The local sports media thinks they ably filled the void in my life by counterprogramming during the AS break. I beg to differ as all they did was increase the white noise. However, I heard something that bears repeating.

Bears apologists have already started tapping the brakes on the runaway freight train known as Caleb Williams. The cautionary tale revolves around expectations. For several reasons I think the Cubs need to make some moves and who specifically they should trade is a secret I’ll keep for awhile.

Looking at the lineup the Cubs trotted out today against the Diamondbacks, I got sick to my stomach. For any number of reasons the offense has been underwhelming at best. Even in the era of pitchers not batting, this lineup stinks so badly, I’d prefer to see Jon Lester batting ninth.

No matter how you want to say that low batting averages are not gauges of success, I’ll argue the Cubs problems are a function of this failure.

Morel .202, Swanson .212, Mastrobuoni .197, Nido .202, and Crow-Armstrong .203.

I have no doubt these guys will prove me wrong and go on a run, vaulting the Cubs over the Brewers into first place.