Cub fans' 2,004-step program

Please excuse some Cubs fans if they are not whole-hearted in their "Wait 'til next year" exhortations.\nThe Cubs have made the playoffs now four times in the last 19 years, and while the glory was fun, the aftermath was painful. While some teams laid the groundwork for a dynasty, the Cubs' groundwork met the drill hammer.\nThe Cubs won the National League pennant in 1945, had another winning season in '46 and then had only one winning season in the next 20 years. That winning season was in 1963, when they were 82-80 and finished in seventh place in a 10-team league. It was hardly cause for celebration.\nThe Cubs won its division in 1984 and then followed it with four straight losing seasons.\nThe Cubs won their division in 1989 and then followed it with three consecutive losing seasons.\nThe Cubs won the National League wildcard in 1998 and then followed it with two consecutive losing seasons.\nPerhaps part of it has to do with what happened in the years prior to playoff experience. The Cubs improved by 25 wins in 1984 from 1983. They improved by 16 wins in 1989 from 1988. And they improved by 22 wins in 1998 from 1997, going from a league-record worst 0-14 start to the playoffs in less than two years. In fact, the Cubs haven't had consecutive winning seasons since a six-year run from 1967-1972.\nThe improvements the Cubs made weren't gradual. They were explosive, sudden and out of the blue (pun intended).\nSo while fans can continue stewing in the postmortem, wondering why fans everywhere now know who Steven Bartman is, it's about time to look to 2004. After all, the Cubs plan on fielding a team, and no law states the Cubs have to stink.\nConsider this a possible plan of attack:\n\n1) Let Kenny Lofton go. \nHe's a free agent, and while it would be bad public relations, Corey Patterson is a better center fielder. For the most part, Lofton made fans forget about Patterson, but when Lofton couldn't quite catch Alex Gonzalez's shallow looper that went for a two-run double in the seventh inning of Game 7, the reminder was all too clear: the Cubs need Patterson back.\nIf Lofton wanted to stay as a backup, then something could be arranged, especially if Lofton would want to take a pay cut. But that's not going to happen.\n\n2) Let Mark Grudzielanek go. \nHe's a free agent, too, and while it would also be bad public relations, it would be good baseball. Yes, Grudzielanek hit .314, but he had only three homers, six stolen bases and 30 walks in 121 games. That's called empty batting average. Plus, with Lofton gone, the Cubs need a leadoff hitter, and a guy who walks only 30 times in 121 games is not a leadoff hitter (unless your uniform shirt features an English D).\nFurthermore, it's become clear in recent years that second base is the second-most physically demanding position in baseball after catcher. All those hard takeout slides on double play balls wear on the body, after all. \nCubs fans should know this well. In 1998, former IU second sacker Mickey Morandini hit .296 with a career-high eight homers for the Cubs, helping lead them to the playoffs. He was only 32. By 2000, his big-league career was over. Skills can atrophy that quickly, and if you still don't believe me, ask a Cardinal fan what they think of Fernando Vina these days.\nRemember, Luis Castillo is a free agent.\n\n3) Get another starting pitcher. \nYes, I said starting pitcher. The Cubs will probably go out and get a lefty to replace the miserable Shawn Estes, but my eye is more affixed on Javier Vazquez, the Montreal Expos righty. \nThe playoffs have proven that it's not necessarily starting pitching that wins in the postseason -- after all, how do you explain the Marlins winning despite awful starting pitching, but power starting pitching? In other words, Josh Beckett dominates while opposing batters hammer guys like Mark Redman.\nVazquez is a power pitcher with a blazing fastball and devilish change-up, ranking third in the league in strikeouts behind Kerry Wood and Mark Prior of the Cubs. If Dusty Baker is not going to trust his bullpen -- and Dusty has had a history of working his starting pitchers hard going back to his San Francisco days -- he's going to need another big arm in the stable for a potential postseason run. Kevin Millwood is a possibility, too.\n\n4) Get one more big bat. \nJavy Lopez, Pudge Rodriguez, Miguel Tejada, let's not get picky.\nAny of the above could convince Cubs fans that "next year" will be a time to get serious.