Bullpen Shakeup at Wrigley

Today's Chicago Tribune reports on what we all already knew - Chad Fox is the Cubs' brand-new closer. Sometimes. But never more than two days in a row, and probably only until Joe Borowski returns from his busted wrist, which could be within a week.

LaTroy Hawkins will return to the 8th inning, where he has been fantastic throughout his career. This move is a win-win for the Cubs: While removing LaTroy Hawkins from his 9th-inning duties is addition by subtraction, adding a LaTroy Hawkins as your primary set-up man is definitely addition by addition.

In any case, Fox is probably only a short-term fix at closer. Obviously, the Cubs would like nothing more than for JoBo to return to form. It is, however, becoming abundantly clear that Mike Wuertz is the Cubs' heir apparent at closer.

Wuertz, 26, has emerged as the best of the Cubs' young bullpen arms. He spent 2004 as the closer at AAA Iowa, where he recorded 19 saves, put up a 2.42 ERA, and struck out 9.3 batters per 9 innings, while holding opposing batters to a .181 average. After Sunday's game, Wuertz subtly lobbied for the closer role, saying that "(Closing) is definitely something I like. I like the pressure, the situation of the game. I've always been that way... I always wanted to be the one who got the last shot or the game-winning kick. I want the ball in my hand."

Of course, Dusty Baker will be the one making the final decision on who pitches in the 9th. But when Dusty was asked on Sunday if Wuertz was going to take over as his closer, his reply spoke volumes:

"Not yet."