Time to change, time to re-ar-range

Yes, the Cubs' bullpen picked up its second loss in two days today, but hopefully we're seeing a bit of the future with Félix Pié in center field.

Pié got his second extra-base hit in two big-league games, a first-inning triple, and scored twice. I'm still fawning over his 10th-inning assist yesterday in his debut, a frozen rope to the plate for what, though it proved a futile gesture in the end, was a game-saver. I promptly added him to my fantasy league team in the hope that he sticks around.

I'm also hoping the Cubs will hit the trade market early this year. While there's a wealth of talent, particularly in the outfield, the bullpen has some shaky pieces. Except for Bobby Howry (not bad at 3.52), Cubs pitchers are either really getting it done or really not getting it done.

Scott Eyre was lit up tonight for the third time in six appearances and boosted his ERA up to 14.40. Will Ohman, last night's loser, is at an even 9.00. After the last couple of days it's clear Angel Guzman wasn't the reliever who needed to be sent down, and there were six guys at Iowa under 2.00 when he got there.

The Cubs need a solid setup man, a second closer-type, and there are probably several teams out there who could use a 25-30 HR/85-90 RBI guy like Jacque Jones and might want to take a chance on one of the relievers who aren't taking care of bidness. While Jones is off to a better start at the plate this year and was quietly one of the only guys to step up after Derrek Lee was injured last year, it would take an unreal amount of heroics to overcome the first half of last April in the eyes of Cubbie Nation when the Cubs have a clear need for better outfield defense. A vacancy would make room for Pié and/or Ryan Theriot, who like last year seems to do nothing but get on, over and in.

Theriot-Pié-Soriano would give the Cubs a ridiculous amount of speed both in the outfield and at the top of the order, with Cliff Floyd available when they need extra pop in the starting lineup or a spot start for Theriot at second or third.

I don't think it's ever too early to start tweaking the roster, and I'd like to believe one of the purposes of stockpiling talent in the off-season was to give the Cubs more trade bait once the holes start to identify themselves.

Meanwhile, once again White Sox fans got to see something I haven't. Sammy Sosa, of all people, was the only Ranger to reach base off Mark Buehrle - on a walk - and was promptly picked off two pitches later. No runs, no hits, none left times nine.

The Cubs are coming up on 35 years since Milt Pappas was a 3-2 pitch away from perfection back in the closing weeks of the 1972 season.