn’t do a fucking thing in the off-season. Everything he touched turned to shit. There’s Miles, Gathright, Freel, and of course, Bradley. And trading for Kevin “Fucking” Gregg sums up Hendrys efforts to improve a 97 win team.

The Cubs have completed a 6-1 homestand with an impressive win on Thursday by dispensing the Astros out of Chicago.

The Cubs head off to Florida to take on the Marlins to begin a 10 game road trip that includes stops in Cincinatti and Colorado. By the end of this trip, we should have a much better idea as to what this Cub team is all about. I would be satisfied with 5-5 on this trip.

The Cubs could increase their slim lead in the NL Central with at least 3 of 4. They have played the Astros well this year going 6-4. Oddly enough, the Cubs are already finished with the season series in Houston, going a respectable 5-3. The remaining 7 games will be played at Wrigley. Thursdays game will be a makeup from the 5/15 rainout.

The Cubs have played well since the All-Star break going 8-2. But the Astros have been the hottest team in the division thru the month of July. As I stated in prior threads, Houston is quietly sneaking up on everybody else in the central. They are 2 games behind the Cubs, and in 3rd place. It should be a good series. The Cubs get a break with Lance Berkman out of the lineup.

P.S.   I think they’re still a little pissed off at the Cubs for Zambrano’s No-Hitter, and Lilly’s one hitter at Miller Park last September.

It must make Dustys stomach turn every time he enters “The Friendly Confines”. The last two seasons as Cub manager was a nightmare for not only him, but all of us also. It’s good that he’s only invited for a few days at a time, then he can go away for a while. It must make Dusty and that pisshead Marty Brennaman miserable to come to Chicago. Hope you enjoy your weekend, boys.

Piniella sounded off to the media after Tuesdays 4-1 loss to the Phillies. He is challenging Hendry to get him a couple of  hitters by the trading deadline to replace the failed Bradley experiment. It should be interesting to see what might happen when the team returns to Chicago. Piniella is growing more frustrated by the day, and I expect him to walk away from all the bullshit soon, or be fired. I can see Hendry going with Trammel for the rest of the season.

In all honesty, it doesn’t really matter anymore. When Ricketts finally takes over, everybody in upper management will be gone anyway. Hendry has destroyed the minor league system to the point that it will take several years to repair.

With Hendry’s fucked up off-season, this is about where I figured the Cubs would be at. I thought that you are suppose to improve over the previous season. Instead, they will finish with 16 more losses than in 2008, and no playoffs.

They will need at least 3 of 4 this weekend to continue to hang around in the division. How do you think the rest of the season will play out?