attitude and mental fatique, white flag strategy best

The Cubs through veterans playing near their mental best maintained a lead
in a weak division until recently.

However there are players who are merely trying to hang on to another day in
the bigs:

Harris, Goodwin, O'Leary, Alfonseca and possibly even Bako

There are players on the downside of their games even though they are
playing well: Grudz, Karros, Alou, Miller, Guthrie, Remlinger and Estes.

They have players who are not everyday players being demanded to perform in
such a capacity; Martinez, Hernandez, Gonzalez.

Our star performer, Sosa has had a bad luck year. Hhe can't be counted on
carrying the team now.

We have young player ascending, although developing some bad habits in
Patterson.

We have a rookie trying to learn the game with great ability in Choi.

We have a young starting staff that has been overused, more mentally than
physically but in some ways both.

This builds on fatigue, more mental than physical but all the same
nonetheless.

Cubs need to re-think the objectives of this year. They might still catch
some magic but not with Harris, Goodwin, Alfonseca, & Bako on the team
regardless and not with the others I mentioned being key components.

The objective should be to build a championship caliber team, not a division
competitive team that will emerge an also ran.

Youth has a way of changing the attitude and the fatigue factor.

My suggestion, even though it won't be heard:

Cut or find any taker for PTBL for the above four players.

Replace them with: Paul, Leon, Hill, Beltran. (Hernandez can play the OF
when needed.)

Trade before the Aug 1 deadline Alou and paying out this year's money paid
out and bring up Kelton.

Trade one, two or all before Aug 1 Grudz, Karros O'Leary, Estes and Guthrie
and bring up Wellemeyer and Ryu or Brownlie (Guzman would have been perfect
but he is now hurt) and Hubbard, (give him a well earned taste of the show
this year). If the Cubs have to pay the remainder of those salaries then
fine it was wasted money now anyway!

Start Kelton in LF.

Then rotate Hill in at 2B until he becomes a regular in September.

Rotate Leon at 3B the same way

Start Brownlie or Ryu

Develop Wellemeyer as a serious set up man with Cruz and Farnsworth. Keep
Remlinger and Borowski fresh for critical moments so they are not burned out
for next year.

By September the team will be competitive again and have a strong final
month against weaker opponents. And be ready for next year.

It is all attitude.




--

I think today during the Cards vs. Cubs July 5th win...some of the old
vets turned it up a notch, and proved why they get paid the cash money
they recieve.

You see...real pros know how to come through in the clutch. Pick up a
teammate and sacrifice personal stats for the overall win. Good for
team and approved by the baseball gods across the board.

What made this victory so special is that the TEAM slowly, inning by
inning, clawed away. Almost every person penciled in the starting
line-up and off the bench added to the win. Plus, it was broadcast on
nationwide Fox TV...and Al Harbowsky was doing color and trying not to
be biased.
Peace,
Tack