Will the Cubs have a winning record?  Thoughts about D. Lee's injury?
442577
The Cubs will still have a winning record with the absence of Derrick Lee.  They still have a well rounded team and one person doesn't make the team, although they do help a lot.  The Cubs will definitely miss his bat, but Mabry should help out a little on both the offensive and defensive ends.  One good thing is that Lee is only going to be out for 2-3 months which will put him back in the line-up mid-season. But as long as the Cubs can hold on without him until then, when he returns they could still be in contention for a playoff spot.  Or at least a winning record.
1072658
Tough call to make. They have some good young arms on that staff but the hitting needs to keep up. Losing Maroth may hurt them but the biggest worry for them is Ozzie and when he gets the Sox on the tear they've been just missing so far this year.
610104
Historically poor management, coupled with a psychology of failure derived from years of losing. That is why Baker is a great manager for the Cubs. He is always positive and reenforcing. He is not the most technically skilled manager, but he is what the franchise needs as a manager.\n\nTake away Pujols, Carpenter and Mulder, or Konerko, Buerhle and Garcia, and see how good a manager LaRussa or Guillen would be.\n\nIf anyone is to blame currently, it is the GM Hendry who supplied the roster of mainly under-achieving players. Furthermore, in case no one noticed, this is the first year in many that the CUbs have tried switching to a speed, defense and pitching team. It was working, too, even without Prior and Wood, until Lee went down. Let's see what happens when he gets healthy. They probably won't win it this year, but they will give other teams a very hard time.
1032385
Cubbies!!! We must be masichists to be Cubs fans. Gotta love 'em.  We went to the Sunday game on memorial day weekend and watched them pull 7 runs out of their butts in the 8th inning. Some days they are on, some days they aren't. Stay strong Captain Cubby!
305964
I think it's highly possible.  Not only Cubs are playing well this season, Marlins is also the one of worst teams in MLB right now.
425036
Yes.  Other people can say what they want but when Prior and Wood come back they will have a rotation that includes those 2 with Zambrano and Maddux .. That's a pretty good front 4.  If everyone can get and stay healthy, the Cubs have a good shot at the post-season.  I wouldn't bet the farm on it but they have as good a chance as anyone else.
305357
Go Astros!!  They're doing pretty well!!  Wilson was an excellent investment.  Berkman is on fire too!  I think we should have the hitting covered.  Once the pitching settles and gets consistent, the 'Stros should be pretty much unbeatable.
742333
As many have already said\nthe addition of Sheffield will only shore up thier offense.\nThey need a lead-off hitter who can get on base, Granderson was ok there---but he strikes out too much for that spot.\n\nAs it stands now (before the winter meetings) I think they have a good shot of making the play-offs. Division or wild card. I am sure The Twins will be there as well.\n\nJemery Bonderman will only get better.\nJustin Verlander threw more innings last year then he ever has.\nThat might hurt him some in '07.\nBut, hopefully he doesnt fall to that "sophmore jinx"\nWith Zumaya out of the bullpen, throwing 102 mph, will help.\n\nBrandon Inge needs to buy a hitting bat, not a swinging one.\nMags, Pudge, and Guillen need to stay healthy if they are going to make a run at it.\nThey pitching looks good, and good pitching will beat good hitting.\nOf course, that is assuming they will produce as well as last year. Which is not always the case. Just ask the white sox.\n\nRe-signing Sean Casey was a smart move. His left handed bat will be well suited for that right field fence.\nChris Shelton is a question mark. No one knows for sure where he will end up. If he does well in spring training (which, btw, is only 75 days away for pitchers and catchers to report) he might have a roster spot. Chances are Shelton will end up in Toledo for most of the year to work on his swing.\n\nI look forward to playing The Yankees again, where i know it wont be easy. They will want to get even next year, and it will be fun to watch them play.\n\nWhatever happens, I doubt they finish under .500!\nIt will be nice to see them contend for several years, even if they dont win the WC or division, because after 12 years in a row of being under .500 Tiger fans deserve a good decent team.\n\nI know I babble a lot about The Tigers (cant help it! I'm a Tiger fan for life!) but I think they will be good, and make the playoffs.
737931
They need another left handed bat and another left handed pitcher to replace Jamie Walker.\n\nThey will have to stay healthy.\nMags and Pudge and Guillen all have had injuries in the last few years. If they stay healthy, and Sheffield stays healthy I look forward to them defending their AL Title.\n\nVerlander had a great rookie season, but he pitched more innings than he ever has. I am hoping he doesnt fall to a tired arm or the "sophmore jinx".\nBonderman will only get better.\nSo I think the pitching is fine.\n\nShould be an interesting 2007.
692365
Let me guess, you're a disgruntled Cubs fan. Here's a fact for you: Cardinals record 26-15. It's going to be 29-15 after we whoop the Royals @ss this weekend.
1092493
I think the cubbies will be down to their last out, leading by one run in the bottom of the ninth.  Hell will freeze over, the end of the earth will occur and they will go down as the team that could never put it together.
1105046
I am...have been all my life.  They are playing really bad right now without Pujols.  It's kind of scary actually.  You don't know what you got until it's gone.  I don't know what happened.  They got people that can hit and were hitting with Pujols in the lineup, but now that he is out they can't hit anything...and the pitching isn't going to well either.  I still think they can reach the pennant but at this point, I don't think they can without a healthy AP.
1179187
Hitting has been a surprising plus for the Sox.  Euk and Loretta have been excellent and Lowell has been a very pleasent surprise.  Trot has hit well all year and Jason is starting to come around.  It looks like Crisp is starting to hit again (it is almost like he was in spring training for the past few weeks after his injury).  And I will take .250 out of my #9 hitter everyday (especially when he continueally flashes the leather).  Manny and Papi have not been consistant, but they have been getting the job done....they will be fine when it is all said and done.\n\nD-fence has been awesome.  I have never seen defence like this in Boston.  It is a pure joy to watch.\n\nThe bullpen is coming along.  It was good to see Timlin pitch well last night after the injury.  Papelbon is a stud and the young guys are starting to get it done in middle relief.\n\nI think the biggest question mark is the rotation.  I think the top three are ok with Schilling, Wake and Beckett (although I would like to see Beckett step up and be a stud #2) and I think one of the young guys will fill in admirably at #5 which leaves us with Clement??????\n\nIf we could trade for a solid/experienced # 3/4 who could give us innings we would be all set.
199299
derek lee by far.  Casey is over the hill.  Lee is still young.  Lee is a gold glove first baseman.  Lee will hit close to 40 homeruns every year (as long as he plays at hitter-friendly wrigley field)
640403
Dude, it's way too early to even think about that.\n\nAs a Tiger Fan For Life, I am just happy they are winning; and I am enjoying while it lasts.\n\nSeeing as how The Tigers haven't finished .500 or better for the last 12 years...it is refreshing to see them do so well.\n\nIF (and that is a pretty big word) they stay healthy I expect them to give the white sox a run for thier money.\n\nI am NOT saying they will win the Central Division. \n\nBut it would be nice.\n\nSeriously, a 2nd place finish would be awesome!\n\nWild Card? It could happen. With Toronto winning The East we wont have to play those evil yankees or evil red sox.
1113091
Chi Cubs 6, Cincinnati 5\n\n Greg Maddux threw fewer pitches than usual, and got another milestone win. Ryan Dempster threw a lot more than usual, and got a heart-pounding save.\n\nIt takes a lot of the unusual to beat the Cincinnati Reds these days.\n\nMaddux beat baseball's hottest team for the third time this season, and Dempster survived a scare while closing out the Chicago Cubs' 6-5 victory Friday night, ending the Reds' eight-game winning streak.\n\n"Ain't never easy," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "Dang, it was a tough one. We needed this one badly. We were due to win one of these."\n\nThe Cubs emerged from a three-game losing streak with Henry Blanco's three RBIs and a short but solid performance by Maddux (7-5), who has beaten the Reds three times this season. He gave up four hits, including solo homers by Adam Dunn and Scott Hatteberg, in 5 1-3 innings.\n\nADVERTISEMENT\nMaddux's 325th career win broke a tie with Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton for 13th on the career list. Eddie Plank is next on the list, one victory ahead.\n\nMaddux took a grounder off his lower right leg in the third, and Baker didn't hesitate to go to his bullpen early when the Reds threatened in the sixth. He lifted Maddux after only 66 pitches.\n\n"I didn't like the way he was throwing in that one inning," Baker said. "He was getting everything up."\n\nMaddux didn't second-guess the decision.\n\n"That's just trying to win," Maddux said. "Our bullpen's done a great job all year. I didn't see a problem with it."\n\nThe problems came when Dempster got into the game in the ninth with a 6-4 lead. Dempster, who had blown three of his last five save chances, loaded the bases with no outs, then walked Ryan Freel to force in a run.\n\n"Early on, I wasn't fully committed. I don't know why," Dempster said. "I just wasn't there. It took me walking in a run to finally calm down and get it done. It was definitely exciting. My heart's still going."\n\nCincinnati Reds right fielder Austin Kearns misses a double hit by Chicago Cubs' Aramis Ramirez in the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, June 9, 2006, in Cincinnati. Kearns left the game with a hamstring injury on the play. Chicago won 6-5.\nAP - Jun 9, 10:37 pm EDT\nMore Photos\nDempster struck out Felipe Lopez, got Brandon Phillips to line out, then retired Ken Griffey Jr. on a routine grounder to end it for his 10th save in 13 chances. He threw 35 pitches in that one dramatic one inning.\n\nThe Reds were stunned after their first loss in June.\n\n"We knew we were going to win, but things happen," Phillips said. "When Freel got on base, I said, 'It's over."'\n\nThe Reds got back into the NL Central race with their longest winning streak since 1999. On Friday, they drew their first capacity crowd since an opening-day loss to the Cubs.\n\nThe 41,064 fans cheered loudly for Griffey, back in the lineup after missing two games with a sore thigh. The All-Century outfielder was a .417 career hitter off the four-time Cy Young winner, but grounded out and flied out in their two head-to-head match ups.\n\nBlanco had a two-run double and a sacrifice fly off Elizardo Ramirez (2-5), driving in one run more than the Cubs had managed in their last three games combined. Blanco, one of the NL's top defensive catchers, also threw out Lopez as he tried to steal second base in the sixth inning, undercutting a rally.\n\nMaddux is having a season of extremes. He opened 5-0 for the first time in his career, winning all of his April starts and turning 40 years old along the way.\n\nOnce the calendar turned, so did his fortunes. Maddux went into a 1-5 slump -- the only victory was over Cincinnati -- with a 7.75 ERA in his next seven starts. He was back in form on Friday, which started with more bad news for the Cubs.\n\nRight-hander Kerry Wood went ba
188760
I'm shocked he hasn't been fired yet.  If he's brought back next year, it'll become obvious that the Cubs don't want to win.