Cubs Sputtering to the All-Star Break

Things aren't so friendly on the northside these days following a three-game sweep at the hands of the Chicago White Sox. The Cubs since sweeping the southsiders at Wrigley last weekend have gone 1-5. Their pitching as been borderline pathetic, while their offense has been lacking the "big hit."

The Cubs do have a laundry list of injuries including superstars Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Zambrano being on the DL with hand and shoulder issues. They also have centerfielder Reed Johnson and lefty-reliever Scott Erye on the DL, while superstar third baseman Aramis Rameriz will be out the first three games of the series in San Francisco starting tonight due to family issues back in the Dominican Republic. With all these injuries, it seems the Cubs are arguably the most banged-up team in baseball.

However, with all these injuries, Carlos Zambrano and Reed Johnson are slated to come off the DL on Thursday just in time for a big series against second-place St. Louis at Busch Stadium. Zambrano will start Friday's series opener, while Johnson could be in the line-up immediately to give the ailing Jim Edmonds a much needed breathier. On top of that, the Cubs believe Soriano may be able to be back before the All-Star break after fracturing a bone in his left hand. Trainers are calling Soriano, "the quickest healer they've ever seen." With the likes of dealing with Kerry Wood and Mark Prior in the past, I'm not sure what they exactly means, but so far all signs point to Soriano being back sooner than the projected six weeks.

Therefore, if the Cubs who still hold the best record in the NL at 49-33 and lead all of baseball with a +95 run differential can manged to pull together over the next couple weeks there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Injuries are a part of the game and the Cubs simply have to overcome numerous obstacles right now to hold their first-place lead in the NL central. The Cubs have been in first since May 12th seeing their lead grow as big as 4 1/2 over the Cardinals. They currently hold a 2 1/2 game lead over St. Louis.

Although the injuries may be an excuse, the Cubs haven't played well on the road all year like majority of baseball. They are a dismal 16-23 on the road including being swept in their last two series against the Rays and White Sox. If it weren't for their major-league best 33-10 home record the Cubs would be in complete disarray. Therefore, in order for the Cubs to turn it around before the break they need big performances this week in San Francisco and St. Louis starting with their pitchers.

No more excuses. Go out, be professionals and play baseball.