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I don't want to say "I told you so" about Maddux, and in fact it would be stupid to say such a thing with so much of the season left to play. Take a gander at this hilarious website, written by perhaps the stupidest person alive, to get a sense of what I mean. Some of it is obvious hyperbole, but already the Jeremiahs are predicting a summer of doom and gloom for the boys in blue. I'm not willing to rule this possibility out, at this point, but I certainly think two things: 1) There's a lot more baseball to play, and 2) this is a good thing for the Cubs. Count me out of those who see no room for improvement, especially if Andy Pratt's quest to run his ERA up near infinity is the main cause of your misery. He will not finish this season (or next month, for that matter) in the major leagues.

It will be beneficial to you to believe the following statement:

Mark Prior's absence is going to be good for him in the long run.

Just trust me. Obviously, he's not indestructible; nobody is. Like everybody else, he needs to save his arm from wear and tear. This missed time is going to benefit him later on, and it's more important that he excel over the long run than to make it back this season. Even if he does miss the entire year, which I do not forsee, take heart: He is only 23. Zambrano is only 23. Wood is only 27. Clement is only 29. Derrek Lee is only 28. Ramirez is only 26. Patterson is only 24. Barrett is only 27. All but Clement should be with the Cubs for at least several more years, and of that list, which would you be least sorry to see go? That's right. Relax. Jim Hendry is only 49.