Two Plus Games in Pittsburgh Does Not a Fire Sale Make

Yesterday was an interesting day in Chicago sports. God provided Cubs fans with some blessed (pronounced “bless-ed”) relief as the final game of a 3-game set in Pittsburgh was mercifully rained out, and the Blackhawks lost a tough one in OT. Something about that Hawks loss was comforting to me as a Cub fan, though. Even a great team with awesome momentum can barely lose. Whether or not the Cubs are a great team this season, and/or whether they’ll ever be two games from clinching anything in 2010 is fully up for debate. Still, that said, two losses in Pittsburgh and a rainout has several in the local media talking about trading Derrek Lee or even a Cubs fire sale.

Holes in respective media members’ umbrellas not withstanding, these articles are holy in a most non-religious sense. I submit the following for your consideration in the 2010 Best Cubs Drama Category:

Around Town: Cubs talking Lee trade with Angels: sources

I’m not going to freak out about the fact that the word “sources” cryptically appears in the title of the article. There’s a time and place for discussing the Trib’s choice of sports article title. Something about this rumor just smells bad to me, though. It’s too easy…too simple of an idea. Kendry Morales broke his leg, so the Angels want the Cubs’ first baseman in the last year of his deal? Seems to me like the kind of thing a person with an extra few hours in Pittsburgh would dream up. Just saying.

Is it stupid to write in a Cubs blog that I think this story is light on facts? Maybe. I could be 100% wrong, and I won’t fall over myself celebrating (had to) if I’m right. Just some speculation. Maybe better to stick with facts for now.

Seven days ago the Cubs beat the Dodgers 1-zip to climb to 2 games under .500, a mark they flirted with three times last week. That number of games under .500 was their best mark since early May. Next time I find a few empty hours, this is what I’m going to dwell on, for better or worse.