I realize it may be a shock to some, but the Boston Red Sox have not endured baseball's longest World Series Championship drought prior to winning it all in 2004.

In fact, they hadn't even suffered the second longest such drought. That standing of baseball impotence falls to the Chicago White Sox, who had now gone 87 years between titles before finally winning it all last year.

However, when reviewing the history of Major League Baseball and discussing real milestones in losing … I mean, when really searching for a poster child of ineptitude in this great American sport, only one team stands to front; the Chicago Cubs.

The lowly Cubbies have gone 97 years since they last claimed victory on baseball's largest stage. In fact, they actually have the longest championship dry spell of any team in the four major sports.

The Chicago Cubs last lucked into the World Series title in 1908 (thanks to Fred Merkle, look it up) and defeated AL batting champ Ty Cobb and the Detroit Tigers in five games. That season the Cubs owned baseball's best record with 99 wins, while playing their home games at Chicago's West Side Park since Wrigley Field was still several years from being built. And while the 1908 Cubs were basking in the glory of a second straight World Series title, Henry Ford was making automotive history with the introduction of his Model T.

The Cubs haven't won a World Series since. Though present day fans will often remind you the Cubbies last participated in a World Series in 1945, as if this somehow makes their team's history of inferiority less pathetic.

After being, like, five outs away from the World Series just a few years ago, they then watched as both Sox teams ended previously insufferable periods of futility in 2004 and 2005. Well, we'll just say the bar has invariably been raised for the Cubbies.

And while the Red Sox and Cubs have often been tied together because of their lack of postseason success, the team from Boston has actually had several Division Titles since WWII including five World Series appearances. The lowly Cubs still point to 1945 as their last appearance.

So while the Red Sox have been there and lost, it appears the Cubs can't even get to the big series. At one point the Cubby Bears finished in the bottom half of the National League standings for 20 consecutive seasons starting in 1947.

In addition, just recently, in 2004, they were able to celebrate the occurrence of back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1973. This hasn't just been a team lacking in world championships, but a team truly adept at just one thing…losing! There's no surprise this team long ago became knows as the "lovable losers."

The explanations for how a team could lose year after year at such a sustained level are numerous. But if we look at the teams' recent history I think I can identify exactly why this team has continued this horrendous losing trend recently. Heck, I think I can even fix it!

So what, then, is the reason the Cubbies continue to lose, you ask? Are you ready? Really? Okay, deep breathe Cub fans. You answer: they have a bunch of freakin' clowns running the team!

I know, I know. What a surprise. Five minutes listening to Chicago sports radio will give you the same assessment. But really, there has been an obvious failure in the ability to assess talent at the major league level. How else can you explain the numerous players that have blossomed after leaving the organization either as free agents or through trade (I will refrain from listing those players for the sake of brevity)?

However, team management is not totally devoid of the ability to turn things around and have the Cubbies back in the World Series in a few years. They just need a little help. So using this forum I would like to provide a few suggestions to General Manager Jim Hendry for turning this horse around.

So Jim if you are reading this, take notes big guy.

1. Fire Dusty Baker. Here is the single move that produces the largest and most immediate return. This team has absolutely no discipline and the players are never held accountable. When asked about Aramis Ramirez' continuous lack of hustle by the Chicago Tribune's Phil Rodgers early this season, Dusty made comments to the effect that it's just so hard to change a players' old habits. Wha-wha-what? This is the major leagues! The next time Ramirez' matador defense at third results in a run or he stands at home admiring a shot that doesn't clear the fence his butt is on the bench for a game to think about it. Maybe if he knew there were consequences to his actions he just might put forth a little more effort. The only way to break these "habits" is to correct him the next time he does something stupid.

The as a team the Cubs are one of the worst fundamentally in all of baseball. That is Dusty's fault.

On a side note Mr. Hendry, if you were planning on bringing Dusty back the time to pursue that route is now long gone. By the All Star break the Cubs were 34-54, for the third worst record in baseball. Once Derek Lee went down in April you and Dusty both publicly stated the plan was to stay around .500 and be ready for the stretch run with a team that included a healthy, Lee, Kerry Wood, and Mark Prior. Instead this team wilted like a dying flower. They finished May with a miserable 7-22 record ostensibly starting their annual June swoon a bit early. The weak play carried then over into June as they finished 9-17. That is when a move should've been made. But now, without an extension Dusty continued to manage for a job. Instead of playing the youngsters and evaluating their talent for 2007 so that you can assess areas of need, Dusty continues to play to win with the likes of Neifi Perez, John Mabry and Phil Nevin. Trading Perez and Nevin was the only way to make him stop. We understand. If you are lucky Jeff Loria relieves Joe Girardi of his duties after the season for "philosophical differences," and telling the owner to shut up. Girardi's proven himself to be a fantastic manager of young talent by leading the young Marlins in the midst of the Wild Card race, and we already know he looks good in pinstripes. Like every manager he has some flaws, but he runs a tight ship and stresses fundamentals. You overpay if that's what it takes to get him back in Chicago.

2. Trade Matt Murton. His defense is beyond bad. He has a weak arm and just flat out makes bad reads off the bat resulting in too many outs becoming hits. Its little wonder Boston shipped him out rather than endure the pain of watching him chase balls around the Fenway outfield. However, he has demonstrated a bat deserving of a major league roster spot. He has a decent eye and the makings of a consistent .290-.300 hitter. And because he's young (read: inexpensive talent) he does possess some trade value if the Cubs can find a taker. Besides, you have to do something with him because you are going to…

3. Move Michael Barrett to left field. His defense is horrible behind the plate. Are you noticing a trend here? And even with his early season suspension and his current DL stint Barrett is still the National League leader with 10 passed balls and has allowed more stolen bases than any catcher in baseball for 2006 thus far (and that's even counting Mike Piazza). His game calling skills aren't much better. But he stays in the lineup because he can hit. Give Barrett 500 at-bats over the course of a season and eliminate the effect squatting in the summer heat can have on a hitter's legs and a .315/.380/.500 line with 20-25 homers for the next few years doesn't seem out of line. Having played at third, shortstop, and first prior to making the permanent switch to catcher it's not inconceivable he could be capable defensively. Besides, you're going to want someone who can help hold the hands of all the young pitchers you'll be running out to the mound the next couple of years and Barrett's not that guy.

4. Address the catching situation. With Barrett moving to left and his backup, Henry Blanco, a free agent at the end of the season this is a need. Blanco is your typical backup catcher, good glove, no stick. He's familiar with the current staff and has already had face time with some of the young pitchers will be running out to the mound next season. So in the immortal words of Flavor Flav, Henry Blanco "come get your clock, boy!" Unfortunately your options for a starting backstop are limited. Toronto will likely decline the option on Benji Molina and though his defense has declined over the last couple of years he would still be an upgrade over Barrett. He's a veteran and not a liability at the plate. If worse comes to worse you may end up dealing Murton to help fill this need, though any trade targets would likely come with some type of baggage.

5. Acquire a center-fielder. First off, trading for Juan Pierre was a mistake on par with Gary Cherone's time in Van Halen (am I the only one still haunted by this!?). What's done is done though. You traded three major league arms that have helped the Marlins become one of the feel good stories of the season and in return you acquired one season of mediocre baseball, but you can't let that force you into resigning Pierre to a long term deal. Pierre is not the same hitter he was from 2001 through 2004, and he's never been strong defensively possessing a horribly weak arm. If you can upgrade this position you have to bite the bullet and move on. Torii Hunter would look awfully nice patrolling the Wrigley outfield, but he can exercise an option to stay in Minnesota for 2007, or may get signed to an extension. Oh, and by the way, your center fielder of the future, Felix Pie, has been hovering around .270 at Iowa (AAA). He's still young for the level and may need another year to work on some questionable plate discipline.

6. Let Kerry Wood walk. You hold a $13.5 million option with a $3 million buyout. Go with the later option. Wood's future is in the bullpen and you already have a couple of high priced setup men there with Scott Eyre and Bobby Howry. At one time Wood looked like the second coming of Nolan Ryan but has built a career that's more disappointing than watching an episode of Fear Factor and not seeing anyone throw-up.

7. Settle your starting rotation. You have a horse in Carlos Zambrano and potentially the top arm in baseball in Mark Prior when healthy. That's a fantastic start. Additionally, you have to like what you've seen out of Sean Marshall this year. And after dominating in AAA early in 2006 Rich Hill has given up fewer two runs or less in five of his last six outings. To round things out Carlos Marmol, Juan Mateo, Jae Kuk Ryu, Ryan O'Malley, Donald Veal, Billy Petrick, Reynel Pinto, or another youngster could step up with a strong fall league or spring. Oh, and while we are on the subject, you really need to reassess how the organization approaches the development of their pitchers. From the low minors to the major leagues there are just too many injuries and it's not a coincidence.

There you go Jimbo. Take this little bit of advice and you just might earn another contract extension and be around to see the Cubs return to the playoffs in 2009.