Chicago Cubs Dive into Shallow End of Kiddy Pool

After about a six-month disappearance, I'm back.  Maybe it's because it's 2009 and I hope that this is the year for my favorite sports teams, or maybe it's that I have too much time on my hands and need something to keep me occupied.  But one of the major contributors to MLB and Cubs articles is ready to write again. 

So, for a first article for 2009, what do I choose to write on?  The Cubs' signing of Mr. Temper Temper himself, Milton Bradley, makes sense to start with.  Or I could start with the hopes I have that Jake Peavy will still end up in the city of broad shoulders.

Instead, I'll give my general thoughts and opinions of how the offseason has been for the Cubs this year. 

I give Jim Hendry a big C+ for the offseason moves.  Losing Mark DeRosa was something that could not happen.  I don't know why nobody is making a big deal of this.  He is the only player I can remember off the top of my head that can play every position except for Catcher, Pitcher, and Center Field.  Has anyone noticed that a guy like this is pretty nice when Chicago can't seem to stay healthy?

Milton Bradley, while he is a great hitter, is not a good pickup.  The guy can't stay in the lineup.  Between injuries and his flare-ups, he misses way too many games.  Couple that with Alfonso Soriano playing left, and that means Chicago better have a deep bench, because they'll be starting in the outfield for quite a few games.

Anyone else looking forward to the first argument between Lou Piniella and Milton?  I am.

Not picking up another dominant pitcher isn't too big of a deal, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to sign a Jake Peavy, A.J. Burnett, C.C. Sabathia, or some other proven starter.

The pitching staff is perfectly fine without one of these big names, but 100 years since the last championship coupled with the hopes Cubs fans had last year would probably lead me to believe the organization should open up their pocketbooks and try buying a late October appearance. 

So, to sum everything up, 2008 was a fun season to watch.  2009 should be as well.  I just don't think the Chicago Cubs have done enough this offseason to warrant any talk of a World Series appearance.

And that, my friends, is the only thing the Cubs should be focused on.

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