Big Z melting down is usually a sign that the Cubs are about to start winning.

If you had told a Cubs fan back in the off-season that the following would transpire this season:

The pitcher Milton Bradley was traded for will be 8-2 with a 3.00 ERA in mid-June;

The Cubs would have a CF in 2010 who'd have an all-star worthy / career season;

Soriano would have approx .900 OPS and be 2nd on the team to a home-grown Cubs rookie outfielder.

what would they have said in response? "We're going to the World Series!!!"

Well, Cub fans always think they are going to the World Series, except for this season.
But then maybe that Cub fans aren't expecting it is part of the reason they'll make it this time?

Cubs have: (1) starting pitching; (2) a closer; (3) a bunch of position players having terrific seasons.

A few problem areas:
(1) D Lee has started off even slower than usual (injured?);
(2) Aram's OPS is currently the area code for Topeka (IL) rather than his usual adult chat line prefix OPS;
(3) middle relief.

Lee and Ramirez are going to hit; aren't both of them up for free agency at the end of this season?
The Cubs are finished playing the AL until late October.
The National League sucks more than usual this season.

To date, the Ricketts have had a, ah, rickety 'Year 0':

(i) BP Cup; (ii) Toyota Sign; (iii) Going on a safari in Africa during a crucial part of their first season as owners;
(iv) leaving the g-d stereo on at Wrigley when they left. No. No walk up music @ Wrigley.
Make it stop. We get subjected to baseball players bad hip-hop and 80's music selections enough at the Cell.

The Ricketts come back from their safari, recognize how they're effing up and go borrow some more money
so Lou & Tram can get their middle relief help.

They won't even need that much. The team with the best bullpen and best middle relievers in baseball (the Tigers) will be
sellers in late July and likely will be happy to send Zumaya | Phil Coke | other bullpen arms to the Cubs in exchange for
Vitters or Fontenot or some other IF help, which the Tigers need.

And look at the division the Cubs are in: someone has to win the awful NL Central and it's not gonna be the Reds.

Besides, it's just not the Western Conference's year.

2010 World Series will be Cubs-White Sox.

Please take your meds.

Doh! Thanks for the reminder.