Back on Friday, April 16th, the Cubs won a game against the Reds 11 to 10. Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou hit back-to-back homers in the ninth to cap a comeback. The next day, Chip Carray was all over the team with praise. "If you haven't fallen in love with the 2004 Cubs yet..." was his tack.

Well, the truth is, I have not fallen in love with this team. And I don't think I can. And if you don't know why, all you need to see is these last two games.

This team has too many unlikable players on it.

My god, how they whine. My 4 year old whines and I despise it. He does it less than this team. From Kerry Wood going ballistic over marginal pitches. From Moises Alou whining over every taken third strike. From Corey Patterson saying how he doesn't need to change his game. From LaTroy Hawkins not talking to the media (and, effectively, his paying fan base) and going berserk over an incident from 2 seasons ago. To Carlos Zambrano whooping it up after being faced.

This is an unlikable group of babies.

I've praised Zamboni in the past for his fire. Specifically, last year when he told Barry Bonds to stick his home run stares up his ass. But Monday was way, way, WAY over the top. This guy needs to cool it. He has the capability of being a Cy Young candidate year in and year out. But not if he can't channel that energy on the field.

And where is Dusty in all this? His sole purpose is too keep these guys focused. His in-game skills are sub par. If he can't cool the players' minds, what good is he?

But the real issue was, is, and remains Jim Hendry. One of the reasons this team has failed is because he didn't do enough to prepare them offensively. A real leadoff hitter would work wonders for this team. And take some of the pressure off the offense to hit home runs each time at bat.

Even more, it's up to Hendry to go to Dusty and tell Dusty that Wendell Kim has served out his welcome. Moneyball had one thing dead on: From a busines perspective, the GM is the head of all operations while the manager is simply supervisor of production. If one part fo the line isn't making its production goals, the GM can and should tell the manager to make a change. Wendell Kim's continued presence on the team sends the signal the the Chicago National League Ball Club will tolerate incompetance. This flys in the face of everything that Hendry has been trying to change. Hendry need to step up and take some control.

Oh, and a note to any players. You think this is pressure? Try playing in Yankee Stadium for a month. Chicago is nothing by comparison.