Survey: Two questions about the 2006 season

A few days ago I stated that with the Cubs 2006 season about wrapped up, it only remains to be seen if the Sox will repeat, and if that will have any positive effect on the Northside. I think there is a good chance that the Sox will repeat and I think we all know that it will have no effect on how the lovable losers are managed.

That being said, I would like to get your opinion on two interesting topics.
1) The Cub brass will at least have to make it look like they care about this fiasco. So who will be the scapegoat for the 2006 season? Baker? Wood, by way of not re-signing him? other?

2) Okay, a bone for Randy. :) How many home runs will Pujols hit this year? And since he's presumably not doing it with steroids, how's he doing it?

Revisiting pre-season prognostications:

I hate to tell you that I told you so, but...

I published the following post on this page December 20th of last year - just after Jacque Jones was signed to a 3 year deal:

That sound you just heard...

was the sound of the Cubs 2006 season flushing down the toilet. You see, the Cubs just inked Jacque Jones to a 3-year deal:

...

Why are prospects for next season swirling down the johnny as a result of this signing?

Because it signals most of all that Jim Hendry just doesn't understand the extent of the problems with this team as it is currently constructed and managed.

This is not a team on the cusp of playoff contention in need only of minor improvement (and it is arguable how much improvement [if any] Jones provides over the underwhelming Jeromy Burnitz).

This is a team that is deeply flawed - and deeply flawed on a number of levels. It is especially flawed in terms of offense (or lack thereof) - but it is also a team that has a very questionable starting rotation. That's never a good combination. It's certainly not a team that will contend.

Here's the bottom line - Jacque Jones isn't the answer to what proved to be an absolutely horrendous (from an offensive standpoint) OF last year. The offensive production was downright offensive last year, if you get what I mean. And Jones isn't going to substantially improve things.

In fact you can write this down - because it comes from a baseball realist - this team as presently constructed will struggle to finish third in the division next year (and that's assuming no injuries).

You don't like that prognosis? Go over to fantasy land and get your fix of continually deferred hope. For my part, I don't deal in fantasy - only reality - and sometimes it really does bite folks.

I suspect that Jim will tell us in the near future just how "satisfied" he is with the team as presently constructed. Just like last year in fact. He was satisfied with what he had then - in fact he was pretty sure the club could "survive" when Wood, Williamson, and Garciaparra returned in early August. And that turned out splendidly as we all know.

And to be honest, I don't know why he wouldn't be "satisfied."

After all, who isn't satisfied with fourth place in the division!

It didn't take a rocket scientist to realize that the team Jim Hendry assembled was destined for failure. Looking forward, what will be particularly revealing is how this team will continue to ring up losses at an alarming rate even after the return of Wood and Prior.

What a fool looks like..........

Obviously there is nothing more to say about the 2006 edition of the Chicago Cubs. The prophet Christoper has proven to be as accurate as Isaiah. This is getting embarrassing, and I've been a Cub fan for a long time. Tooo long. Looks like the highlight of the season will be Pierre's robbing Bonds of # 714 (temporarily). The only questions that remain are: will the Sox repeat; and if so, will that add enough embarrassment to drive change on the north side? The answer to the first one is "maybe", and to the second one "I doubt it". Mediocrity has been perfected and transformed to profitable success on the north side. I don't believe Tribune Co. wants to change that. Since there is nothing more to say I'll just shamelessly sign off with a personal picture documenting too many years of yearning. I suppose Randy would call me a "ledgie". But a fool seems more appropriate.