What to do about the Cubs offense?

Ok, its pretty obvious the Cubs offense is struggling, to say the least.  After leading the NL and finishing second in the majors in runs scored in 2008, the Cubs are currently 13th in runs scored in 2009.  In 2008, the Cubs averaged 5.3 runs per game.  This year they are averaging only 4.4 runs per game.

One obvious problem is injuries.  Missing Aramis Ramirez has definitely hurt, but even some of the “healthy” players are nursing injuries.  Geo Soto has shoulder issues.  Alfonzo Soriano has a sore knee.

Another problem is players not hitting as well as expected.  Between 2007 and 2008, Mike Fontenot hit .291 with 12 hrs in 477 ab’s.  This year he is only hitting .232.  After his career year in 2005, Derek Lee has not hit more than 22 hr’s in a season and is only on pace for about 18 hr’s this year.  Milton Bradley appears to be a free agent bust, hitting only .218 and showing his same injury prone tendencies.

Thus, out of the regulars, only Ryan Theriot and the platoon of Fukudome/Johnson are producing so far (and we all know what happened to Fukudome in the second half of last year).

So, we can see that we have a problem, how can we fix it?  Do we give more playing time to Jake Fox, who was mashing in the minors, but is lacking a position on defense?  Do we wait until Ramirez comes back from his shoulder injury and hope that he provides the Cubs with an offensive spark?  Do we trade for some outside help (DeRosa, Holliday)?  Do we pray to “Jobu” and hope Cerrano, oops, I mean Soriano lays off the outside curveball?

Here’s what I think the Cubs should do:

1. Put Fox at third and Fontenot back at second.  Fox may be poor defensively at third, but hopefully his hitting will make up for it.  This will put Scales back on the bench as a utility player, late inning defensive replacement, where he belongs.
2. Give this switch a few weeks to see what happens.  If Fox is able to add a little life to the offense, the Cubs should be OK and can wait for Ramirez’s return.  If Fox doesn’t hit or is atrocious at third, then the Cubs should pursue a player like DeRosa (Cleveland may be ready to sell at that point) who can play multiple positions and fill in for the slumping or injured players.

What do you all think?  Is there another option I may have missed?  Let me know you thoughts in the comments.