The way this season's going, how long before Cubs, Sox shake it up?

Based on the way most of their lineup has performed, and with the starting pitching they've received, the Cubs ought to be at least a few games over .500 and only a couple of games out of first.

Instead, they continue to play awful baseball.

And something has to be done.

The question is, how do you shake up a team that has so many no-trade contracts?

The easiest thing to do is fire the manager, though that rarely makes any difference.

There are exceptions, of course, like the 2003 Marlins who brought in Jack McKeon on May 11 after a 16-22 start and, well, you know the rest of that pleasant story.

What would the Cubs do? Ryne Sandberg is the popular choice, but you could be setting him up for a quick failure by giving him this club. It's probably not the ideal way to begin Sandberg's major-league managerial career.

Bob Brenly would certainly inject some life into the team and wouldn't sit still for - or sleep through - the bad baserunning, awful fielding and constant mental mistakes.

And while there's no evidence to suggest - at the moment - that the Cubs are contemplating anything like that, they have to do something.

So why not shake up the roster?

The Cubs can start by making moves to help now and prepare for future, something also easier said than done because of all the veterans with the bad deals.

And while you'd love to sell high on Alfonso Soriano, good luck getting him to waive his no-trade and finding anyone to take the $18 million a year through 2014.

But you might be able to sell high on Kosuke Fukudome before he settles back into his midseason, spin-o-rama routine. He has no-trade protection, but he might waive it for an extension, and teams like the Mariners and Angels have the money to get it done and the offensive need.

Moving Fukudome would open up a spot for Tyler Colvin and remove from the books the $10 million Fukudome collects the rest of this season and $13.5 million next year.

And maybe they can even get in return some relief help while letting everyone on the roster know that management won't watch this stuff forever.

Grasping at straws? Absolutely. Shot in the dark? Sure. Whistling past the graveyard? Most likely.

But at this point, what do we have to lose?

Stocking stuffer

White Sox GM Ken Williams is trying to sound patient, but you know he's boiling and about to blow his lid.

It's only a matter of time before he starts tearing this apart, and you wonder if this road trip is make or break for some on the current roster.

It's difficult to make a case for the Sox having much of a chance now unless you think the Twins are capable of total collapse, and if Williams agrees, most of the roster is up for sale.

Paul Konerko would fetch a bunch, but he's got full no-trade protection, would require a substantial new deal to move, and the Sox might even decide they want to extend him considering their fondness for him and his current production.

A.J. Pierzynski will have his 10-and-5 no-trade protection as of June 14, so a decision will be forthcoming on him, but with an average just over .200 the Sox would be selling low.

Even so, there are several contenders in the market for catching, and teams like Tampa and Texas have excellent farm systems loaded with prospects.

Outfielder Jordan Danks and infielders Dayan Viciedo and Brent Morel could be ready soon, so that offers Williams some options.

But this is not where Williams ever wants to be, put in a weak position that is obvious to those with whom he must deal.

Nevertheless, you have to think he's itching to make something happen.

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