Flashback

Add comment June 8th, 2008

Instead of colliding with a would-be Cub, Derrek Lee smacked into a former Cub.

Luckily, the aftermath was different in the 2008 version.

Lee’s collision with Dodgers OF Juan Pierre in Saturday’s 7-3 Cubs’ loss was very similar to Lee’s season-ending crash with Dodgers SS Rafael Furcal on April 19, 2006. Fans might remember that Cubs GM Jim Hendry had pursued Furcal hard in that offseason, then was blindsided by the Dodgers’ offer.

The 2006 Lee injury was the first and last straw in Dusty Baker’s final season at Clark and Addison. While not looking for injuries to prove this point, I believe that these Cubs, with their depth, are more than able to withstand a loss of a starter.

They have already weathered Alfonso Soriano’s calf injury. Mark DeRosa can spell Aramis Ramirez. Ronny Cedeno can step in for Ryan Theriot. Perhaps an injury to Kosuke Fukudome is not as easy to replace, but it’s not impossible.