The Cubs continue to assemble this year's squad, which bears a lot of structural similarities to last year's group, and that to the previous year. Jed Hoyer clearly has a vision. Just as clearly, a lot of fans and not a few professional prognosticators disagree with this assessment.

Others lay the buck at the feet of owner Tom Ricketts, who is said to have a tight grip on the purse strings, or on the Crane Kenney side of the team's management.

I'm inclined to the view that it is all of them. Making a professional baseball team into a perennial winner is a tough job. I couldn't do it. Neither could you. Those who can are are rare chimerae indeed. Nothing is certain except that nothing is certain, and the world of professional baseball is no different from other worlds on that front.

Situational-type relievers continue to show up. Perhaps some may be useful parts. Others will be spare parts. Rumors abound regarding more substantial contributors, but so far, none of those branches have borne fruit.

Spring training approaches rapidly. Developments take time. But hey, at least Miles went before I slept.

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