Scott Podsednik & Mark DeRosa

Scott Podsednik doesn’t belong on the North Side, and it’s not just a White Sox thing, either.

The guy’s injury prone and his defense isn’t what it use to be, which was never above average to begin with.

Despite Podsednik’s ability as a solid leadoff man, he’s just not the fit the Cubs need in center field. Better options are available (Reed Johnson) and the Cubs are better off taking a flyer on Scotty Pods.

Besides, an aging Alfonso Soriano in left field is already enough poor defense to overcome. Adding a second sub-par defender isn’t the shot-in-the- arm Jim Hendry should be looking for.

–Signing a two-year deal with San Francisco is a good move for Mark DeRosa. He’ll be a starter at third base and the Giants are on the cusps of being a playoff contender.

DeRosa’s likeable personality makes him a good fit on any club, but he’ll fit in exceptionally well with San Fran’s forward thinking crowd the same way in which the well-spoken Rich Aurilia did for so many years.

The Cubs don’t face the Giants until mid-August when they play four games at San Fran. DeRosa’s return to Wrigley comes the following month for a three-game set against the Cubs in late September.

–Former-Cubs Bob Howry is returning to his native state to pitch for the D-Backs.

I’ll give the guy credit for his first two seasons with the Cubs, but his last in ‘08 ended in shambles. I can’t remember another Cubs reliever who gave up more big home runs since Mike Remlinger and Kyle Farnsworth.

As it was, the Cubs smartly cut ties with Howry and he eventually signed with San Francisco last offseason.

And as expected, the 35-year-old again fell flat posting a 2-6 record and 3.39 ERA. Apparently, however, Arizona is so desperate for bullpen help Howry is a fit. Oh, how the once mighty Diamondbacks have fallen!