One thing is certain: The Cubs will be a different team next time they come back to Atlanta to meet the Braves on 4th of July weekend.
They could be a different team the next time they take the field on Friday.
Neither General Manager Larry Himes nor manager Jim Lefebvre is pleased with the way the Cubs are playing-or with the Cubs they have to play with. They are looking to make some trades, and they still may not be through shuttling players in from the farm club.
Switch-hitting infielder Doug Strange became the third Iowa Cub to be called up when he arrived in Atlanta in time to go 1 for 3 with a walk in the finale to the disastrous series.
Strange joins infielder Rey Sanchez and outfielder Derrick May, who were called up last week.
But the Iowa moves are merely Band-Aids on a gut wound. The Cubs are looking to revamp their roster with a trade, perhaps a blockbuster deal, in the coming days.
Rumors are flying that the Cubs might be trying to get disgruntled Kal Daniels from Los Angeles. Or that they are looking to deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, who have been interested in shortstop Shawon Dunston for several years.
Two sure signs a trade is in the works: Superscout Hugh Alexander is traveling with the Cubs on this trip, and former GM Jim Frey has been in Toronto on a scouting mission the past week.
Smitty`s future: When the Cubs called up Strange, they gave outfielder Dwight Smith the option of going to Iowa or signing with another team. He has 72 hours to make his decision. If he agrees to go to Iowa, Smith will retain his $450,000 major-league salary and still can become a free agent at the end of the season when the National League expands by two teams.