Time for Cubs fans to chill out

Some regular readers of this space insist that I've never been right about anything, but I think on this point we find common ground:

I start every day with the premise that I am the dumbest man alive.

If I don't, by the time the coffee's done dripping, my wife has surely reminded me twice.

So with that charity in tow, I admit to being somewhat baffled by the disproportionate response to Mark DeRosa's departure.

Not a day goes by that I don't find someone insisting that with DeRosa gone, the World Series is hopelessly out of the Cubs' reach.

It would be a cheap shot to remind anyone that DeRosa was unable to single-handedly reverse 100 years of history, and I don't want to disparage his time here in any way.

DeRosa was a terrific player for the Cubs, giving them much more than anyone could have hoped when they signed him to a relatively expensive pact.

He did all they asked and more on the field, and off it he was a true leader and frequent spokesman.

But if the Cubs don't reach the World Series in 2009, it won't be due to the loss of DeRosa.

The big concern, apparently, is that the Cubs will go to pieces without DeRosa when Aramis Ramirez gets hurt.

If that's true, a bigger concern might be regarding the Cubs' decision to give $75 million to someone so fragile that Cubs fans assume he's going to disappear for a week out of every month.

But that's a question for another day.

As for DeRosa, you would expect him to have a good year as he seeks the last substantial contract of his career. At the same time, he'll be 34 in a couple weeks and the odds are against this burst of youth continuing much longer.

It's worth noting that he averaged 220 at-bats for the five years preceding his free-agent year in Texas, when he suddenly jumped to 500-plus at-bats for three straight seasons.

Let's hope he does well and cashes in, but the notion that the Cubs can't survive without his versatility reminds me of "Pulp Fiction,'' when The Wolf says, "Just because you are a character, doesn't mean that you have character.''

Just because they put DeRosa everywhere on the field, doesn't mean he could play everywhere on the field.

At some positions he did a decent job, true. And, yes, he was a good guy here and a nice player who overachieved and will be missed.

But for the love of Heity Cruz and all that's holy, the franchise is not folding.

Wanna get away?

You have to wonder what's on Donovan McNabb's mind these days.

He pretty much ripped the Philly defense and blamed the other side of the ball for losing the NFC title game because they couldn't stop the Cards' running attack on the game-winning drive.

As much as McNabb always says he wants to stay in Philly, isn't there at least one time every off-season when he talks out of the other side of his mouth?

And every time he does it, doesn't he get Bears fans thinking again?

Memory bank

If you didn't catch this one, consider the words of Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk, who last week criticized those who believe the team needs a change of direction.

Said Melnyk, "Anybody that says we should blow up this organization, should get their own bomb and go blow themselves up.''

It wasn't long ago that you would have expected something that bizarre, arrogant and insulting from Blackhawks ownership.

And yet another reminder of why you should be thankful for Rocky Wirtz.

The good guys

The Chicago Wolves will be hosting their fourth annual Book Worm Angels Book Drive at home games this weekend.

Fans who donate new or gently used children's books to help replenish Chicagoland school libraries will receive a raffle ticket for the chance to win a prize. For more info, visit chicagowolves.com.

Ivan Boldirev-ing

A check of the Wolves' roster revealed the name of one Jeff Hamilton.

Seems it was a little more than two years ago that Trent Yawney was fired by the Hawks in large part because he refused to reward players who didn't earn or deserve ice time.

Management was upset that Yawney didn't favor Hamilton and Tony Salmelainen, two of the team's highly promoted acquisitions.

Now Hamilton's in Rosemont and Salmelainen - acquired by the Hawks for Jaroslav Spacek - has gone into the witness protection in Switzerland.

But today, in stark contrast to two years ago, Joel Quenneville actually gets to play who he wants and sends down or sits out those who can't play or don't deserve to play.

And that's exactly the way it should be.

Voting booth

Lot of reaction to our suggestion that Duncan Keith is the Most Valuable Hawk of 2009.

We await your vote.

Bull stuff

So now the Bulls are on the verge of climbing into the eighth spot in the conference standings, which would knock them out of the draft lottery, put them in a playoff spot, and guarantee them a quick exit.

And you thought this season couldn't get any worse.

Best headline

Sportspickle.com: "Spring just around the corner with the sound of Andrew Bynum screaming.''

And finally ...

Comedian Alex Kaseberg, on the end of the football season: "There is nothing going on, nothing to cheer for, nothing to look forward to. It's like being a Lions fan.''

brozner@dailyherald.com