SHAWN SHOULD BE GONE (OR AT LEAST NOT STARTING): I love almost everything about the Cubs this year. Choi is getting the lion's share of work at first, and proving more than worthy. Grudzielanek is having a career start, silencing the Bobby Hill boosters. (I like Hill, too, but the kid just wasn't hitting.) Dusty Baker seems to be renouncing Baylor's "small ball" in favor something more aggressive. Team chemistry, which I happen to believe in, seems as good as I've seen it since 1984. And Prior, Wood, Clement, and Zambrano are sharp, as good a starting four as anybody in the National League is putting out there. Oh, wait, I left somebody out.

On purpose.

Depsite Shawn Estes's nice outing last week against the Reds (and say what you will about Cincy, but they can hit), he's just not the answer. Already today he's been touched for seven runs on seven hits (granted, only five of the runs were earned), and he's walked three and only K'ed one. In fact, looks like he's given way to Cruz. Thank goodness.

One of the things that bugged me about the Baylor era is it seemed to take Don forever to recognize what fans and reporters were seeing for months. Farnsworth was an ineffective, unreliable mess. Neither catcher was capable of any offense, ever. Hundley had to go, in fact. McGriff subtracted energy rather than added it. Etc. Let's hope that, among the many positive Dusty brings to this team, it's his ability to see what's right in front of him early, and to take action immediately. Estes is not the answer as a starter. Wouldn't you rather see Cruz given another chance? Sure, he's looked shaky at times...but unittable at others. His upside, though, is like the Sears Tower to Estes's corner-hot-dog-stand. Estes is, by all acounts, a likeable guy. Perhaps he can chew up some innings out of the pen, fill in on days when Cruz self-destructs early. But he's just not an effective starter, and it's time for Dusty to see it, say it, and live it.