Just when you thought the stars were aligning in the North Side, things have gone slightly array.  The club’s two aces, Harden and Zambrano, are both suffering from nagging injuries.  I’ll say it now, without those two healthy in the playoffs, there’s no way the Cubs get out of the NLDS.  Not a chance.  They have some decent pitchers after them, but none of whom can take a team on their back and carry them.

In other news, how about Soriano lighting the Reds up last night?  3 HR’s, impressive.

It’s crazy to me that one team can go 100 years without winning a single championship, not even one.  They really haven’t had any “close encounters” recently except for the debacle that was 2003, which was a huge disappointment obviously.  To not even get to the World Series in 60+ years is amazingly bad…it can’t be that hard can it?  When you see what other sports teams have won since 1908, it makes them look even worse…

• The New York Yankees have won 26 World Series since 1908.
• The Montreal Canadiens have won 24 Stanley Cups since 1908.
• The Boston Celtics have won 16 NBA Championships since 1908.
• The L.A. Lakers have won 14 BAA/NBA Championships since 1908.
• The Toronto Maple Leafs have won 13 Stanley Cups since 1908.
• The Detroit Red Wings have won 10 Stanley Cups since 1908.
• The St. Louis Cardinals have won 10 World Series rings since 1908.

You get the picture.  All of the teams I mentioned even started way after 1908, which makes it more amazing.  The Canadiens, for instance, win a Stanley Cup (on average) every 4 years, yet the Cubs have won 0 in the last 100.  Of course this 2008 season is still ongoing and they do have a chance to break the curse, I don’t think they can do it.  They have a great nucleus of talent, but some other teams are simply better.  I’d take Boston, Arizona, Detroit (despite the start), Cleveland, the Mets, and the Angels over the Cubs.  I think the front end of the bullpen will ultimately lead to the demise of the team this year.  It’s hard to go against a core of Zambrano, Soriano, Fukudome, Ramirez, Soto, and Lee, but they’re lacking in some other departments.  Call me crazy, but I don’t see it happening.  Maybe in 2009, Cub fans.

Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry appears to be still trolling for a trade but won’t say whether he’ll cut the rehabbing Mark Prior loose if he can’t find a taker according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Prior’s agent said Tuesday that he can’t figure out which way the Cubs will go if they reach the deadline.

”Jim Hendry’s a pretty good poker player because I’d say 50-50,” agent John Boggs said.

I say you let this guy move on to another team, he’s obviously not going to be able to succeed here.

The Cubs reeled in another marquee free agent, reaching a preliminary agreement with Japanese star Kosuke Fukudome on a four-year, $48 million deal to be their right fielder.

It was just last offseason the Cubs went on a $300 million spending spree, the bulk of that on an eight-year, $136 million contract for free agent Alfonso Soriano. Chicago went on to win the NL Central but was swept out of the playoffs in the first round by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

This seems like a lot of money to spend on a guy with question marks, but if he pans out to what they expect, he could be huge for the Cubs for sure.  I like the gamble, and it could be just what the Cubs need to get over that hump and get to the world series

Players signed by the Chicago Cubs :

Signed Aramis Ramirez
Signed Alfonso Soriano
Signed Henry Blanco
Signed Kerry Wood
Signed Mark DeRosa
Signed Wade Miller
Signed Jason Marquis
Signed Daryle Ward
Signed Ted Lilly

Players lost by the Chicago Cubs :

Juan Pierre declared free agency (LA Dodgers)
Ryan O’Meilly declared free agency

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