Don't worry, Sky's not falling on Hendry, Cubs

There's panic in the streets, but none in the general manager's office.

That's because Cubs GM Jim Hendry knows the drill, and the score.

"Panic? C'mon,'' said an incredulous Hendry. "Every team goes through a stretch like this and has to deal with adversity and injuries.

"If people thought we weren't going to have a stretch like this, where you lose six of 10 or something, it's not like that.

"It's funny because when we win eight of 10, or 10 of 12, you try to remind people that it's not that easy, and that there's always another side, but people don't want to hear it.

"Now, it's our turn to fight through the tough times.''

Even so, the Cubs came out of the weekend, after getting swept by the White Sox, with easily the best record in the National League.

A year ago, the Cubs were just getting to .500 on July 1. They went into Monday night's game 16 over, even after a 6-9 interleague record.

"I don't know if I'd say I'm glad it's over, but it's been a tough stretch and we're just trying to get through it,'' Hendry said. "If we can get through the next couple weeks and get to the break, we'll have our guys coming back (from injury) and we should be OK.

"We've played as well as anyone in the game and we're only a couple games up because St. Louis and Milwaukee aren't going away.

"Some years, we'd be 8 (games) up already the way we've played. On the other hand, we're lucky we weren't dead and buried last year the way we played early, and only 10 down when we could have been 20 down.

"But that's why you play 162 games and whoever's left standing deserves to be there. You have to overcome a lot to win a division, and there's a long way to go here.

"We have some things to overcome, but we also think we're in a pretty good spot. We'll be OK.''

First and goal

White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf understands the fan interest in the city series but thinks it mattered less this year than in the past.

"These games are more important for the fans when the teams aren't good. It's all they have to talk about,'' Reinsdorf said. "But you have two first-place teams this year.

"I don't even remember the series in 2005. I don't remember the Cubs series at all.''

On the board

Back in 1984, Cubs players talked often of winning day home games and having their division opponents see that on the scoreboard by the time they took the field that night, adding pressure to keep pace.

So while players sometimes complain about playing day games during the heat of the summer in Chicago, the heat of the pennant race also is a factor.

"We have a lot of confidence at home no matter what time we play,'' said Cubs manager Lou Piniella. "But I could see that being a part of it. It's nice to put that 'W' up there early in the day, and letting the other (teams) chase it.''

The Cubs are 33-10 (.767) at home this year, their best start ever at Wrigley Field, and are 20-7 (.741) during the day.

When they get home next Tuesday, the Cubs will play 38 of their final 73 at home, including at least 24 under the sun.

Quiet out there

Not only is Sox GM Kenny Williams lacking a trading partner right now, but he's not certain he needs to add a lot this summer.

"The only thing missing right now is consistency on a day-to-day basis,'' Williams said. "You see all the ingredients here for a championship club.''

Manager Ozzie Guillen agrees and points out that Williams added a lot in the off-season, when he brought in the likes of Carlos Quentin, Nick Swisher, Orlando Cabrera, Alexei Ramirez, Scott Linebrink and Octavio Dotel, to name a few.

"If we need something, I guarantee you Kenny will get it, but I like what we have, and he's already done a lot,'' Guillen said. "We had a lot of question marks about our team and we've overcome a lot of them, but it's not gonna be easy now against the teams in our division.

"These are good teams. People think it's gonna be easy and I hope it is, but you got to be realistic.''

Tip of the cap

Ken Williams noticed South Side native and actor Michael Clarke Duncan at an NBA Finals game wearing a White Sox hat and Lakers jersey.

"I sent him a text right away,'' Williams said. "I told him to go out to the car and get his White Sox jersey and put it on.''

The quote

Sox pitching coach Don Cooper, on sweeping the Cubs: "They won three and we won three. The only one way to settle it is, let's both get to the World Series and settle it there.''

The truth

Mark Buehrle on facing the Cubs six times in 10 days: "I'm done with this series. I'm glad it's over. It's so stressful playing these guys and everything that comes with it. I can't wait for everything to get back to normal."

Just asking

ESPN.com's Bill Simmons: "Do you think Charlotte's war room is located on the ninth hole at MJ's golf course?''

And finally -

Comedian Alex Kaseberg: "Scientists are working on a drug that could help cure gambling addiction. The tricky part is fixing it so the drug stops working if you're winning.''