What's the difference between the Cubs and a successful team like, say, the Phillies? (Except the lunk-headed fans, see below.) The answer: Home-produced talent. Crain's Ed Sherman absolutely nails it when he points out the dearth of homegrown talent, referring to first-round busts as Luis Montanez, Bobby Brownlie, and Ryan Harvey. And let us add the not-quite luminary names of Mark Pawalek, Ty Griffin, and the evil Ben Christensen. "The Cubs need to produce impact players if they want to end the 102-year drought," Sherman says. "It's as simple as that." Amen.

Crain's: Ricketts, Cubs need huge upgrade in homegrown talent

Byrd Soars to New Heights
Cubs Off-Season Pickup Makes First All-Star Game
Not long ago, Marlon Byrd was sure his major-league dream had died. And yet here he is, in his first All-Star Game at the ripe age of 32. Byrd wasn't selected by the fans — hell, he didn't even crack the top 15 — but he was chosen by peers, which is an even higher honor. Byrd is signed for two more years at a modest $5 million per year, and looks to be an anchor of a strong outfield. So congrats, Marlon. Today, you truly are the word. Check him out tonight on FOX, starting at 7pm Central.

FOX Sports: Byrd savors first All-Star selection
MLB: All-Star nod validates Byrd's hard work [+ video]

The Replacements
Will Cubs Dare to Make Move for Girardi?
Everyone assumes that the next Cubs' manager will be Ryne Sandberg, and we wouldn't be unsatisfied with that move. But the Sun-Times suggests a different name: Joe Girardi, the former Cubs catcher. Girardi, who's also a Peoria native and a Northwestern alum, has two things Sandberg doesn't: major-league managing experience and a World Series ring as a manager (three as a player). Girardi wouldn't speculate on the possibility, but his contract does end after the season. Should be an interesting off-season — we can't hardly wait.

Chicago Sun-Times: Joe Girardi could be ideal replacement for Piniella

So Bad, They're Good
Mediocrity Might Benefit Team in Long-Run
Anyone can see this year's Cubs team is, shall we say, lacking. But we've heard the front office say things that indicate they might hold out hope for a miraculous second-half comeback. The Beachwood Reporter seems to think the recent slide — particularly Sunday's 7-0 pasting — makes the team's awfulness too obvious to ignore. "The Cubs proved they are bad enough to force a change in direction," the blog writes. "Thank God for their suckiness." That might be going a little far, but we get the drift.

The Beachwood Reporter: Their suckiness is our gain

You Be Phillin'
A Never-Ending Parade of Grotesques (i.e., Phillies Fans)
In two days, the Cubs are playing the Philadelphia Phillies, who've been to the World Series two consecutive years. That level of performance hasn't carried to Philly fans, a group that gives loutish degeneracy a bad name. So today, we begin a series looking at Phillies boosters, beginning with a salute to a charming lad of about four who drinks better than most people we know. He might be cooking meth in a few years, but at least he made it to the pages of Deadspin.

YouTube: Child chugs beer at Phillies game!!

Marlon Byrd thinks the Cubs still have a chance... Yesterday marked the 100-year anniversary of the poem, "Tinkers to Evers to Chance."

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