For all their woes, Cubs right there

On the eve of the 2009 baseball season, GM Jim Hendry said he had only one concern.

It's the same one that keeps all GMs up at night: health.

As the man in charge, you can control a lot about your club, but you can't forecast injuries, and a slew of them can ruin a season and make a GM miserable.

Sure enough, the Cubs have been hit hard thus far, but Hendry isn't ready to push the panic button, nor should he, and he's also not blaming injuries for the Cubs' sluggish start.

"We would have liked to have played better,'' Hendry said before Tuesday night's loss. "That said, we're only a couple back in the loss column, our starting pitching's been good, and our pen is starting to shape up.''

The Cubs can't have played any worse, or have had more injuries, and yet they're still right in the thick of it.

It's nothing like 2007 when at this point in the season they were nine games under .500, 71/2 games behind division-leading Milwaukee, and trailing four teams.

They did rally that season, but this year they can clearly see the teams in front of them, despite losing a couple of starting pitchers, the right fielder, third baseman, and a couple of backup infielders.

They've also received no offense from catcher, first, second and right, no one's really lit it up yet, they're 13th in the N.L. in runs, and the bullpen was atrocious to start the season.

But despite all the injuries, suspensions, poor performances, different lineup combinations, and an eight-game losing streak, the Cubs sit just off the pace in what continues to be a very mediocre division.

It's not like they're chasing the Dodgers, so when the Cubs get their stuff together, you have to believe the result will be the same as the last two seasons, when the Cubs won the Central.

"Half the guys who were struggling are starting to come on, so if we can get a little healthier, we still feel good about our club,'' Hendry said. "The next few weeks are big, but I think we proved against a good Dodgers club that we can play good baseball.''

As for whether the Cubs will have the financial flexibility to improve the club in July, Hendry said, "I hope so.

"Look, we've been treated well from that standpoint, but hopefully the ownership situation will be resolved soon and we can get some clarity on that.

"Even so, the payroll was fair to begin the season and that club we started with was picked by everyone, and there's no reason to think we can't win with that club.

"Guys have to play up to their ability, and then if we can add some things, that would be great. Either way, I still like our club a lot.''

Ivan Boldirev-ing

For all of the Coyotes' ownership problems, no one's willing to talk about a bigger problem, and that's behind the bench.

Wayne Gretzky is the best player who ever lived, but there's no evidence yet to suggest he can coach and plenty to suggest he can't.

Phoenix is rebuilding - again - for Gretzky, but maybe the real answer is the same one it took the Blackhawks time to admit.

It might be painful to accept, but just like it was in Chicago for a year or two, it's no secret in NHL circles that the coaching situation is holding back the Coyotes.

Stocking stuffer

From e-mailer Dave "Mr. Baseball'' Korus: "Has anyone noticed how good White Sox starting pitching has been since the Peavy-to-Sox nontrade was announced? Kenny Williams found a way to motivate his team's pitching staff, prove to Sox fans a commitment to winning, and in the end it cost the Sox nothing. The man is a genius!''

Pace of play

Is it just me, or does it take a bit of an adjustment to go from eight straight weeks of NBA and NHL playoffs to nothing but big-league baseball?

You have stretches in the Stanley Cup playoffs where there's no whistle for four minutes, and then you have stretches in baseball where there's 4 pitches in four minutes.

I love baseball as much as anyone, but it's going to take a few games - and perhaps a few naps - to get used to it again.

Shaq attack

When you think of all the times you took Shaquille O'Neal's word for it in his battles with Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, Stan Van Gundy, Pat Riley, or You Name Him, do you wonder now if that whole lovable Shaq image is one of the great con jobs of all time?

Good question

From e-mailer The Last Bear Fan: "Back in September, if somebody had told you the Blackhawks would have the same number of playoff wins as the Bears had in the regular season, what number would you have picked?''

Water bottle shot

Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: "In a move seen as equal parts symbolic and cost-cutting, the bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes will play all their home games on thin ice next season.''

Sick and tired

Comedian Alex Kaseberg, on the Cubs' frustrating start: "It's so bad, the goat got the swine flu.''

And finally -

Greg Cote of the Miami Herald, on ex-Yankee Jim Leyritz, who's awaiting trial on charges of DUI vehicular manslaughter: "(Leyritz) was going to be an honoree at the Newark Bears' 'Legends Sunday' promotion this weekend before the Bears caved to protests. Two possibilities here: Either the guy in Newark in charge of 'Legends Sunday' doesn't keep up with current events, or O.J. Simpson was busy."

brozner@dailyherald.com