Chicago Cubs Still Have A Long Way to Go

The entire North Side of Chicago would like to think this year is magical and there is no reason the Cubs aren't going to win a World Series for the first time in 100 seasons.  There are plenty of reasons the Cubs won't be a playoff team, let alone a World Series Champion.

Starting pitching has been an absolute joke. Carlos Zambrano has pitched well as you expect the ace of any staff to do.  Ryan Dempster has pitched extremely well also, having an ERA under 1.00 through his first two starts.

The bad news is how poorly the rest of the staff has performed.  Ted Lilly has been a flyball pitcher his entire career, only this year he has become a deep flyball/round the bases type pitcher.  He needs to improve in order for the Cubs to find success. 

I also claimed earlier this year that Rich Hill was going to have a coming out party and finally put together a full season of strong performances.  Rich is yet to get this memo from me, walking seemingly every other batter he faces.

I'm not sure why Hill can't find the strike zone this year, but his struggles aren't helping the cause.  Finally, Jason Marquis earned a spot in the starting rotation thanks to a strong spring...too bad he couldn't be kind enough to bring those performances to the regular season.

He has been lit up for a 6.75 ERA thus far.  Keep it up Jason, and maybe we can all get our wish and see you taken out of the starting rotation.

When it comes to the batting order, does Lou Piniella have something against going with what works?  I am very curious when I see the Cubs starting lineup on a day-to-day basis.

Why is Alfonso Soriano still hitting leadoff?  Why is Kosuke Fukudome batting fifth?  It seems that Lou has his mind set that this lineup is going to work and he will continue to use it until it does.  Why?  Soriano can't get on base as a leadoff guy?  Please Lou, bat him down in the lineup.

Also, why does Kosuke Fukudome continue to bat fifth?  Talk about the ideal No. 2. Lou has him in his lineup but refuses to bat him there.  Move Fukudome up, and make Soriano take his .235 OBP to No. 5.

Reed Johnson, Ryan Theriot, or even AAA Matt Murton batting leadoff would yield better results than the current lineup.

The way this team is currently set up, Cubs fans don't have to worry  about the World Series in 2008, because the playoffs are nothing more than a stretch of the imagination until changes are made.