Barrett and Zambrano aside, of course (though the two have apparently patched things up). From the Sun-Times:

It's too early and too much of an overstatement to suggest Lou Piniella is losing the clubhouse a mere two months into his first season as Cubs manager.

But his managing style has worn on some veteran players, many of whom spent most of the first two months trying to figure out his lineup patterns and some of whom bristle at his willingness to publicly criticize mistakes -- issues heated to the boiling point by an underachieving start, Monday night's 7-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park notwithstanding.

But even privately, players stop well short of suggesting the two-time Manager of the Year is losing the clubhouse, and most characterize it more like ''growing pains'' as a clubhouse full of first-year Cubs gets used to a first-year Cubs manager.

The players can "bristle" all they want, but they remain public figures – entertainers – who are subject to public scrutiny and criticism. If an actor turns in a terrible performance, critics will make it known, and the same holds true for a baseball player.

That being said, I've got to side with the players. Does a director publicly demean his actors? He may do so privately, but if the performance was bad, it will surely be made known by many people – the press, viewers. The last thing an actor or baseball player needs is for his director or manager to add to the public scrutiny. I'm from the school that says coaches should offer constructive criticism, not just fits of fury. After a bad game, does the manager saying to the press, "He was awful out there, and I'm fed up with his mistakes," really do anything but make the player feel worse about himself and his play? The player already knows it, and he doesn't need his manager joining the public critics. If a player is scuffling, the manager should help him out or point him to people who can. That's the manager's job.

These players are people with emotions, just like you and me, who deserve to be treated as such, particularly by the coaching staff. If not even the manager's on your side, what does that do for your morale?

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The Cubs have looked good the last two days behind a resurgent Alfonso Soriano (10 for his last 15 with three home runs), but at seven games under .500, they're still far from praiseworthy.

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Jim Hendry is actively trying to trade Jacque Jones, says Fox Sports. With Felix Pie now installed in centerfield after showing better plate discipline at Iowa, either Jones, Cliff Floyd or Matt Murton will have to be moved. Jones, with his -2.7 VORP, is the obvious choice, but with $9 million left on his contract isn't an easy guy to peddle.

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7:05 game tonight on WGN. Lilly vs. Vargas.