But just how successful those meetings were won't be known until he finishes dumping Milton Bradley - presumably by the winter meetings in Indianapolis in less than four weeks - and knows how much of the $21 million left on that contract he has to eat, and what player he gets in return.

``We were real pleased with the meetings,'' said Hendry, who joined assistant GM Randy Bush in meeting with ``seven or eight'' teams Tuesday night just ahead of Wednesday morning's wrapup. ``We felt we got a little direction on the path we might want to go. It was productive.

``We'd like to make a few moves before Indy. Then it really clears up. We don't have a lot of quantity to add. We want to make a few adjustments.''

-- Although the Tigers have made all-star center fielder Curtis Granderson available in trade, the Cubs have not pursued that avenue. At least not yet. Granderson, a lefty hitter with a rare power/speed/fielding combo of skills, has three years and $25.75 million left on his contract, plus a $13 million option for 2013 (an $11 million commitment considering the $2 million buyout), so the economics would play a factor for the payroll-watching Cubs. But given the ideal fit provided by the Chicago-area native, conversations between the teams appear inevitable.

--Until then, the Cubs' next order of business appears to be finishing off a multi-year extension for free agent lefty John Grabow (likely two years in the $7 million neighborhood). Hendry resumed talks with Grabow's agent this week, and a deal could be finalized by early next week.

-- The potential for acquiring New York Mets' second baseman Luis Castillo (two years, $12 million left on his contract) might be a matter of how the winds change in New York on a daily or weekly basis - as in, whether the Mets ultimately decide they're adding or subtracting payroll this winter, which was anything but certain as the meetings closed. Either way, the Mets want no part of acquiring Bradley, so the only way a Castillo deal would involve Bradley is if it included a third team, either as a contingent partner in two separate deals or a bona fide three-team deal.

-- Despite the Cubs' search for a second baseman, they're not looking at Florida's run-producing 2B Dan Uggla.

And it shouldn't.

Some critics of that sentiment have suggested the Cubs must try to retain Harden, but the team is right to let him go.

Harden's a good guy, and his talent is unquestioned.

But a history of injury problems and a thin free agent market for high-end pitchers almost guarantee Harden's ability to command a multi-year deal and suggest a strong possibility somebody will wind up overpaying for him.

Even in a season his balky shoulder didn't seem to be a problem until the final two weeks of the season, Harden was a pitcher who needed to be managed with extra rest between starts, when possible, and who averaged nearly 18 pitches an inning in 2009 -- making him a five-inning pitcher far too often.

Whether he rebounds to look at dominant as he did the first month the Cubs had him in 2008 (and for glimpses in '09), the risk is too great for a team looking at '11 and beyond for payroll flexibility (with contracts expiring) to make fundamental changes that extend and strengthen its competitive window.

Randy Wells is locked in among three healthy returning starters. Lilly may well be ready to pitch again at a high level by May. Jeff Samardzija may be ready to step into a starter's role next season. Tom Gorzelanny is a competitive candidate for the fifth starter job.

And lefty Sean Marshall is more than deserving of a full-fledged chance to start -- not to mention the fact he has a pretty decent track record as a starter-reliever swing man for this team the past two seasons, making him a capable stand-in for Lilly even if Lilly is out until the All-Star break.

Harden? At worst he'll create more instability in the rotation for a big-ticket price. At best, he's a dice roll not worth taking.

The groups trying to lure the Cubs out of Arizona and to the Naples, Fla., area for spring training are continuing to push, with a press conference scheduled today.

But no matter how strong their bid looks at the end of the day, a move to Southwest Florida for the Cubs would be foolish.

And the Cubs also would be giving up their status as top draw - by far - in the Cactus League with a move to Florida, where they would at least second to the Yankees, if not third behind the Boston Red Sox.

Naturally, the 10 East Division teams train in Florida, along with Central Division teams located in the Eastern time zone, Pittsburgh and Detroit.

But just over the past half-dozen years, five teams have fled Florida for Arizona, including two from the Eastern Time Zone, Cleveland and Cincinnati (starting 2010). And every team from the West and Mountain zones, along with five of the eight Central time zone teams train there. The Phoenix area has made that big of a regional commitment to major league teams, and the advantages to the short trips and getting the most out of a training day are clear to many teams.

The Cubs can dream about Disneyland-type spring complexes and listen to golden offers all day long, but moving from Arizona would be a mistake. And the Cubs' baseball people don't want the hassles of Florida any more than the players want that 2 1/2-hour bus ride to Dunedin to play the Blue Jays in a meaningless game or that 3 1/2-hour bus ride to Viera for the Nationals.

In fact, if the Cubs were to actually uproot and move to Florida, you can count on Arizona and the Phoenix region redoubling their efforts to appease the rest of their spring teams - and likely result in luring another team or two away from Florida to fill the void.

Which might give a team like, say, the Cardinals, a shot at landing the next state-of-the art, luxurious, revenue-producing training site in Arizona.

Meanwhile, other random rain-delay thoughts include that T-shirt Ted Lilly was wearing yesterday touting the return of free agent teammate Reed Johnson: ``With Reed We Will Succeed.''

I've got a few other T-shirt ideas for these guys.

Or: ``With Big Z We'll Go Cra-Z''

Or: ``Under Zell We Went To Hell''

Yeah, I know. Lame.

But somebody's got to have some good ones out there. Any other ideas?

Keep him or trade him? Love him or hate him?

Call him your ace or call in a cavalry of physical and psychological therapists?

In other words, what do the Cubs do with Carlos Zambrano?

Much of the question is moot, considering Zambrano has a no-trade clause and is emphatic about his unwillingness to waive it.

But looking ahead, as manager Lou Piniella suggested doing tonight after Big Z's Big Dropoff from that two-hitter in San Francisco to tonight's season-finishing clunker, do you trust the Giant-killing ability or fear the logic-defying inability to handle the woeful Pirates?

Or both?

``Look, everybody expects more out of him, including himself,'' Piniella said. ``Let's chalk it up to a season where he wasn't at his best. He's talked about working hard and having a good season next year. Let's just look ahead and not behind.''

That may be the Cubs' only choice. And it might be good enough. Even with a disappointing 9-7, Zambrano finished with a 3.77 ERA, helping keep the Cubs' top-five pitching staff's team mark down at 3.81.

Most of the pitching staff is expected back, including all of the starting rotation except Rich Harden (9-9, 4.09).

``It's a very disappointing year. The season is over for us, and now we work hard in the off season and come back ready for next year,'' said Zambrano, who has been ``encouraged'' by the organization to do more this winter and who vowed to start his off-season conditioning earlier than usual, in November.

``Obviously,'' he said, ``this is an experience to learn from. Put this year behind me and think about next year. The goal next year is to come healthy and come ready for spring training.''

Where have we heard that before?

And Ryan Dempster, last year's Game 1 playoff starter who's signed for three more years, along with Aaron Heilman and Carlos Marmol showed what he meant in a game they kept low-scoring until Jeff Baker had a chance to win it with a homer in the ninth.

Dempster didn't get the win, but he continued an impressive stretch of pitching since a rough first outing after returning from the disabled list (toe) July 28. After his seven innings with six strikeouts and only two runs allowed, he's 5-3 with a 2.75 ERA in his past 11 starts - 4-1, 2.01 in his past seven.

And with 186 innings pitched and two starts remaining, he has a shot at reaching 200 for the fifth time in his career.

``Dempster's gotten better and better as the season's progressed,'' Piniella said.

As for the bullpen, Carlos Marmol made it interesting with a walk to Travis Ishikawa after a one-out infield single but struck out Aaron Rowand and Fred Lewis to end it - and record his 11th save in as many chances since being named closer last month (15th overall).

``He's done a good job,'' Piniella said, ``and basically he's solidified his job for next year and going to camp it's his job.''

Now if the Cubs can find a way next year to score more than a run in the first eight innings in some of these games...

What if Milton Bradley was never signed by the Cubs? Considering they're 16-9 (.640) this season when he doesn't play, they might be on their way to a 104-win season.

And if Aramis Ramirez (14 homers, 61 RBIs in 76 games) hadn't been on the DL for two months? And if Tylver Colvin's 1-for-3-with-an-RBI debut means anything about his long-term big-league ability?

If, if, if. Woulda, coulda, shoulda.

At least the Cubs have finally, clearly begun to lock their sights on making the most of next year and hitting the ground running toward actually contending again.

And so did Piniella, who said after Monday's 10-2 win in Milwaukee that winning pitcher Tom Gorzelanny is on his team next year, either in relief or as a fourth/fifth starter.

And for next year's run production, who needs Bradley (40 RBIs)?

Lee's 34th homer of the season and two-run single in the first gave him 107 RBIs, matching his career high, and Ramirez also hit a homer in Monday's win - giving Piniella a view to a thrill as he looks at next spring.

``It's starting to set us up for next year real well with him and Ramirez in the 3-4 holes,'' Piniella said.

And there's still 13 games left to see what Colvin can do in the majors before next spring.

Milton Bradley, we hardly knew ye.

Only 5 ½ months into the first of what was supposed to be three seasons for the Cubs worth $30 million, the oft-slumping, more-oft-distracting Bradley was suspended by the Cubs for the rest of the year over comments he made to the media in recent days, culminating with an interview with the Daily Herald Saturday in which he took shots at media, fans and even the organization.

The chances of him returning to the team next season reside somewhere between those of the team making the playoffs this year and Hack Wilson being named NLCS MVP next month.

With that in mind, we look back on the Life of Milty as a Cub, in quotes from the 40-RBI man himself:

``It's definitely a challenge, but I think at this point in my career and life, I'm ready to accept that. I've matured. Will I make mistakes? It's a possibility. I don't expect to make as big of mistakes as I've made in the past. But this is just a new chapter. I can turn the page. I can close a lot of the book that's been written. And start a new one.''
-- Jan. 8, same news conference.

``You might catch me on a day and I might blow you off. But hopefully that's few and far between.''
--Feb. 15, his first day at spring training camp.

``It's a home finally. I've been kind of a rent-a-player for the most part over the years. I'd have a good year somewhere and the next year some younger guys were coming along, or they're trying to cut some payroll, and I'm always the guy to go. ... So to come here and feel I'm where I can get comfortable and relax a little bit, that helps.''
-- Feb. 15, same spring training interview.

``I feel like 30 million bucks.''
-- April 23, in comment to reporters over shoulder after tense back-and-forth with media that ended homestand-long boycott of media because of Sun-Times story he said he didn't like.

``Basically, for me, I talk to people I like. I don't particularly like the media, and the media doesn't like me. So let's not pretend we're buddies or you're trying to do anything for me. If anything you hurt me more than help. So I don't see any benefit of really talking to the media. That's just how I feel. That's how I've always felt.''
-- April 24 after GM Jim Hendry had a closed-door session with Bradley, in part to encourage him to deal better with media.

`` `We're going to get him any time we can. As soon as he gets two strikes, we're going to call whatever and see what he does. Let's try to ruin Milton Bradley.' ''
-- May 23, characterizing the way umpires treat him.

``You tricked me the other day. I was venting to you a bit and you made a big article about it. You won't trick me again.''
-- May 25, to the reporter who quoted him talking about the umpires.

``I have too much respect for you to respond to that.''
-- June 26 in response to manager Lou Piniella calling him a ``piece of [crap]'' after Piniella kicked him out of a game at Sox Park for trashing the dugout.

``I'm better for it. When he says something, it's not just the tone or the exact words, but I listen to the sentiment behind it.''
-- June 27, on Piniella, before the game, after a meeting with Piniella in which the manager apologized for his comment but laid down the law.

``I played in L.A., and I thought L.A. was over the top, but this is a whole different level. It's fanatic fans. It's constant cameras and things. It's a lot more than you expect. But this is what I signed up for, so I can accept that.''
-- June 27, after the game.

```It's a beautiful thing, because I've got time to be the player I want to be and work through this rut and get there. And I've got the support of teammates, and the manager and the GM. They stand behind me. So I know I'll be able to work through it.''
--June 30, on whether he regrets signing a three-year commitment with the Cubs.

``You have to just be able to accept that fact ... that at some point in time, no matter who you are you're going to struggle, and it's how you overcome it and when you overcome it, that defines you. This is my moment.''
-- June 30.

``You can mark it down. I'm going to be hitting for the rest of the year.''
--July 12, before starting the second half 2 for 14 and finishing the season at .257 - .234 left-handed -- with just 40 RBIs and a .205 average with runners in scoring position.

``No.''
--July 20, in a one-word reply he repeated four times in response to various questions about whether he had ever considered scrapping switch-hitting because of his left-handed struggles, whether he would ever consider it, whether he had ever done it and whether he could imagine a scenario in which it might make sense.

``It went. That's all I can elaborate.''
--July 20, during the same interview, on how it went working with Piniella on his hitting.

``I'm not shocked. This year's been an uncharacteristic year for myself, so I don't know what kind of report they've got. But I know I've had some trouble with some balls in the sun, forgot the outs one time. But the cannon's always there.''
--Aug. 8, when asked if he was surprised that Colorado's Dexter Fowler tried to score from third on a shallow fly to right the night earlier.

``It's not a revelation. I can hit.''
--Aug. 10 on starting to get hot at the plate.

``Write it however you want. If you want to give Lou credit for putting me in the 2 hole, and I start getting hits, you can do that. If you want to say that eventually Milton Bradley's a good hitter, so he's going to hit, and just be patient, then you can write that. Whatever you want to write. I don't have an opinion. I just play.''
--Aug. 10 on whether being moved to the No. 2 spot in the lineup was an influence on hit hot streak.

``It's hard to be comfortable. When I go home and look in the mirror, I like what I see. My family's there. I have people I can talk to who are very supportive in spite of everything and all the adversity and hatred you face on a daily basis. But I'll be all right; I always have [been].''
--Aug. 25, when asked postgame whether he was feeling more comfortable (at the plate).

``America doesn't believe in racism. ... I'm talking about hatred, period. ... All I'm saying is I just pray the game goes nine innings so I can go out there for the least amount of time as possible and go home.''
--Aug. 26 when asked to clarify the ``hatred'' remark a night earlier.

``It's not an issue. It's nothing brand new. It's nothing that just started when Milton Bradley came here. It's the same stuff [the Sun-Times] wrote about in the beginning of the year. This is not like a surprise or a shock or brand new to me or anyone else. You know what I'm saying? It's the way it's been.''
--Aug. 26 when asked to elaborate on the racial nature of the abuse he was receiving.

``I'm always the story, whether I hit .500 or .100. Somehow, some way, everything revolves back to me. I guess I'm kind of a big deal or something. People like talking about Milton Bradley, not to my face, but only behind my back. ... Sure don't like it when you tell the truth.''
--Aug. 27, in a rambling, vague postgame media session resulting from the remarks the previous two days.

``People that come in here for a couple hours a day and want to ask you controversial questions, knowing you're going to give them a legit answer, and twist everything around and make it a story - that's to be expected.''
--Aug. 27

``Stand out in right field with me one day and you'll see. Put on my Jordans one day, walk around and see life through my eyes. You can never do that. When it comes to issues like this, there's no way you can give a fair opinion because you just don't know. That's just the God's honest truth.''
--Aug. 27

``And unless you get paid $30 million to play right field for the Chicago Cubs, then you can't speak on how I feel, because you don't know.''
--Aug. 27

``USA Today is the only legit source of news to me. If it ain't in USA Today, it don't really matter to me.''
--Aug. 27

``Strange as it seems, [with other] teams you play mostly night games. Here you have to get up at 8 [a.m.]. It's an adjustment for your body. It's an adjustment to get ready and revved up.''
--Aug. 28, attributing his slow start at the plate this season with Wrigley Field's high number of day games.

``What else you got?''
--Sept. 17, in a phrase he repeated six times to questions during bizarre postgame media session after taking himself out of the game because of a sore knee.

``Not really. It's just not a positive environment. I need a stable, healthy, enjoyable environment. There's too many people everywhere in your face with a microphone asking the same questions repeatedly. Everything is just bashing you. You go out there and you play harder than anybody on the field and never get credit for it. It's just negativity.''
--Sept. 19, when asked by the Daily Herald simply whether he had enjoyed his first season in Chicago.

``And you understand why they haven't won in 100 years here, because it's negative.''
--Sept. 19, in same interview.

``I'm out.''
--Sept. 17, ending that bizarre one after Thursday's game.

The Daily Herald's Bruce Miles got Bradley aside in the clubhouse this weekend and asked, among other things, if he had enjoyed his first season in Chicago.

``Not really,'' Bradley told him. ``It's just not a positive environment. I need a stable, healthy, enjoyable environment. There's too many people everywhere in your face with a microphone asking the same questions repeatedly. Everything is just bashing you. You go out there and you play harder than anybody on the field and never get credit for it. It's just negativity.

Asked by Miles whether he was referring to fans, media or the organization, Bradley said, ``It's everything. It's everybody.''

Everybody except Bradley, apparently.

Never mind the fact that Bradley has only 40 RBIs in 124 games this season after signing that three-year, $30 million deal to be a left-handed middle-of-the-order run producer. Or the fact that the switch-hitter slumped most of the season, until doing most of his hitting after the Cubs began fading from the race in August.

And he's still hitting just .234 left handed and just .205 overall with runners in scoring position.

But he told Miles he doesn't regret signing with the Cubs. ``I made the decision,'' he said.

Yet with the Cubs certain to try to trade him over the winter, even he knows he may not be back. ``Who knows?'' he said.

Sam Fuld made another diving catch Monday night in the outfield (great play even if it turns out he trapped it) to end the fifth inning in a one-run game - raising again the question of whether this guy should get more playing time as the Cubs look toward next year.

And what about Andres Blanco - Mr. Spectacular almost every time he gets a start in the middle infield?

If the Cubs proved anything in their 2-0 win over Milwaukee Monday night - other than they still can't hit - it's how important fielding is to a team that expects to win.

``You don't see that too often,'' Piniella said afterward.

``Three really nice plays. We needed them.''

All season, in fact.

Considering one of the most underrated reasons for the Cubs' disappointing season - the fact they're the third-worst fielding team in the league - it might be worth looking at 2010 with an eye toward the glove work.

It's no coincidence that the only teams that field the ball worse than the Cubs in the National League are last-place teams (Arizona and Washington).

Sure, a half-run more per game by the listing lineup might have made the difference in a playoff berth this season.

But imagine how many more games the Cubs' stellar pitching staff might have won had they cut down on the 50 unearned runs they allowed. Unearned runs were the difference in two of the team's four losses this month alone.

Then watch his starts Friday night in New York and next week in Pittsburgh.

In two starts since returning from the DL, he had his two worst starts of the season. And complained about media scrutiny.

Scouts from other teams wondered during the just-concluded homestand whether he has quit on what looks like a lost season for him and the team.

Anything short of a strong finish for him - starting tonight in New York - will increase the volume and bandwidth on those questions going into an off-season sure to include a lot of change.

``Let's hope his two starts on the road are a little better than his two starts at home,'' Piniella said.

If not, the Cubs might want to shift their hope to Zambrano waiving his no-trade clause, and then look for another ace.

Until then, Piniella and the Cubs will watch closely at how Big Z handles a stretch run that could quickly lose all relevance, depending how this road trip goes. What's certain is that any last-month surge the Cubs put together will have to include Zambrano, if not start with him.

Piniella pointed out, optimistically, that Z's road splits are better than his home splits this season, perhaps boding well for the trip (perhaps also offering insight into his frame of mind when the home heat intensifies):

Home: 11 starts, 2-4, 4.64
Road: 11 starts, 5-2, 3.17

``Let's see what happens,'' Piniella said. ``He needs to step it up.''

Lou Piniella said he's looking forward to hanging out with Ozzie while they shoot some sort of commercial Thursday.

Derrek Lee said he's sure it'll be exciting when the Cubs and Sox face off today at Wrigley.

But really?

Usually there's something on the line for at least one team -- when you're playing in June, somebody's still playing for something.

But now? It's hard to imagine anything even worth bragging about, win or lose -- anything worth getting worked up about.

``Seems kind of strange, doesn't it?'' Piniella said. ``It really does. Playing them in September.

``I'll get a chance to hear a little bit of [Ozzie's] chatter. I enjoy talking to him about baseball, and about life in general. He's a philosopher.''

Piniella was in an upbeat mood after Wednesday's game, but he wasn't joking about Ozzie.

``Really, I enjoy talking to Ozzie,'' he said.

Maybe that's it. Maybe that's what today's one-day circus with the sagging tents is all about.

Talk. Chatter. Crosstown banter between two ships passing in the night during seasons adrift.

Maybe in all that talk, somebody will have sense enough to ask for directions.