Over the past two nights in St. Louis, the Cubs have cranked out just nine hits for a total of one run and have lost the first two games of their series against the Cardinals.  They also wasted two good pitching performances by Ted Lilly – who gave up just five hits and three earned runs in seven innings – and Ryan Dempster – who held the Cards to six hits and two earned runs in seven innings.

We’re narrowing in on two full months into the season and the Cubs continue to trot out four position players all of whom are hitting .230 or lower.  Add to that a pitcher, and five of the nine guys Lou Piniella sends up to the plate every night have a batting average hovering dangerously close to the Mendoza line (unless Carlos Zambrano is pitching).  That’s not a recipe for offensive success.

One answer may be to go back to the future.  At the moment, Mike Fontenot is hitting just .200 and is looking more and more like the bench player he is, or should be.  Former Cub Mark Derosa is being shopped by the Indians and I sure would like to see him back in a Cub uniform.  Perhaps a trade of Jake Fox (at AAA Iowa) and Aaron Miles for Derosa makes sense.  In addition to being an upgrade in the field and at the plate, the Cubs could use the clubhouse leadership that is currently lacking.

There’s another reason to bring Derosa back.  The Brewers need a second baseman to replace the injured Ricky Weeks and Derosa’s name has been floated as a potential trade candidate for Milwaukee.  It was a mistake in my opinion for the Cubs to trade Derosa, but the mistake is a little easier to live with when Dero is playing in the AL.  If he makes the move to the NL, particularly to the NL Central, the mistake will be magnified.  Jim Hendry can correct the mistake by bringing Derosa back.

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Rumor has it that Jake Peavy may be heading to Chicago, but not to the Northside.  The San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that the White Sox are offering a package of four prospects in exchange for Peavy.  The article goes on to say that Peavy met with Padres Manager Bud Black to discuss the possibility of waiving his no-trade clause to allow the deal.

To my mind, this deal doesn’t make sense for either Peavy or the White Sox, although the Padres would make out like bandits.  From Peavy’s perspective, why would he consent to the trade?  He wants to stay in the NL and he doesn’t (or shouldn’t) want to pitch for Ozzie Guillen.  Also, U.S. Cellular Field is a hitters paradise.  Why pitch there if you don’t have to?

Why would the White Sox make this trade?  It’s not like Peavy is the missing piece to the puzzle they need to win the World Series.  The Sox are a mess and ownership is actively trying to cut payroll.  The Sox are rebuilding and adding Jake Peavy and his contract just doesn’t make sense.  Also, why damage an already thin farm system?  The White Sox would be better off giving their inexpensive youngsters a chance rather than bringing in one guy like Peavy who’s not going to make that big of a difference.

I admit that I am still hopeful that the Cubs can add Peavy to their rotation.  But the Cubs are in a far different circumstance than the White Sox.  While the Cubs are in “Win Now” mode, the White Sox are already starting to look forward to next year.