Pie could be piece that solves many of Cubs' suddenly burgeoning puzzles
LOS ANGELES - Felix Pie, feel free to step up anytime now.
Your baseball team desperately needs you, among myriad other reinforcements.
A week ago that didn't seem to be the case. Pie was adequate as a late-inning outfielder and pinch runner.
The Cubs were entering the division series against the Dodgers as the team with the National League's best record.
Heck, the Cubs even appeared to be the NL's best team - best record and best team don't always correspond - though we know better now.
In five days the Cubs went from having few holes to having many needs.
Playing shortstop and leading off for the Dodgers, Rafael Furcal looked like he still could be valuable to the Cubs.
Or at least somebody like him could be.
Ryan Theriot had a good year for the Cubs. He played decent shortstop, batted .307 and had an even higher average when leading off.
Maybe it's just me, but it still seemed Theriot isn't the kind of player who changes the game the way a Furcal can.
The Cubs tried hard to sign Furcal as a free agent three years ago, but he took the Dodgers' money instead.
He will be a free agent again after this postseason. A back injury kept him out of 125 games this season. He's older in age (31) and miles (many). But, man, he looked like he still can play.
Put Furcal at the top of the Cubs' batting order, or at least somebody with his type of quickness, and the next move would be the one most Cubs fans have clamored for: Alfonso Soriano goes down to the middle of the lineup.
Valued reader Don Mitroff summed up public sentiment by e-mailing, "I personally will not chase the same team into the playoffs unless they drop Soriano and get rid of some other lousy playoff performers."
Soriano exhausted his leverage by failing to produce in the Cubs' opening playoff series for the second straight year.
If Cubs general manager Jim Hendry believes Furcal to be too old and injury prone, the Cubs should shop high end to find someone like him.
Not too many leadoff men with speed are available - Brian Roberts this time maybe - but acquiring one should be a priority.
Then, of course, every major-league team's three highest priorities remain: Pitching, pitching and more pitching.
Who knows whether Carlos Zambrano's head and arm will be screwed on straight by next spring? Who knows whether Rich Harden ever will be durable? Who knows whether Ryan Dempster can repeat his 2008 performance?
And looking out for No. 5 always is recommended.
That doesn't even begin to attack acquiring bullpen help for Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood, assuming they weren't used up this season.
A new owner will find that retooling or rebuilding the Cubs will be expensive, and that's where a Pie comes in.
By finally bursting from the minor leagues, Pie would fill the needs for a center fielder, left-handed hitter, youth, speed and athleticism.
Plus, Pie would be cheaper than pursuing veterans.
Maybe expecting all that from one guy is folly considering so far Pie's career path has resembled the failed Corey Patterson's more than the fabled Joe DiMaggio's.
But Pie sure could help by allowing the Cubs to focus on those other pressing needs.