Come to Think of it...Cubs Season Hinges on Zambrano's Shoulder

Gulp hard, Cubs fans, and take a deep breath. For as we wait for the results of the MRI being performed on the shoulder of Carlos Zambrano, the entire Cubs season is on the blink.

I hate to be right sometimes, I really do, but when I wrote of Soriano's injury that the worst thing about it is it reminds us Cubs fans of the impending doom that always follows this moribound franchise around, I was told I was too negative.

"This is our year," screamed most Cubs faithful, and I certainly hope it is.  But I tell you without equivocation that if Big Z is done, so are the 2008 Cubs. Plain and simple. End of story.

You can replace a Soriano, either internally as the Cubs have so far chosen to do, or through a trade. All you need is a power hitter, as Soriano has become a one dimensional player. And while they don't grow on trees, power hitting outfielders are certainly easier to find than ace starting pitchers.

In fact, the only potentially available starter out there who would even remotely make up for a loss of Zambrano would be Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia. But we don't even know if or when they will make him available, nor what the price might be to rent him for the rest of this season.

But I do know that the Cubs don't need Coco Crisp. An outstanding fielder, Crisp is not worth Rich Hill and Matt Murton. If anything, go get Adam Dunn. Power and high OBP.

But if Zambrano isn't healthy, it won't matter if we find Mickey Mantle in his prime to patrol centerfield. The combination loss of Soriano and Zambrano would be deadly, not only from a loss of production standpoint, but psychologically deflating.

Hopefully, all is well and there is no significant injury to Zambrano's shoulder. But if not, blame it on the curse, blame it on whatever, heck blame it on Rio...but know that there are some things you just can't recover from.  Come to think of it, maybe a little touchup and a little paint...?