WWJD?

As in, "What Will Jim (Hendry) Do?"

Let's leave Mark Prior's performance alone for a minute (after all, Dusty left him alone to stew like a prune -- once again). It's clear that this team is not talented enough to compete for a playoff spot. They are lacking both offensively and in the pitching department.

Perhaps you've finally come around to realizing that Kerry Wood is not, nor ever will be the pitcher who takes the mantle of Clemems, Ryan and Johnson. That doesn't matter. Now, you need to realize that Wood can't even take the ball 200 innings a year. And that means he's a bullpen arsonist. Given how weak the Cubs' pen already is and knowing that you only have 2 starters whom you can ever hope pitches 7 complete innings (Zamboni and Prior) and with Wood probably headed for the DL, the team must be significantly upgraded to compensate.

And that brings us to Jim Hendry.

We all think he's wonderful because he's roasted several teams for talent by giving up dreck. Grudz and Karros for Hundley. Murton and Nomar for A Gonz. While those are great deals, they were all salary driven. Very little scouting was involved.

There's one other trade that Hendry made that may be affecting him now: Alfonseca and Clement for Tavarez and Willis.

Could it be that Hendry is afraid to trade a Bobby Brownlie now because he blew it on Willis?

Somehow, I hope Hendry reads this: Jim, you made a good trade in giving up Willis. You traded a bad egg and an A-level prospect for two major leaguers, one of whom won a NLCS road game for you. Yes, you gave up a good player. But you improved the team as a result.

Don't let that scare you. Dallas Green, the second best GM in post World War II Chicago history traded away Joe Carter. It was a great move. It may have even saved Wrigley Field from the wrecking ball.

Don't fear giving up a guy that could be good in 3 to 5 years. You need to win now.

:::UPDATE:::
Dallas Green is the Best Cub GM in the post WWII history of the team. He's not the Best GM in the post WWII history of Chicago. Anyone want to venture on to whom I bestow that honor?