Today on www.BetUSradio.com: John McMullen for NFL, Jorge Gonzalez for picks. . .Coach Banks for college hoops offseason. . . Cubbies fading to second fiddle by Mark Rothstein  Losing Lee a disaster Chicago Cubs fans, we understand. We know what you've been pondering over the past few months, and started thinking harder about this past week. No, we can't support your decision, but we won't stand in your way either. Just quietly pack away your Sandberg jersey and Wrigley Field memorabilia, and don the ball cap of the White Sox. Thursday's revelation that slugging first baseman Derrek Lee had a fractured wrist surely broke the spirits of even diehard Cubs fans. Lee was placed on the 15-day disabled list, but will miss at least eight to 10 weeks and possibly longer with the injury. And that leaves a massive hole in the middle of the Cubs' lineup. Lee was hitting .318 with three home runs and 10 RBI to start the season, and in his 2005 breakout campaign the slugger batted .335 with 46 home runs, 120 runs scored, and 107 RBI. Of course, Lee's injury isn't the only one to strike the Cubs in 2006. Starting pitchers Kerry Wood and Mark Prior both started the season on the shelf, crippling the team's rotation. Both have shoulder injuries, but both could be back on the mound in mid-May. However, their histories suggest the Cubs shouldn't depend on them to stay healthy. Can they depend on Greg Maddux to continue to win every time he takes to the mound? Not likely, but it'd be nice for the Cubs if the veteran hurler kept to his current pace for the entire season. Maddux has compiled a 4-0 record to date, and he pitched seven shutout innings in their win over the division rival Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. In games where Maddux wasn't the starter, the Cubs have a 6-7 record this season. Carlos Zambrano is 0-1 after four starts, while Glendon Rusch is 1-3 with a 6.41 ERA. And spot starters Sean Marshall (6.28 ERA) and Jerome Williams (7.30 ERA) haven't given the team much to help them keep up in the ultra-competitive NL Central division. So Cubs fans can't be blamed for their longing glances across town at the White Sox. The ChiSox are healthy, they're in first place in their division, and they're the defending champions. That World Series win alone likely cost the Cubs' fan base a bunch of impressionable Chicago youths and a handful of bandwagon hoppers late last year. Making the White Sox even more attractive has been the team's hot play of late. Sunday afternoon's win over the Twins was their eighth in a row, and it pushed their overall record to an AL-best 13-5. In the AL Central division the White Sox hold a 1.5-game lead over the Tigers, who are only so close because of a flukey, 10-2 road mark. In fact, since losing four times in their first five games the White Sox have rattled off 12 victories in 13 contests. Pitching once again is driving the success of the team, as both Mark Buehrle and Jose Contreras are 3-0 with ERA's under 2.00, while Freddy Garcia, Javier Vazquez, and Jon Garland have been putting up wins despite some struggles. And while the Cubs have now lost their big bopper at the plate, the White Sox are getting big production out of offseason acquisition Jim Thome. The former Phillies first baseman has nine home runs already for the White Sox, and leads the team in RBI and runs scored. Paul Konerko is rolling for the ChiSox as well, with five home runs to date. What's next for the Chicago teams? The White Sox will try to keep their winning streak going out on the west coast, where they play the Mariners and Angels this week. The Cubs, meanwhile, start off the week at home with a three-game set against the weakling Marlins. A decisive sweep could keep their fans in Sandberg jerseys for a while longer. To browse the live odds on the Cubs and White Sox, click here. Comments or Questions? Email FaceOff@BetUS.com. --- by BetUSradio at 1800-sports.com on April 24, 2006
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