Chicago Cubs Baseball

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who are these Chicago Cubs afterall? That’s the question of the month for those of us in Cubdom, and I’m pretty certain, for the Chicago brain trust as well.

After six weeks of Chicago Cubs baseball I think it’s safe to say that no one knows whether this 2008 version is coming, going - or both. I’m guessing Cub players are wondering the same.

Are they the Cubs that reeled off winning streaks of five and six games in April or are they the club that’s been dazed and abused for the past two weeks, losing eight of their last 11 as of Tuesday?

Despite this six-week roller coaster of a season, surprisingly, major league baseball pundits are standing by their predictions - which even more astonishingly, includes the Chicago Cubs. Sports Illustrated, John Kruk and Steve Phillips of ESPN, and Kevin Kennedy of Fox Sports have all gone on record picking the Cubs - some as far as the World Serious.

Evidently, this group didn’t read the scouting report that includes a five-man starting rotation of three, a closer who’s ability to get the save is as suspect as his arm, and a left fielder who not is an outfield liability, but is hitting less than he weighs. And that little list doesn’t include a sometimes shaky bullpen and Cub management’s continuing search for a center fielder - preferably someone who swings from the left side of the plate.

Oh yeah. Then there’s the defense. In dropping a 5-3 decision to lowly Cincinnati, Monday night, Cub fielders committed two errors, accounting for all five unearned runs.

”Like I told my guys after the ballgame, ‘Make the other team beat you. Just don’t give it to them,”’ manager Lou Piniella said following the loss. ”And I know they’re not trying [to give it away]. At the same time, you play like that, you’re going to lose most of the time.”

Not that there hasn’t been individual bright spots. Derrek Lee looks to have returned to 2005 form (has it really been that long?), while Carlos Zambrano is letting his pitching do all the talking. And what sweet music it has been.

Geo Soto is hitting and catching his way into Rookie of the Year candidacy, even topping the performance of every Cubbie’s favorite Japanese player, Kosuke Fukudome.

But individuals don’t win World Series championships. And neither does a team with more holes than a side street after winter.