Mike Nadel: Cubs can win, but don't count on reinforcements
As Alex Rodriguez dug in at the batter's box, his gaudy-bordering-on-ridiculous stats were presented to the All-Star Game television audience: .317, 30 HRs, 86 RBIs. Come July 31, all that production could be on the trading block.
"Man," said my 19-year-old son, Ben. "The Cubs should get him!"
The announcers later said Jorge Posada could be a free agent at season's end. "Man," said Ben, a desperate Cubbie fan. "We should get him."
And Ken Griffey Jr. could be dealt any day now. "Man," Ben said. "The Cubs should get him."
Why stop there? Why not Carl Crawford and Miguel Cabrera and Eric Bedard, too? Heck, why not Albert Pujols, now that he's mad at Tony La Russa? (Credit Pujols, after being tethered to La Russa's NL bench, with the season's best quote: "Maybe he was saving me for next year's All-Star Game.")
Fact is, the Cubs had better be able to win in the second half with what they've got now. There has been no evidence GM Jim Hendry will get the green light to acquire a two-bit middle reliever - let alone the likes of A-Rod and Junior, high-priced sluggers who tip valets more money than most of us make in a year.
Hendry keeps assuring fans he'll be allowed to spend money to improve the team if the Cubs are in contention at the trading deadline. Yet he wasn't even allowed to dump the very dump-worthy Jacque Jones. Nor could he finalize a contract for Carlos Zambrano that included a generous hometown discount.
With Tribune Co. having dealt the entire team to an owner to be named later, everything related to finances is in limbo. And in baseball, my friends, EVERYTHING is related to finances.
Is this state of limbo a bad thing? Perhaps not. Remember two years ago, when some media mavens insisted the White Sox "absolutely must get Griffey" to have a chance at a championship? Hey, maybe all the North Siders need is for the same yahoos to insist the Cubs "absolutely must get Griffey."
As presently constituted, the Cubs have plenty of warts: catchers who don't hit, outfield question marks, a less-than-ideal situation at shortstop, inconsistent starting pitching and an injured closer. And the Cubs certainly need their first baseman to hit more like Derrek Lee and less like Mark Grace.
Still, Lou Piniella finally does have the team he envisioned. Sure, he'd like more talent in his employ, but he has a few boppers, several scrappy role players and some nice power pitchers. He also has players who finally seem to believe in themselves and their teammates, and that's always the most difficult part of managing in Cubbieland.
Baseball Prospectus, the same outfit that predicted before the season that the White Sox would crash and burn, is now using a formula called "Secret Sauce" to predict a Cubs-Red Sox World Series. I admit I don't really understand the Cubs half of the equation, so I'll just nod my head and say, "Yes, Dear" - just as I do when my wife asks if I like her new shoes.
Of course, I'd feel a lot better about yes-dearing the Cubs' chances if they had A-Rod, Posada and Bedard.
Back in April, I picked the Cardinals to win the NL Central. It obviously was a stupid prediction because I should have foreseen injuries to Chris Carpenter, Yadier Molina and David Eckstein, slumps by Pujols and Scott Rolen and the death of Josh Hancock. So I'll take a mulligan and say the division race will come down to September's final days, with this outcome: Cubs 85-77; Brewers 84-78; Cardinals 82-80; Pirates 76-86; Astros 72-90; Reds 69-93.
As for the AL Central, figure Detroit to win a two-team race with Cleveland, with the White Sox finishing fourth behind Minnesota. The main area of interest in Sox City will be which players will be traded, which will be retained and which will be acquired. Come to think of it, they could use A-Rod, too.
Taking one last look back, here are my midseason MLB award winners:
AL MVP: Vladimir Guerrero, Angels. Because Magglio Ordonez has so much talent around him in Detroit, Vlad rates a slight edge. What? No A-Rod? This voter looks at standings first and stats second when assessing "value" for this award.
NL MVP: Prince Fielder, Brewers. Unlike the AL situation, this one isn't even close.
Least Valuable Players: Jose Contreras and Jermaine Dye. My, how far the mighty '05 White Sox have fallen.
AL Cy Young: Johan Santana, Twins. C.C. Sabathia and Josh Beckett have more wins, Dan Haren has a lower ERA and Eric Bedard has more strikeouts, but Santana ranks high in every category despite pitching in a bandbox.
NL Cy Young: Brad Penny, Dodgers. A 10-1 record gives him the nod over the Padres' Chris Young and Jake Peavy.
Cy Ouch: Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. Of course. Again. And again.
AL Rookie: Daisuke Matsuzaka, Red Sox. It's never easy living up to hype run amok.
NL Rookie: Hunter Pence, Astros. The boy wonder heads an outstanding rookie class, with Milwaukee's Ryan Braun and Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki also in contention.
Out-of-Nowhere Rookie: Mike Fontenot, Cubs. If you tell me you had him on your fantasy team back in April, I'll respond as any mature adult would: Liar, liar, pants on fire!
AL Comeback: Sammy Sosa, Rangers. He's hitting so well, it's enough to make one wonder if his "special batting practice bat" also has made a comeback.
NL Comeback: Dmitri Young, Nationals. Much to the delight of restaurant owners in NL cities.
AL Manager: Mike Scioscia, Angels. Year in and year out, one of the best.
NL Manager: Ned Yost, Brewers. But in this horse race, Sweet Lou's charging on the outside.
Soon To Be Filthy-Rich Manager: Joe Girardi. Getting fired by the Marlins will turn out to be one of the best things ever to happen to Peoria Joe. Right, George Steinbrenner?
Mike Nadel (mikenadel@sbcglobal.net) is the Chicago sports columnist for GateHouse News Service. Read his blog, The Baldest Truth, at www.thebaldesttruth.com <http://www.thebaldesttruth.com> .