MRI's > RBI's

When the Cubs return to Wrigley Field on Tuesday night, don't expect to find any parking spots close to the door. The Cubs players are dropping like flies and most fans are wondering if this team has the depth to keep their heads afloat until they can get everyone back on the field.
Unfortunately, that may take some time. After Aramis dislocated his shoulder on Friday night, the early reports had him missing 4-6 weeks. By Saturday, those estimates had increased to 6-8 weeks. So how do you replace Aramis for approximately two months?

You can't.

For now though, it appears that Mike Fontenot, Bobby Scales and the newly acquired Ryan Freel will try. The acquisition of Freel may prove to be huge, even though it reinforces the fact that the Cubs miss DeRosa, despite what some people would have you believe. With Freel at third, Mike Fontenot can stay at second base where he is stronger defensively, but most importantly it keeps Aaron Miles off the field. I love the Bobby Scales story and you can't help but find yourself rooting for the guy, but I'm not sure I want to see him at third very often.

Now, about the offense. DLee has already missed games due to neck spasms and he will have an MRI once the team returns to Chicago. Soto's hitting .176 and you have to wonder if he's playing through shoulder pain. You're going to be without your best hitter in the clutch for about two months, and then, there's Milton Bradley. The decision to appeal his suspension that he could have served while he was nursing his pulled groin but didn't because of the "principle", could really come back to bite the Cubs in the ass. If you thought the Cinco De Mayo lineup sucked, wait until you see the one Lou has to put together to cover those two days.

Lou's not catching a lot of breaks these days. Another player taking up a premium parking spot is Carlos Zambrano, who hit the DL while trying to leg it out to first base. I guess Lou did catch one break, that Carlos got hurt on a day he pitched rather than a pinch hitting appearance.

He also has absolutely nothing to go to in the bullpen. Take a look at the gaudy numbers from the guys who pitched in Saturday's game:

Chi Cubs IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Dempster 6.1 7 5 4 3 9 2 4.98
Cotts 0.0 1 2 2 1 0 0 6.75
Patton 0.2 3 2 2 1 0 0 8.03
Fox, C 0.0 0 2 2 2 0 0 135.00
Heilman 1.0 1 1 1 2 2 0 5.40

Cotts, Patton and probably Heilman should be shot on sight. They are all completely worthless, problem is, there aren't really better options down on the farm either. Chad Fox and his 135.00 ERA is most likely done for the year again so it will be interesting to see who takes his roster spot. This might change the plan of stretching out the Samurai Ninja to make him a starter even though he hasn't exactly been setting the world on fire out of the pen. Stay tuned.