THE CUBS NEED TO:

the cubs need to realize that the window of opportunity has closed. boo-boo lou thinks they only need to tweak the roster and be 'right there' next year but i submit his dementia has gathered speed and he is no longer in touch with reality. the cubs really need to:

1) not make the mistake of 'burying the hatchet' and bringing milton bradley back. remember, that's 20 million dollars you're giving away if you cut him but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet.

2) trade either aramis ramirez OR derrek lee. quit your screaming and read on. lee is 34 and has maximum value right now with ramirez being 31 and playing only two full years of the last six due to nagging injuries. they are BOTH .285 career hitters. trade one and get some value.

3) if you don't trade lee or ramirez, then trade jeff fox to an american league team. he has NO VALUE to the cubs if there's no position available and he's too good of a hitter to sit on the bench and take up a roster spot.

3A) soriano is the same as fox but he has 72 million GUARANTEED over the next four years and the cubs would have to eat at least half of that to trade him. add that to the bradley salary and you're closing in on SIXTY MILLION just to get rid of players!

4) put shipping tags on kevin gregg, bradley, mike fontenot, aaron miles and rich harden. you don't need garbage like this.

5) make zambrano participate in an off season training program and lose 25 pounds. this guy has become a caricature of himself. 90 million dollars for a guy who's never won more than 14 games? ridiculous. if he comes into camp without losing the weight, deal him IMMEDIATELY to let the rest of the roster know that you mean business. another case of possibly biting the bullet but you have to excise the cancers if they don't repond to treatment.

6) REALIZE that your off-season goals are second base and an outfielder. ANY outfielder who can play the position without falling down and still hit .270. second baseman brian roberts is still available in baltimore.

7) be prepared to make an early move with the catching position if soto or gets off to a slow start. remember that he bounced around the minors for a few years and never hit more than nine homers or had more than 48 rbi when SUDDENLY in 2007, he explodes for 26 & 109 and hits .353, 80 points over his average. amazing. then he wins rookie of the year in 2008 with 23 & 86 & .285. incredible. then he tests positive for dope in the off-season and promptly divebombs down to .215 with just 11 homers & 45 rbi. hmmmmmmmmmm. any red flags flying in your head?

synopsis: i could type for days on the cub ills but i think you get the picture. they had their chances over the last three seasons but now it's time to back up the truck and build for the future. it takes guts to trade popular players and establish discipline but there is NOTHING WORSE than falling in love with your roster and making players untouchable, then watching them grow old on the job as you ponder the players you could have gotten in a deal two years earlier. bite the bullet and make some moves so you can resurface as legitimate contenders in a couple of years. or pay a very large price. (white sox need to:) coming soon