Finally Traded

Well it looks like the Cubs finally did it...

Chicago Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa will be traded to the Baltimore Orioles for infielder Jerry Hairston and at least two minor-leaguers, pending physicals and approval from commissioner Bud Selig and the players' association.

The kicker...

The Cubs would pay a substantial part of Sosa's $17 million salary this season, major-league executives told the AP. Sosa would agree to void his salary in 2006, they also said.

Yep we get to pay Sosa to play for someone else, and in return we get Hairston. To the "Sosa must be gone at any cost people," you got your wish. You got your wish in making the team weaker that's for sure. I guess Hairston can lead off, that's if he isn't injured like he is every year missing nearly half the season or more the last 2 years.

I am sure people will be jumping for joy, but it just puts an exclamation point on a terrible off-season. Sosa was never the problem, he was made the problem because everyone else on the team didn't have the balls to step up and accept responsibility for their actions on the field. The good thing is, I hope the excuses will stop that Sosa was the teams problem for everything. Now the Cubs have no one to blame but themselves if they fail.

But the vicious cycle never ends. Moving now into public enemy #1 slot will be Kerry Wood. Now that all the Sosa haters no longer can bitch and moan about him, they can focus on Wood. 1) Never lived up to the hype yet. SO's are cool, but winning games would be nice as well. 2) Making a large chunk or change. The perfect recipe for the new most hated Cub.

Wood does deserve some pressure now. For a guy that has never won more than 15 games in season and walks around 100 guys a year, that just isn't going to cut it anymore. While a careful critique is warranted for Wood, get ready for some of the most hateful, mean-spirited, nasty, outrageous, and off the wall comments that were reserved for Sosa, now being directed at Wood this next season. I look forward to reading the posts of Wood should be released, Wood sucks, Wood is the worst player ever, Wood is a cancer in the clubhouse, Wood plays his heavy metal music too loud, Wood isn't mentally tough, blah blah blah. It's coming, be warned.