A difficult team to root for

On opening day this year, the Cubs marketing people came up with the slogan "Next year is here," and as a Cubs fan, I believed in all of the hype.

On paper the Chicago Cubs were the favorites to win the pennant.

What has happened though is an underachieving team that plays poor fundamental baseball and is the most unlikable teams in my lifetime.

Let's start with the Cubs hitting.

The Cubs swing at more first pitches in a week than most teams do in a month, and it is really disgusting watching the Cubs strand base runner after base runner by swinging at a first pitch.

Sammy Sosa is one of the most frustrating hitters to watch in all of baseball. I know he is not the same hitter he was in 1998 when he hit 60 plus home runs and drove in 160 runs, but right now Sosa either hits a home run or strikes out.

Sosa also is an awful situational hitter. For every three run home runs he hits, there are 10 times he does not get a runner in from third base with less than two outs.

Corey Patterson has all of the talent in the world, unfortunately his impatience at the plate has really hampered his ability to improve. He thinks he should be hitting home runs, but he should be hitting base hits.

He also is one of the fastest players in baseball and could use his speed as a major asset, but he chooses to swing for the fences constantly.

This all became obvious when he struck out twice with the bases loaded and no one out in a game against San Francisco. He said during a post game interview that he would rather swing a pitch in the dirt than let a ball down the middle go by.

Plain and simple, the Cubs can't, or rather refuse to, manufacture runs, and it costs them numerous one and two run games this season.

The Cubs fundamentals also are laughable, as the team does not have anyone that could be trusted to bunt in late innings.

In addition, their base running is atrocious. Numerous times they have been doubled off on routine fly balls and thanks to third base coach Wendell Kim, the Cubs have been thrown out at home more than any other team in baseball.

The mastermind behind the underachieving team is manager Dusty Baker. He is the ultimate players manager as he will defend his players no matter what, even when it makes him look like a fool.

My biggest complaint is his view on sportsmanship. He has questioned other teams for showing his team up, which was most notable when Cincinnati players celebrated after a come from behind win last year, and when Dodgers' third baseman Adrian Beltre flipped his bat after a home run in May.

Baker is outspoken against this, but refuses to say anything to Sosa who does a hop after every home run, and Carlos Zambrano who points to the sky and pumps his fists after every strike out.

Baker also can't handle his starting pitchers.

Last season he routinely let Mark Prior and Kerry Wood throw 120 or 130 pitches in a ball game. This season they have both been injured with arm and elbow problems, and now he is letting Matt Clement and Carlos Zambrano pitch 120 plus pitches a game.

Hopefully, Baker doesn't ruin what could be the best young group of pitchers in a long time.

One of the worst things about the Cubs organization is that they have lied to fans and the rest of baseball about injuries.

People who defend the Cubs will say one never knows about injuries, but it has been too many times for it to be a coincidence.

Either the Cubs have been lying to the public, or they need to hire new doctors.

The Cubs said Mark Prior was supposed to miss five or 10 days during spring training, but he missed the first three months of the regular season.

Kerry Wood was supposed to be 95% healthy when he hurt his elbow, but he missed six weeks.

Aramis Ramirez was supposed to miss two or three games, but he was out for three weeks.

Mark Grudzielanek was supposed to miss two weeks, but he was out for two months.

See a pattern forming?

The 2004 season was supposed to be one of hopes and expectations, but it has turned into a giant disappointment with fans just hoping to make the playoffs.

If things don't turn around soon, it will become another example of the Cubs curse.