The Chicago Sun-Times' Toni Ginnetti notes in today's paper that the 2003 Florida Marlins (won the World Series) were 19-29 and the 2005 Houston Astros (one the National League pennant) were 15-30 at one point during their seasons. The Cubs' current record -- 15-22 -- is not that bad yet. It is the '03 Marlins and the '05 Astros that keep me from looking toward 2007 at this point. Dramatic changes happen over the course of a long baseball season. Of course, the worrisome part is not the current record by itself, but the fact that the Cubs have been outscored 103-38 over their last 17 games. The Cubs' expected win-loss record, based on number of runs scored and allowed, is 13-24, 2 games worse than their actual record. Do teams dominated that thoroughly over a two-and-a-half week period ever stage a comeback?

Of course, once Kerry Wood and Mark Prior return, and if Juan Pierre and Aramis Ramirez start hitting like they are capable, and if Todd Walker and Matt Murton start hitting for a little more power, and if Jim Hendry is able to acquire a decent bat to play second or first base until Derrek Lee returns, the Cubs won't be the same team they are now. It's a longshot, but it wouldn't be any fun to throw this team under the bus right now.