Baseball's Second Half Begins Tomorrow

Yes, a handful of teams started the second half of baseball today, but I don't care about them. I care abou tthe team that resides at 1060 W. Addison St.....the Chicago Cubs.

Not too long ago, the Cubs were 9.5 games out of first, looking like the biggest waste of $300 million in the history of sports. Then came the turning points of this season. The dugout slugout between Michael Barrett and Carlos Zambrano. Then, Lou Piniella's classic tirade. Followed by the 10-1 rout of the Atlanta Braves.

If the Cubs go on to win the NL Central, I will point to that weekend as the point when the Cubs figured it out.

Some might say that Piniella (in his first year managing the Cubs) was asleep at the wheel for the first two months. I'd counter with that Piniella spent the first two months of the season unraveling the mess of a roster given to him by GM Jim Hendry.

Alfonso Soriano has moved from sub-par center fielder to All-Star left fielder. Cesar Izturis has been replaced by LSU's finest: Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot. Mark DeRosa has played like the super-utility man that he was advertised as. Carlos Marmol has pitched lights out in the bullpen and is the closer of the future. Michael Barrett is no longer with the team.

But that was the first half, it's time to move forward. Hopefully the Cubs will play like the team from June and early July, instead of the mopes that stunk up the joint in April and May.

By my math, the Cubs need to go 45-30 to finish with 90 wins. I said in the beginning of the year the 90 wins should win the division. I also said that the Cubs would win the division, not only because it was meant to be because of my epiphany last October or the special circumstances in the beginning of the year, but also because they were the most talented team (on paper) in the division.

For the Cubs to win the division however, the following five things must happen:

• Carlos Zambrano must pitch like the ace he is. Zambrano is 5-2 since "restarting" his season on June 6. He's a career second half monster. Expect big things from Big Z! (Hopefully starting with a big contract extension.)
  
• Derrek Lee must find his power stroke. Don't get me wrong, I love the .330 average and the .400+ on-base percentage---but D. Lee needs to slug some dingers for the Cubs offense to be clicking on all cylinders.
• Jason Marquis must avoid his second half slump. As good as Big Z is in the second half, the Grand Marquis isn't. His track record shows he goes cold when the weather gets hot. If #21 can be a .500 pitcher in the second half, I'd be happy.
• The bullpen needs to stay strong. The Cubs will have an interesting situation when closer Ryan Dempster returns from injury. I suggest putting Carlos Marmol in the 9th inning A.S.A.P. with Dempster and a revived Bobby Howry handling the 7th and 8th innings. Will Ohman has excelled as the lefty specialist and Scott Eyre is sitting at the end of the bench (thankfully.)
• The Cubs need to strengthen their offense. Somehow, someway....it must be done! Whether it be a blockbuster deal (Ken Griffey Jr.?) or something smaller (Ty Wiggington?) the Cubs need to improve their ball club. It will be a bit difficult with the Tribune seemingly hand cuffed by prospective owner Sam Zell, who is making life miserable for Cubs fans as long as Jacque Jones is on that roster. Someone should note that it is completely UNFAIR that someone in the White Sox ownership group OWNS THE CUBS! I'm not saying the fix is in....okay I am. I don't trust Bud Selig, Jerry Reinsdorf or anyone in MLB ownership circles.

Which brings me to this. Mark Cuban has sent in his bid to buy the Cubs. Please, let him buy the team. Please! I'll get down on my hands and knees. I'll go pick up Mr. Cuban at either airport and will be his personal chauffer to Tribune Tower to get the deal done.

Well, that's all for now. I'm sure more will come as long as the Cubs keep winning!