Chicago Cubs Baseball

The first half has ended, the second half has barely begun and Chicago Cubs baseball finds itself in pretty much the same position as when the season began.

Injuries, inconsistent play and a general ineptitude at the plate has turned the race for a playoff spot into a daily trek on the treadmill.  Sure, the Cubs have got their miles in, but at the end of the workout have essentially gone nowhere.

Despite it all, the Cubs find themselves in the thick of the Central Division logjam entering tonight’s game with the Washington Nationals.  Chicago joins Milwaukee and Houston for second place and trails division-leading St. Louis by three games.

Not bad for a team that could - and in many ways, should - be making a run for the bottom with Pittsburgh rather than staying within striking distance of a third consecutive Central Division crown.

If nothing else, this 2009 ride has produced one of the stranger seasons in recent and not-so-recent memory.  In some ways it’s reminiscent of the 2006 season when the Cubs all but quit at the end of May after a rash of injuries sidelined key players, including Derrek Lee.

Unlike then, and as frustrating as it has been to watch this team, these Cubs haven’t shown any signs of quit.  Yet.

Maybe there really is such a thing as “Cub swagger,” that mentality manager Lou Piniella vowed to instill when he came to Chicago.  If so, it’s like so many other traits about the Cubs that create the ultimate sports’ love-hate relationship:  They just have a funny way of showing it.

And not to be overlooked in this oddball season, has been the work done by pitching coach Larry Rothschild.  The Cubs staff, despite itself at times, is fourth among National League teams with a 3.75 ERA.  Only division leaders Los Angeles and St. Louis, as well as wild-card leader San Francisco has better team ERAs.

Which makes everyone wonder - from the top of the Cubs organization through the clubhouse and into the midst of Cubdom - where would this team be if even a couple of the bats that were counted on in spring training had come through.  While it’s a waste of good brain matter to ponder, it does, it does bring to the forefront something equally as puzzling: did Hendry really need to go out and spend millions when the organization’s minor league system seems full of capable players?

As of today, the Cubs’ roster includes no less than seven players that weren’t with the parent team when the season started.  For example, Randy Wells is scheduled to start tonight’s game against the Nationals, while Kevin Hart was called up for tomorrow’s series finale.

Now with pitcher Ted Lilly and outfielder Alfonso Soriano ailing, more roster moves are likely.  This Cubs team has had enough players on the disabled list to keep a M.A.S.H. unit busy.

Given the state of Chicago Cubs baseball, injuries and ineptitude and all,  it’s a difficult call to say how the season will progress.  The only thing certain about this 2009 team is that it’s future is undeniably uncertain.