CHICAGO — Is the Cubs' cup half empty?
Twenty games in, they've won consecutive games only twice and remain mired in the middle of the National League Central.
Or, is it half full?
Given their recent siege of injuries, many consider it remarkable that they have been able to remain at the .500 level.
Either way, they think the start of a four-game series with NL East-leading Florida, and of a six-game homestand, is the time to start pouring a little more into that cup.
"This wasn't a good trip for us," Ryan Dempster said after the conclusion of a 2-4 trek with Wednesday's 10-0 blowout loss in Arizona. "It's time to get back home and start playing some good baseball, to get back on track."
Aramis Ramirez may not ride those rails for a while. The third baseman, inactive since sustaining a calf injury on Friday in St. Louis, will again try running during early Wrigley Field workouts. If that test does not go any better than a similar dry run on Tuesday in Phoenix, the Cubs will put him on the disabled list and recall Bobby Scales from Triple-A Iowa.
"We've gone as far as we can without an extra infielder," said manager Lou Piniella. "It's decision time. If we have to do something, we'll bring up Scales. He's been in the Minor Leagues a long time, and it'll be a wonderful opportunity for him."
Scales, 31, has appeared in 992 games during a decade-long Minor League career. He has yet to appear in a Major League game.