I thought the Cubs got the best man available as their manager, Lou Pinella. There were a lot of people crying for Joe Girardi, but I was pulling for Pinella because he doesn't want to be caught up in another Devil Rays situation. The fact the Cubs got him tells me that we aren't going to sit back and wait for Pryor & Wood to get healthy. Pinella said he didn't want to be part of a "rebuilding project".

Honestly the Cubs have some rebuilding to do, but maybe not as bad as some might think. I'll take Carlos Zambrano as a #1 starter over anyone in the National League. Beyond him I'm OK with Rich Hill as perhaps a 4th starter. As far as Pryor, at this point I wouldn't even plan on him being there, maybe he fights for the 5th starter. Kerry Wood will be in the bullpen and with less wear & tear on his arm (only pitching one inning) might work out to be a decent closer. There's another player from Japan (a closer) that we should take a look at as well. We have two big gaps to fill and that will require free agents or a trade.

I thought the fact the White Sox won the World Series last year was a good thing for Cubs fans. I thought the pressure to win would be at an all-time high, thus the Cubs would shore up the clear holes with their team. Kudos to Jim Hendry for addressing the lead-off position with Juan Pierre. Though his stats are not great, I think he was the best available option. Bobby Howry and Scott Eyre have been great. But how could you not address the starting pitching with two injury prone guys at the top of your rotation? Think of how great Kenny Rogers would've been in a Cubs uniform. A free agent that Texas was dying to let go. There are more names that wouldn't have cost us an (arm, pardon the punn) and a leg. Why not a more bold move like Ichiro from Seattle? They were talking about getting rid of him two years ago. Something tells me that if the Cardinals wanted a quality outfielder, they would've got him. Remember Scott Rolen. Nobody in their right mind would get rid of a young golden glove, power hitting third baseman with many years ahead of him. Sounded crazy, but the Redbirds pulled it off! What about Dontrelle Willis? At the beginning of the year why not put some sort of package of young players together to add a quality hard to find Lefty in your rotation. It's only fitting since we drafted and developed him, that we get him back. The Tribune is supposed to be a big, creative thinking corporation. Is there anyone up there creative enough to put the pieces together?