Come To Think Of It: Cubs in Denial While White Sox Look to the Future

One of the many differences between White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams and Cubs GM Jim Hendry is that Kenny harbors no illusions of the playoffs this season. Could it still happen? Sure, mathematically at least. But is it likely? Hell no.

And it's even less likely for the Cubs, of course. The division is out of reach and the wild card requires climbing over too many teams. Plus, the Cubs aren't playing like they want it anyway.

So the White Sox supposedly send a memo to the other clubs that Jermaine Dye, Jim Thome and Scott Linebrink are available.

And why not? It makes good business and baseball sense to try and build for next season with prospects you can obtain. I mean, if you're going to lose with or without these players, why hold onto them?

Meanwhile, the Cubs can't work out a trade for the horrible Aaron Heilman or Rich Harden, who isn't likely to return anyway. And the reason? Not that the offers weren't good enough. No. According to Hendry, it's because the Cubs still have a chance.

Delusional man say what?

Look, it's over, Jim. Face the music; you'll notice it's a dirge that's playing.

Rich Harden is simply too fragile, and the Cubs are too strapped for cash for them to match any three-year offer that some team is likely to wave under the nose of the impending free agent following the season.

Anyway, even if they wanted to re-sign Harden, they could still do it if they traded him. So why in the world wouldn't you get something for him?

Now, the Sox may not end up moving any of their players prior to tonight's deadline for adding players to the playoff roster. But at least they're trying. It shows they are being realistic. The Cubs? Knee deep in denial.

I'm not condoning a white flag deal here;  no, both teams (and especially the Cubs) are too far out of the race to hang onto players they are going lose or not want after the season.

But that's one of the many differences between the Cubs and Sox. The Sox have a plan while the Cubs seem to fly by the seat of their pants.

It pains me to write this, but I seem to recall one of the local teams winning a World Series a few years back.

That's another difference, come to think of it.