Just Say No Unless...

Have you heard? Alex Rodriguez is on the outs in New York City. Yes, the rumors are the Yankees don't like him anymore because he can't hit and can't field in October. Since the Yanks are now considering trading him, and the Cubs desperately need a shortstop, the Cubs should go get him. Right?

I don't think so. And not for the reason you'd think.

I still say one of the worst days in Cubs history, in terms of winning, was May 6, 1998. On that date, Kerry Wood struck out twenty batters. After that, John McDonough had the tandem of Sammy Sosa and Kerry Wood as the new Telecubbies that would draw adoring sycophants to see them play.

Regardless of the quality of the rest of the team.

As we all know, for the last 12 years or so, marketing and the related profts have driven the Cubs. And to keep those profits rolling, we were all fed heavy doses of Sammy and Kerry. With Sammy, Barry Rozner always reported that internal Cub management kept him happy by allowing him to do whatever he wanted (unless Joe Girardi was around). Why would they do that?

Beacause McDonough knew a happy Sammy was a more marketable Sammy. We ate it up. And the Cubs lost more than they won.

Today, the rumors are that A Rod could be a Cub.

Great. Another marketing piece for McDonough to throw at us and try to placate us with individual exploits and, oh yeah. Wins if they get lucky.

I've seen this movie before.

Now, there is a case where I'm happy to see A Rod here. That case includes Barry Zito, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Alfonso Soriano.

But if it's A Rod and hope for Mark Prior to return, no thanks.