Cubs falter in back-to-back games, cope with another injury

Once again the season looks to be on the brink for the Cubbies. Not only are they without the services of their two star pitchers, but now Derek Lee. Earlier this week he broke a bone in his hand during a collision with a base runner against the Dodgers. This is another crushing blow. Lee is expected to be out 8-10 weeks. This is too long for a team that receives most of their run production from homeruns, which typically comes from the middle of the batting order. Injuries have plagued the Cubs the last 2 or 3 years.

The second series meeting between the Cubs and Cardinals have ended twice in favor of St. Louis. Even with Lee in the lineup there is no easy route to winning because Albert Pujols is red hot of late. Glendon Rusch faired okay today, pitching 4.1 innings while giving up 3 ER on 2 hits and 4 walks. The Cubs lineup stranded 12 runners on base. Rusch or any other starter can't be at fault for missed scoring opportunities. There is a performance gap now within pitching and offense. The organization management needs to face facts. Kerry Wood and Mark Prior may not return until June if not later. I know Chicago won't survive in the division without at least another bonafide starter in the rotation.

Coping without the Chicago slugging first basemen who was last year's NL batting champion isn't going to be easy. Run production from middle of the order is essential. If they don't receive much they simply won't win. They should work towards averaging 4 to 5 runs a game. I don't know at the moment who will be Lee's stationery replacement, although I do know they shouldn't be hitting in the 3rd or 4th spot in the lineup. So far from statistics and performance wise Aramis Ramirez should be in no. 3 hole, followed by Michael Barrett, then Jacque Jones hitting 5th. Dusty will have to experiment more with the lineup until he sees good consistent results.

Things are not going the Cubs way in April; the clubhouse may be glum. Any team could exhibit lackluster effort on the field in this situation because they feel like giving up. Cubs fans know all to well the struggles each season and that the odds are always stacked against their adored team. No matter how bad things get the Cubs try hard to pull through until the end. This year is no different. If there is ever a time to persevere and don't lose sight of the ultimate goal it's now.