Spring training is under way down in Mesa and the Mike Quade has the squad pretty much setup for opening day and the 2011 season. I don’t start getting excited for the season until I start buying tickets to games and that all started today.

Has Jim Hendry and the management done enough this off season to put the Chicago Cubs in position to make a run at the National League Central? Garza, Wood and Pena will be called upon to put up great numbers while Ramirez, Dempster and Zambrano need to step up and have careers years in our opinion if the Northsiders plan on making it to the playoffs.

Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot have found a new home as the Cubs have traded them to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Blake DeWitt and a couple of minor league pitchers. Good move for the Cubs?

It sure was a rough first half for the Cubs and no doubt just as rough of a first half for their fans. A 39-50 record has the team down in the standings behind the Cincinnati Reds and 9.5 games out of first place. Is 9.5 games to much to overcome for this 2010 Cubs team? The way the team hit the ball in the first half it sure is going to be an uphill battle for this team.