At first glance, the potentially season-ending injury to Mark Prior is the death knell to this season for the Cubs. However, if the Cubs gather their wits about them, this season can still be salvageable.

Here's what the Cubs rotation should look like for the remainder of the season:

Zambrano
Maddux
Rusch
Dempster
Wellemeyer

If Dusty Baker is smart, he'll bring Ryan Dempster back into the rotation and make Borowski the closer again or have a bullpen-by-committee. Todd Wellemeyer deserves to have a shot at being the team's 5th closer. Except for the declining Maddux, this is a good, solid rotation that has a chance to at least stabilize the situation barring any further injuries. As for Kerry Wood, once he gets back, he should be relegated to the bullpen so as to avoid further injury and to try to get this dog to learn some new tricks.

The Cubs need to get serious about trading off its bad apples (Hawkins, Patterson, etc.) for major league talent instead of minor leaguers. Addition by subtraction and some new talent into the pool. Also, the team should place Ramierez on the 15 day DL so he can recuperate from his back problems.

Finally, the Cubs should emulate the example of the 2003 Florida Marlins by firing Dusty Baker and, even better, both GM Jim Hendry & team president Andy McPhail who have presided over the reign of mediocrity for far too long.

The time is getting late, but things can still get turned around.

One last thing, the team should start fining members who spout off in public ridiculous excuses for their bad play such as baming the length of the grass which equally affects the visiting team. These persons only make the club look stupid and like a bunch of whiners. Of course, Baker is the source of much of this whining, so don't look for this suggestion to be implemented anytime soon.