First Place

The Chicago Cubs are in first place. "What?" you scream. "Of all the places to read positive stuff that doesn't involve EBITDAs, Ivy Chat is off its rocker! They are 1/2 game back!"

Yeah, that's what the papers say. But like the inevitability of a Hillary nomination, that, too, is wrong.

See, all that matters is the total number of losses. At the end of the year, the team with the fewest losses wins, right?

Well, in the NL Central, the team with the fewest losses is the 2007 edition of the Chicago Cubs.

If the Cubs want to lock in that leadership, all that remains is for Jim Hendry to add one final piece. That piece can be at either center or right field. Candidates include Ken Griffey Jr., Jermaine Dye, and Torii Hunter. With the Twins winning their last two and the Tigers and Indians losing the same, Torii may not be available.

But, if Hendry wants to keep his job or get another GM job next year when new management sacks him, he needs to win this year. That means another big stick.

And Eric Gagne wouldn't hurt either.