Come To Think Of It...Acquisitions Like Gathright Showing Cubs Not World Serious

"We're lucky we're not in an area, in a year where we need a lot of volume, so hopefully we just come up with the right couple of pieces to make it better," Chicago Cubs GM Jim Hendry said recently.

Well, Hendry can say a lot of things. But if the offseason thus far is any indication, improvement is not on the agenda for the Cubs in 2009.

Oh, I know the refrain. How much improvement does a 97-win team require? Well, I don't know about you, but my hunger for a world championship only grows stronger by the year. And while 97 wins is nice, it doesn't satisfy the thirst of a 100-year drought.

As we know only too painfully, the playoffs are a completely separate season. The Second Season, if you will. One that is not for Cowardly Lions and Tin Men. One that requires confidence, and the ability to perform under pressure. In other words, all the things the Cubs are lacking.

Look, there's a reason why this team has gone 'three and out' in two consecutive playoffs, looking very bad in the process. And believe me, signings like Joey Gathright and Kevin Gregg aren't going to do anything to help that situation.

The Cubs aren't spending money this offseason, in case you haven't noticed, outside of resigning Ryan Dempster, who isn't likely to repeat his 2008 numbers next year. But they've been sure to rev up the PR machine so that their names are included in almost every baseball trade and/or free agent rumor.

But when push comes to shove, they're scraping the bottom for bargains like Gathright. If you can call a low-OBP speedster like him a bargain.

He might be an acceptable fourth or fifth outfielder, but let's hope he isn't the lefty hitter Hendry has been promising us.  Because if he is, then Hendry is more arrogant than Rod Blagojevich.

Gathright may be fast, but as the cliche goes, you can't steal first base. I would rather take my chances with Felix Pie, who is also fast, and as the old saying goes, would at least allow the Cubs to dance with who brung ya. They have spent plenty of time and money into developing Pie, so why let a guy with almost identical skills come along and steal your dance partner?

Acquiring Kevin Gregg made little sense, but that didn't stop Hendry from doing it. Gregg is simply not a very good pitcher under pressure, and certainly isn't a good closer. We're counting on an unproven Carlos Marmol to turn out the lights each night and no one knows if he will be successful in doing so. At least with Kerry Wood, we had someone who was a proven closer. You know, despite having good stuff, not every pitcher can do this job. 

We could use a veteran arm in the bullpen. Former Marlin Joe Nelson is available because he was arbitration-eligible and believe me, one could do worse.

Just like there are Cubs fans who cling to the foolish notion that Jake Peavy is still going to be a Cub, there are fans who have blind faith in Jim Hendry to fix things this winter. But Hendry, perhaps knowing he doesn't have the money to spend, continues to insist the Cubs just need to do some tweaking.  Add one part Gregg, stir in Gathright, and you have a meal fit for a king. A king without a ransom, that is.

So what has changed for the Cubs really? Nada. Instead of the efficient Kerry Wood closing, we'll have Marmol and Gregg (yikes!).  Even if Marmol is up to the task, this weakens the bullpen as a whole. Consider that Marmol will be reduced to the ninth inning only, while we all know games are won and lost in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings too. So, instead of having Marmol available to pitch in highly leveraged situations whenever needed, he will have to be saved to possibly earn a save that may never come.

We still have no left-handed power hitter on the team. And we still do not have a true leadoff man. In fact, this is the exact situation we faced last year at this time.  Eerie.

Granted, there are teams in much more dire circumstances, as the Cubs are returning a very good regular season team. But dreams of the World Series are hanging in the balance, kids. While even teams that just won the World Series are paying $30MM+ for a left-handed hitting outfielder, the Cubs are taking a pass due to what was said to be "defensive concerns" about Raul Ibanez.

Lying man say what? If Hendry's main reason for not signing Ibanez was his defense, then why would he still be negotiating with Milton Bradley, who is just as bad defensively? Don't believe the PR train, folks, it comes down to money. The Cubs think they can get Bradley for less money than Ibanez, plain and simple. Except they're finding out that may not be true. If so, is the backup plan named Joey? D'oh!

And even if Gathright was only acquired to platoon with Reed Johnson in center, which would certainly be a lot more palatable, why should Hendry spend precious time with this while the guys he really needs may be slipping away?

Rumors have Bradley close to signing with the Rays. Hey, another World Series team looking for a lefty hitting outfielder, while the Cubs remain idly by, sitting on the sidelines. 

Just like last year when they teased us with Brian Roberts, they spent the majority of this offseason teasing us with Peavy, who they never really seriously intended to acquire. They were simply kicking the tires, performing their due diligence, since the Padres were practically begging the Cubs to stay alive in the talks.

In the end, it will largely be the same old Cubs in 2009.  Which could be much worse, of course, as they did win 97 games last season, so even I have to admit they will be fun to watch. Until they break our hearts again. Believe me, that is never fun.

Look, I hate being so negative, but I admit I am spoiled and want more. I want the Cubs to show me that they're serious - world serious - about winning it all.

It's about time, wouldn't you agree?

Definitions of "success" vary widely.  While Hendry and his scouts seem to be good at finding guys like Gathright, (remember Edmonds, Johnson, et al.), "There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all," as Peter Drucker once said.

"Yesterday I dared to struggle. Today I dare to win," said Bernadette Devlin. Dare to win, Jim Hendry...please dare to win.

Well...at least our Cubbies should once again be competitive during the regular season. Of course, there is that little problem of that darned Second Season, come to think of it...