Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano is out about six weeks with a broken hand in the Cubs' 7-2 victory over Atlanta on Wednesday.
How big a blow will that be for the high-flying Cubs? Who knows. At 42-24, Chicago is only two and a half games up on the St. Louis Cardinals, who have won four in a row despite an injury to Albert Pujols.
Both teams are fairly deep. Reed Johnson is a capable left fielder, but the Cubs will miss Soriano's bat. I think the Cubs will find a way to score despite the loss of Soriano. An injury to a pitcher would hurt much more. If Kerry Wood's hurt, Carlos Marmol would be fine as a closer, but the bullpen would be thin. I have worries about the Cubs bullpen anyway.
Some commentators are saying the Cubs will go out into the market and get a pitcher -- such as the Indians' C.C. Sabathia, who's at the end of his contract and considered unlikely to sign with the team for next year. If the Indians fall out of the AL Central race, they might deal Sabathia.
The Cubs would be mighty with Sabathia. Would they be good enough to beat, say, the Red Sox, with him? It's a tantalizing thought.
But for now the Cubs have more pressing concerns. Scoring without Soriano, first of all.
Keywords: Chicago Cubs
