The "Blow it Up" Myth

Both the Cubs and Sox are muddling to no end, so the discussion inevitably turns to the timing and nature of each team's deconstruction and remodeling.

Ideally, good general managers assess their team's championship proximity, and then accelerate the development of key players while clearing away the dead tissue of declining players and bad money.

But note the development aspect, in particular.  No trades of depreciating assets (even if you can get trade-blocking rights waived and agree to subsidize remaining money owed) bring back the kind of highly-ranked prospects that allow for quick turnarounds.  More likely, you hope to get lucky with another organization's failed talent or catch a late bloomer.

Actual rebuilding is done slowly, unspectacularly and unsexily through solid draft classes and shrewd internal evaluation.  The best reason for a moribund team to move veterans is to open spots for real prospects -- not just replacement-level players marking time. 

Indeed, it is the development itself that necessitates "blowing it up."  That is to say, the next wave of talent in your system cannot and should not be contained by an underperforming big-league roster. 

Neither the Cubs nor Sox appears to be in such a situation, however.  Each team has a sprinkling of possibilities in the minors, but the departures of guys like Derrek Lee, Ted Lilly, Mark Buehrle, Bobby Jenks or Paul Konerko would net mostly more uncertainty and less expensive mediocrity.

* * *

The Lakers return home tonight trying to stave off elimination at the hands of the Celtics.  One can argue that Boston survived the crazy Kobe game, and has exploited LA's lack of depth with Andrew Bynum so limited.  But I think this series goes seven, and down to the last quarter of the last game.  At least I hope it does.

Good lord, somebody hose down Dan Pompei.  The Tribune football writer is intoxicated by Bears possibilities, and now even thinks that having a lot of players is the same thing as having a lot of good players.  What's more, not knowing who should start at a given position is better, somehow, to him, than knowing. 

And Patrick Kane was spotted test-driving a Lamborghini.  In a related story, local attorneys were seen test-defending.