Baltimore? More Like Balti-Less

Well, well, well. "Trader" Jim Hendry has theoretically done what many of us expected, but few of us actually thought would happen. He has, in principle, traded Sammy Sosa to the Baltimore Orioles for Jerry Hairston Jr., and two high minor league prospects (Mike Fontenot, 2B and David Crouthers, RHP). Wow. Now, I have never liked Sosa off the field, but how could any Cubs fan not appreciate what he did for the Cubs on the field?. Sosa apologists defend his rather goofy antics and his silly, selfish statements to the media, but Sosa was honestly a disgrace to the "C" on his sleeve. The home run race of 1998 made Sosa think he was bigger than the game. When he began his decline after his ridiculously good 2001 season, Sosa clung to his 1998 aura and acted like a petulant child whenever anyone questioned his ability. Bat lower in the order? Never! I'm a gladiator! Stand closer to the plate? Not a chance! I know what I'm doing! Show up to work on the last day of the season? We're in third place! Why bother?

Sammy had to go, folks. Whether he hits 50 home runs this year, or whether he hits 10, he had, sadly, worn out his welcome in Chicago. I don't completely blame Sammy. Jim Hendry and Dusty Baker were at least as stubborn as Sosa in handling the situation this offseason. However, I was taught to go out of my way to make an apology when I was wrong. If he wanted to make it right, Sosa should have approached Hendry and offered an apology for his antics. Sosa didn't care enough to do that, sealing his own fate.

Now, I want one of the following, in order of preference:

1. Adam Dunn (It will be nearly impossible to pry him away from Cincinatti, but they need pitching and have outfielders, and we need outfielders and have pitching.)
2. Aubrey Huff (He killed the Cubs when we played the Devil Rays in 2003. Remember that series? Sosa corked his bat? He has outproduced Sosa the past two years, he's younger, he's cheaper, and he hits from the left side. What's not to like?)
3. Brad Wilkerson (He's another left-handed bat who has enough pop to help replace some of Sosa's lost production.)
4. Austin Kearns (The good? He can flat-out crush the ball, he plays good defense, he's young, and he's cheap. The bad? He's another right-handed bat in the lineup, he's struggled to stay healthy in these early stages of his career, and he has ginormous ears.)

Make one of these guys happen, Jim. Please, for the love of God, do not sign Jeromy Burnitz. The thought of him in Wrigley makes me want to puke. I like the lineup of:

1. Walker, 2B
2. Nomar, SS
3. Ramirez, 3B
4. Dunn/Huff/Wilkerson/Kearns, RF
5. Lee, 1B
6. Patterson, CF
7. Barrett, C
8. Dubois/Hollandsworth/Hairston, LF

Good lefty-righty balance. Good power. Good OBP guys at the top of the lineup, and the mashers behind them to drive it in. Expect better pitching from our starters, and hopefully a bullpen that doesn't make me pine for Fat Alf, and the 2005 Cubs are much improved from the 2004 version. I'm sure I'll add to this as my brain settles down, and I have more of a chance to ponder this one.