The Cure

Remember in the old days, when the Cubs had good pitching? You know. Like, 2003 after the All Star Break? How fast things can change.

Right now, the way for a team in a funk to get healthy is to play the Cubs and their semblance of a pitching staff. I mean, look at the Reds last week. Then, Houston, who hadn't scored a run since Friday, sends four balls into orbit.

What happened in 22 months? Well, only Carlos Zambrano is close to being as good now compared to 2003. He may actually be improved since then (but less consistent than in 2004). Mark Prior is clearly not the "lights out" guy he was at the end of 2003. While he remains very good, he's not in the class of the top pitchers in the game. Kerry Wood? It's up to him, but he's showing dominating closer material now. He probably will never again be as effective a starter as he was in the final months of 2003.

Matt Clement has been replaced by Greg Maddux. That's probably an upgrade, but not terribly significantly. Shawn Estes was exchanged for Rich Hill / Glendon Rusch / Jerome Williams. That's actually a downgrade, as terrible as that is to realize.

This staff is no longer one to fear. When you give up a 12 spot to a team that can't score against Pittsburgh, you have bigger issues than worrying about Wild Card standings. Jim Hendry made the choices about who gets to pitch for this team. If he doesn't improve his decision making soon, 2006 won't be one to worry about, either.