The annual tease begins ...

... Is there anything sweeter to a Cubs fan than a sweep of the hated White Sox? Well, probably a World Series berth, but that hasn't happened since 1945, so you take what you can get.

The Cubs just went to someplace called U.S. Cellular Field (they should never have changed the name from Comiskey Park) and swept the White Sox on their home field. Now that's what I call F-U-N.

So now the Cubs are starting to play well. They traded one malcontent (Michael Barrett) and are getting ready to trade another (Jacque Jones). And there are rumors of an impending trade for Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. My advice to the Cubs -- MAKE THAT TRADE NOW.

The Cubs are in second place in the NL Central, trailing the Brewers by 7 1/2 games. If they can cut that to 5 by the All-Star break, I think they will be primed for a playoff push. I'm Cubs fan, so I have to be an eternal optimist.

And one last note -- it almost seems pre-ordained that Sammy Sosa, now with the Texas Rangers, would hit his 600th career homer AGAINST the Cubs. Congratulations Sammy. Despite the steroid rumors, despite the corked bat, you did hit 545 of your homers in a Cubs uniform, and you did provide a lot of excitement for fans on the North Side for many years.

I hope you stick around for 700.

Sosa photo by Ronald Martinez, Getty Images