Table setters!

You absolutely have to love that -- Soriano and Theriot on base TEN times...outstanding!

Too bad the 3/4 hitters weren't. Jeez. These guys are paid to put runs on the board and put the bat on the ball hard.

Dempster was aces. Pitched a great game, changing speeds and keeping the free swinging Brewers off balance. Hopefully Harden can do the same. This would be a huge sweep.

I agree with Mojo -- Reed Johnson in the five spot was a great idea. Not just because he did well tonight, but because it helps roll the lineup differently. I like Fukudome in the 7 spot and would put Soto in the 8 spot. DeRosa is fine as the 6 guy because he can do a lot of things and is a decent clutch hitter. Strikes out a lot less than Soto. If Fontenot plays, bat HIM fifth...

Too bad that the Braves folded against the Cardinals. Almost as if they didn't even try to win the last couple of games.

Glad to see Sutcliffe back. He looked great, and as always did a good job.

I'm posting tonight, because who knows what tomorrow morning will bring. A flood?

js

Fire!

So, at 5am this morning (fortunately I was already up) the hotel I'm in here in St. Pete apparently catches on fire. Not unlike the Cubs! But I'm not going to talk about the Cubs because I am very happy about everything that has to do with them right now and I just want the good karma to continue.

So. Where was I? Oh, yes. On the sidewalk with 1200 other people. I'd say that 1199 of them were pretty sleepy. At 5am. By the way, people don't look so good when they haven't had a chance to "freshen up."

Major alarm went off. I could smell the smoke when I opened my door. Voice comes over some loud speaker saying (I'm paraphrasing here) "Get out!"

Two and a half hours later they let us back in. It was like being in an episode of Rescue Me. Some electrical something or other. By then, I didn't really have time to update the old bloggeroo.

Weird, huh? I miss the earthquake and almost burn up in a Hilton in Florida. Well, I didn't almost burn up, but whatever. At least the TV works and tonight is televised.

Go Dempster. Go Cubs!

Who's Smitty?

JS

Good thing we have a heart doctor in the group

These guys are going to cause all kinds of cardiac problems before it's over.

Just when I think Lee is no longer clutch, he gets a couple of big hits.

Note to Alfonso. Good game. Run them all out, bozo.

Soto has to put the ball in play with runners on base and one out. Whiffs in that situation are unacceptable.

Fukudome is hitting .205 in July. With a ton of strikeouts. Not good.

I'm glad Lilly's game is out of the way -- he was the one I was most worried about.

Can anyone explain to me why we don't try to steal second base on Jason Kendall every time we can? He couldn't throw out Mark DeCarlo on a pitchout.

There is no timetable now on Kari Wood's return. Great.

When I threw out the idea of Dempster back to the closer role? It was food for thought. You know, discussion fodder. Still...if the other starters are getting it done, and we can't close games...it is an option. (That doesn't make me borderline retarded)

I'd bat Kosuke 9th tonight with Zambrano pitching -- or not play him at all. I like Fontenot against Sheets better. Leave DeRosa in right for a while.

I thought Theriot was safe at first.

Marmol looked good last night...for a welcome change. Still didn't like the walk of Kendall...he's a guy you have to make hit his way on, but he looked sharp and did his job.

I'm a fan of Howry, but every pitch he threw last night was a fastball. Um, Bobby? Mix it up a little.

Look for the Brewers to add bullpen help before Thursday.

js

Have you seen enough?

Anyone? Anyone?

Our biggest problem? We get shut down by nobody pitchers far too often. Sure, the good ones are supposed to hold you in check, but you've got to beat up on the second tier pitchers out there and we don't do it -- at least enough.

Harden is the best 5 or 6 inning pitcher I've ever seen. If he'd have gone to a team with a bullpen and that could score some runs? Wow...guy could be a twenty five game winner. Of course, he didn't, and now he's 0 -1 with two no decisions in the NL. With an era of next to nothing and 30K's in three games.

Umm, note to Larry Rothschild. Hermida can hit. Pitch around him since no one else in that lineup can.

Note to Billy Beane. Matt Murton is now hitting .110 in the AL. Yikes. I feel bad for Matt.

Dodgers improved themselves slightly with the acquisition of Casey Blake. Got someone they needed to fill a gap.

Cubs announced that they will not make any more deals before the trading deadline. Good thing to announce. Even if it's true, why say that? To let the Brewers know that they can back off?

We've lost 7 of ten and looked pretty shabby doing it. I know all you Koolaid Kids think we're just fine and it's just a little slump -- nothing to worry about. But I worry about it. That early season energy we had? Seems sapped, to me.

Hey, was that Fukudome in the 8 spot yesterday? Didn't I suggest that? Do you think Lou is reading the blog? And it worked. Damn. Some instant credibility for the blog.

Doc Raker went off on Howry citing stats, but Howry's numbers are heavily tainted by his April and May -- which did blow. He's been much better than that...until this last week or so, which I still blame on overuse and misuse of the bullpen.

Food for thought. If Zambrano, Harden, Lilly and Marquis continue to pitch well -- and if Marshall is an adequate option for the five starter, why not put Dempster back in the closer role to finish the season? Hmm? Let Carrie Wood work as a set up guy, if he can come back at all from that debilitating blister owee. Think about it before you answer. Plus, if a guy can go 11-4 as a starter and then get maybe 20+ saves....Cy Young?

More later, perhaps, after today's game. Or not. Depends.

Do ya really?

Do you really think that this team, standing pat, is good enough to win the world series?

Good enough to hold off the Brewers and Cardinals? Good enough to beat the Brewers head to head?

Good enough to win the NLCS against perhaps a resurgent Met team, or Phillies, or Diamondbacks (who seem to have our number)?

Good enough to beat the American League representative in the WS? The Red Sox? The Angels? The White Sox?

Really? Do you really believe that?

I've been watching, too, and I am very skeptical.

Nice to get a win yesterday and hold off the Brewers for at least another day. They just swept the Cardinals, in St. Louis. Not easy to do. Scarelos Marmol was at it again. Loaded them up in the ninth to make it interesting.

Interesting story. Ryne Sandberg's team got into a brawl with the class A Reds yesterday and 17 players were ejected. Ryno was at a HOF ceremony and missed it. When the cat's away, I suppose. Good read if you can find it.

I like Reed Johnson and I have grown to like Jim Edmonds -- but I'd still figure out a way to get Nate McClouth from the Pirates. First of all, he's a Pirate, which means he is available, and second...he can play.

that's all for now. Surely I'll respond to some of your fascinating commentary later on.

js

blogblogblog

I wasn't going to write anything this morning. What to say? Howry needs a rest? Welcome back Soriano?

Glad that we salvaged a win in the desert. Hurray for us. The Brewers just swept the Cards. CC three hit shutout yesterday. Footsteps?

Glad that we're headed home, even if it's for a short series with the fish. Need to win this series. Have the right pitchers to do it.

Once again I call out DLee and he responds with a dinger. Therefore, I officially say "trade him if he doesn't have at least two hits tonight."

Ramirez got a hit last night. That makes him what? 1 for July?

Did I hear that Kerry Wood is going to see a blister specialist for his owee?

I still think that we need to make a blockbuster trade.

more later. or not.

js

When to panic?

Another feeble offensive outing for the team.

Soriano will most likely be back tonight, but that's a lot of pressure on one guy...and a streaky guy at that. Once again, Lee/Ramirez/Soto -- big O'fer. Give them all a day off. Play Hoffpauir, Ward, whoever...it's hard to watch the way it is right now. Lee doesn't even seem to care. I am sure that he does -- it just doesn't show. Another rally killing double play? Aw, shucks. Oh, well, back to first.

Another well pitched game wasted. Marquis did just fine. Quality start by today's standards. Bullpen blew.

Here's a thought. Trade Lee and some minor league talent for Mark Teixeira. Shake things up a bit. Add some LH power. Thoughts?

Well, at least we are still in first. For now. At least for another day or two. Lou had better figure out a way to win on the road, or this season is going to go down the tubes quickly.

Go Cubs. Let's score some runs.

js

What a waste

I feel bad for Rich Harden that we can't score even one run for him in a game like that. Middle of the order -- Lee, Ramirez, Soto, DeRosa go 0 for 14...ouch.

Here's the thing about the Cubs, and it's the same as last year. We are a very good hitting team...against BAD pitching. We are a poor hitting team against GOOD pitching. The DBacks proved that last year in the playoffs. Problem is that when you get to the playoffs? The other guys all have good pitching. Oops.

First and second with none out in the ninth and the "big guys" coming up. What do we get out of that? Nothing. I don't know about the rest of you...but I am concerned.

Need another gem from Marquis tonight...that's a lot of pressure on the pitchers...

js

Thoughts

1. Nice to win ONE GAME in Houston
2. Dempster did a terrific job...again.
3. Theriot should bat lead off all year
4. Despite the 2 opposite field doubles, Fukudome needs to bat 7th
5. Soto needs a few days off
6. How are we going to get Fontenot at bats when Soriano returns? I think we won't.
7. Edmonds continues to hit and play hurt. If he hadn't been a Cardinal in his past life, you'd have to like the guy.
8. Can we hold off the Cards and Brewers? Those guys both score about 9 runs a game.
9. Brewers add Ray Durham. Thoughts?
10. Kerry Wood. Man or myth?

Where's the offense?

Is this it? Is this when the entire offense chokes? Is Theriot the only one on the team who can hit besides Zambrano? What the hell?

Where's that early season patience? What happened to making starters work?

We probably can't toss 70 shutouts between now and the end of the season. Just my guess. Wake up offense. Where's Gerald Perry? Or didn't he have anything to do with our early season offense success?

Those were not two dominating pitching on the Astro's. But we made them look that way.

Yikes.

Can you hear the footsteps?

One comment

We can't have our 2,3,4 hitters going 0 for 12. Fukudome is starting to look like an old Japanese man. Drop him to seven in the order immediately. He's killing us in the two hole.

The Mets?

Does the national league need to worry about the Mets? What's that now? Ten in a row? Thoughts?

I found the bright side to the All Star game loss. If the Angels and Cubs are in the world series, I have four local games, potentially.

We need to figure out a way to get Nate McClouth. Period. He'd be the perfect centerfielder for the Cubs for the next ten years. Give the Pirates Pie, Cedeno, Hill...whatever...get that done. They won't be able to afford him, anyway -- get him now. Don't wait. He fills the position we need and provides the LH bat we need. Now. I mean it. Really. Before someone else steals him from the Pirates.

I am okay with Eyre, Cotts and Marshall as the LH bullpen team (with Marshall getting spot starts and long relief work) -- everyone is hot on this Fuentes from Colorado, but they'll want a lot for him and it's not that big a difference. If Marmol returns to form, it shouldn't matter much, as that makes all the lefties "situational" anyhow.

This just in. Tony Gwynn is still fat. He just ate CC Sabathia. They needed a shoehorn to get him into that Padre cap.

Seriously, where were Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan for the All Star festivities? Anybody know? Why wouldn't Morgan show up for that? Didn't want to have to stand in Sandberg's shadow?

Ted Williams' son called about attending the ASG. Said "I'll bring Dad if you want. He's cold as ice and good to go." When told "no thanks" he offered to bring just the head. After great deliberation, Bud Selig decided against it. Williams' head remains in a cryogenic locker in Arizona.

In unrelated All Star news, Joe Pepitone continued his all star weekend tradition of getting drunk, proclaiming himself a "misunderstood all star" and receiving a dry hump from a 71 year old waitress known only as "Sharky."

Remember way back when? When Smitty had a blog? Earth to Smitty. Come in, Smitty.

Well, that's enough for now. Thank goodness games start up again today. Let's not have any more long breaks, okay. At least until after the series.

JS

Bring on the second half

I'm ready. For a big second half. We need to come out with some wins right out of the gate at Houston...

I'm really not sure who should be our number 5. Marquis has been lights out lately, and probably deserves to stay there. Marshall has been great, too, but can work out of the pen, too, and probably should. I don't see any reason to trade a pitcher...or for a pitcher...at this point.

The position players seem set to me, too. Who would you replace? I can't see making any big moves. Maybe some small moves for bench strength?

The key to the second half...and our entire season really rests on the shoulders of two men. Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood. If these two can pitch well...and not blow games...we have a legit chance to go real far, if not all the way. I think Howry is back from some early season problems, and I like the way he pitches. We could add a lefty to the pen (Fuentes?) but I don't think it's necessary if Marshall can do it. Plus Marshall can and will spot start...

Rumor is that Jeff Samarjhsh, er, Samjarz, er Samarjida, er -- the guy from Notre Dame...is pitching real well at AAA and could be an impactful September call up. That'd be interesting.

If anyone is missing? Anywhere? Tony Gwynn ate them.

Is Tim McCarver still talking?

Sherm

Special morning after the All Star Game Edition of the Blog

Dear God,

Please tell me that McCarver has stopped talking. I turned the TV off, but I think I can still hear him.

Rule change number one for all star game -- free substitution. They are all "All Stars" so why not? Give a guy who only batted once another chance to bat...for say, Dan Uggla, who was O for NY with twenty two left on and nine errors. Would have been nice for ARam to bat again, instead of Guzman six times, no?

I think it would have been fun had they been forced to allow position players to pitch.

Fukudome and Soto did not have good games. Cub pitching did look good, however.

What's with the stupid flat billed hat? And why can't some people wear them straight? Hats were meant to be worn straight. Not off to one side. That's idiotic.

Bottom line last night? AL had better players on the bench than the NL did. Drew, Kinsler, Young, Quenten, etc. were far better players than Guzman, Hart, Uggla, etc.

Thanks, baseball. Now it's going to be a long day.

Sherm

Special All Star Edition of the Blog

Just watched the introductions for the All Star game. What a load of crap.

First of all, Yankee Stadium is moving across the street, it isn't dying. Secondly, where was Johnny Bench? And Joe Morgan?

At first I thought it was odd that there was only one HOF centerfielder, but then I realized that there had been more, but Tony Gwynn ate them.

And I'm pretty sure they fucked up and forgot the catchers for a moment.

Maybe I'm watching too much American Idol, but I thought that Sheryl Crow was a little pitchy in the middle.

This just in. Men wearing suits and baseball caps look like doofuses.

Steinbrenner just got introduced to a "Standing Eh." And why is the guy from "Tora Tora Tora" sitting in front of him?

My prediction for ASG MVP? Jim Edmonds.

Enough. Start the second half already. I want real baseball.

Sherm

Off day

Nothing more depressing than the newspaper during the all star break. I happen to like box scores and one over a three day period is weak. And it's one that doesn't even matter. Yawn.

I am here in the Twin Cities (no, not where the Buss's live -- different twins) -- and will watch the game tonight from the comfort of a hotel room.

Saw ESPN last night doing some recap stuff on the home run derby (yawn again) and the upcoming game. I have one thing to say about that. WHOEVER DECIDED THAT ERIC YOUNG SHOULD SPEAK PUBLICLY NEEDS TO BE FIRED. What a moron! And he has a great voice, too. The lollipop guild must really miss him.

After ten minutes of listening to them discuss whether or not Josh Hamilton should have used a different strategy to try to win the home run derby, it dawned on me that I didn't give a shit.

I did hear that Clint Hurdle said his "strategy" for the All Star game is not to take Albert Pujols out of the lineup. He'll DH all game. More at bats for Albert. That's it. That's the strategy. Brilliant.

I hope that Cliff Lee is out of the game before Fukudome bats. He can't hit lefties anyway, and Lee will make him look real bad.

I hope it doesn't come down to Marmol having to save the game, either.

All this talk about the eight Cub all stars. Let's take a look.

1. Soriano. Injured. Really doesn't deserve the spot.
2. Wood. Injured. Debatable whether or not he's deserving. Too many give backs for me.
3. Dempster. Probably deserving, but can't pitch because he went almost 7 innings two days ago.
4. Zambrano. Deserving.
5. Ramirez. Maybe he deserves it, although he's not having his best year.
6. Marmol. Come on. No way. Should be on a minor league "get your head out of your ass" stint. (See Rich Hill)
7. Fukudome. Hitting about .280 with little power. Looks real bad against lefties. He's in because he's Japanese. Face it. Chicago fans like the head bands.
8. Soto. Deserving. I don't know if he deserves to start -- there are still some pretty good Molina's in the league...but whatever. He's had a nice half, especially for a rookie.

Theriot and DLee probably deserve to be there more than some of the others.

The all star game should be like the pro bowl. Played at the end of the year by the players who have the best seasons. Don't let the fans vote. Fans are idiots. Make it statistical.

Whatever. Go NL. If we make it that far, it'd be nice to have home field.

JS

What a weekend

I decided to post the whole weekend rant at once, since I was gone (like a freight train -- that's a hint) for most of it.

We could have lost all three games, despite great starting pitching in two of them. God awful bullpen work for the most part, with the exceptions being Marshall (who totally was a stud in yesterday's game, including the hit to start the game winning rally) and Howry...who right now is the man in the pen and should be used as such. Gaudin did a good job, too. Marmol blows right now and should have declined the All-Star bid. I personally think he needs to be sent down for a couple of weeks to straighten out whatever the fuck is wrong with him. Have a nice All Star game, Cardiac Carlos, now go to Iowa for two weeks.

Kardiac Kerry has a boo boo. Man up, already. That's no excuse.

Theriot needs to work on his throwing arm, yes, but you know what? Little guy keeps getting two hits a game and he can throw a few away every now and again. He's playing great, and keeps getting better offensively. I like him in the leadoff spot.

Man, can Fukudome look shitty at bat sometimes or what?

Harden was awesome, and deserved the victory. Welcome to Chicago, Rich. That's how it goes here. It's your own fault for not going deeper into the game, I suppose.

Nice weekend by Jim Edmonds. Wow, Mojo...he's doing pretty well, isn't he? You might have to start saying nice things about him before much longer.

Why didn't Zambrano start today? So that he can pitch Tuesday night? That's ridiculous. This was his spot in the rotation.

We just went 4 and 2 at home...and it wasn't easy. We've got to hang onto leads, and save the bullpen for when we need them (later in the season) -- wearing them out now saving games that are 7 - 2 in the ninth is going to take a toll. Fire Larry Rothschild now and hire Orel Hershiser. There. I said it.

Have a great All Star break. Root for the NL so that we get home field for the series!

js

Good news and bad news

Bad news, obviously, is that the Reds kicked the shit out of us. Should win games when you score seven runs.

Good news is that Theriot and Fontenot continue to hit.

Fukudome needs a break -- he's playing like a tired old Japanese guy right now. Too bad Fontenot can't play some outfield.

Marquis has had a long layoff between starts...that usually doesn't bode well for a sinkerballer. I hope that he can get through the first few innings without getting roughed up. If so, he'll be fine.

Harden tomorrow. That should be exciting. Wish I was gonna be at the game. If he blows the Giants away, the whole place will shower him with love.

So. Is it fair to say that the Central will come down to the Cubs and Brewers, or is that prematurely dismissing the Cardinals? Anyone think that they can hang in it all season?

Anyone with any hot trade rumors? I see the Mets and/or Phillies making some moves. What's next for the Cubs? Will Hendry stand pat?

Thoughts?

Have a great 7/11. Good day to go to Vegas.

js

Slowly pull away

I wish that Zambrano hadn't given up that homer to Adam Dunn -- if nothing else, it might have spared us the ninth that was. Should have brought in Gaudin instead of Marmol. He was warming up, for one, and it was a perfect night for an appearance...the Wrigley faithful would have given him a lot of love. Plus, who needed to see the tying run come to the plate. I was listening to Ron and Pat, and I thought Santo was going to have a heart attack. In fact, he said "I don't need this. I can't take this. This one was going so well."

Again with the walks. Marmol gets two quick outs. One infield hit. Two walks an voila...Wood is forced into the game. Bad for the heart, yes. Also bad for the closer. Every game that Wood has to warm up is the same as a game that he goes in -- for his arm.

Somebody asked Gaudin what he remembered working for Lou in Tampa -- and his answer was "he doesn't like walks. He'd get real pissed if you walked people." Hopefully, the kid gets it.

Zambrano was lights out yesterday -- more important than just giving up one hit? No walks. Great game, Z. Lilly can win today and we have three guys with ten wins before the break. Not too shabby.

Thanks, Colorado, for beating Ben Sheets. Sweet.

Thanks, Philly, for beating the Cards. Sweet.

Slowly pull away. That's my strategy. And no...it's not a shower thing.

Have a great day, all...

Okay with the time today, Doc?

js

THE trade

I am happy with this deal

1. Harden, if healthy, is a stud, frontline pitcher. Let's hope he stays healthy. Gallagher is a tough loss, but it's certainly worth it.

2. Gaudin is a major league relief pitcher -- pitched for Lou in Tampa and might be able to help our pen right now.

3. Murton gets a chance to play -- and should do well in the A's system.

4. LilPat? Good riddance. Hope he can find Oakland. Maybe he'll fly to Auckland by mistake. Not the brightest family.

5. Soto should be our catcher for the next ten years...so giving up a minor league catcher is no big deal.

6. XM. It just doesn't make sense.

7. So what now? Are we done? The Brewers say that they are not...I see them going after more bullpen help. What do we need?

8. If you are the Cardinals, are your panties in a bunch?

9. Just to further piss off the entire state of Wisconsin, the Bears should sign Brett Favre.

10. Dempster now 10 and 0 at home. Sweet. Is he our first half MVP? I think so. I would also consider Soto, Theriot, Ramirez and yes, Wood, for that honor.

Well...enough for now...

js

Not much to add

To yesterday's commentary -- although I agree with myself that we will now go and overcompensate by trading away too much for too little to convince ourselves that we didn't miss out on Sabathia. Look for Billy Beane to fleece us.

Who would I like to see us trade for? It's a short list, with Sabathia gone. I would not trade for a low rotation starter as we are good in those spots. I'd go after any of the following:

1. Roy Halladay -- we all know that Toronto isn't going to the playoffs. Once they realize it, will they part with the face of their franchise? He's a stud. Goes 7 or more innings in almost every start.

2. Roy Oswalt -- doubt that the Asstros would trade within the division, but stranger things have happened. He'd be a perfect complement to our rotation. Great pitcher's attitude.

3. Jeremy Guthrie from the Orioles. I just like this guy. He's underrated, and can be very dominating.

Otherwise, unless Seattle is selling Felix Hernandez or San Diego decides to give Jake Peavy his freedom...hold tight and let's see what happens. Don't overreact to Milwaukee's deal. But, oh wait...we're the Cubs. We'll overreact all right. Watch.

Have a great week...I'll be in the city of wind. No, not Paris. Not that kind of wind.

JS

Oh...I thought of another...Tim Hudson from the Braves. Having a good year. Good, smart pitcher, and we've always traded well with the Braves. Again, they have to face the fact that they are going nowhere.

Sabathia

More posts than comments, but what the hell.

If the Brewers get Sabathia, which is being rumored...and they get him for a great big bucket of nothing, or not much...I'll be pissed. We could have easily offered just as much nothing. In fact, I think we have more nothing than most teams. If we don't get him, at least we will have kept Felix Pie. Phew. Suddenly we are afraid of "mortgaging the future"? -- what future? We haven't won in a century. Memo to management. Win now. If you aren't trading away Zambrano, it's probably okay. Indians want young power. Give them Vitters. Give them Murton and a drum of 'roids.

The brighter side, if the Brewers get Sabathia? With him and Fielder on the same team? The other Brewers will starve. They will not be able to afford both Sabathia and enough food.

js

Today

Props to Sean Marshall who absolutely was a man today and shut down the Cards. Great job. I'd have left him in for another inning, but Cotts did the job, so whatever.

We hit, we pitched and we won. Should have been a sweep.

Great article today in the local paper about Roy Halladay. Has gotten 21 or more outs in like 90 percent of the games he starts. Lou seems to favor the six inning start, which I think is nuts, but hopefully will save our starters arms for later. Or something.

I do not retract this morning's comments. We need to add a piece or two to this team to get over the top and win this thing. Speculation is that Milwaukee has the farm to go get Sabathia. I would really hate to see that happen.

Today, I am just happy to end up with two of three. Should have been a sweep, but I need to let that go. We have nine more with the Cardinals and ten with the Brewers -- so this should be one hell of a fall baseball season.

Go Cubs.

Sherm

Yesterday

Yesterday. Title of Beatles song.

Yesterday. Nice day, for the most part. Spent some time in the sun. Did some afternoon imbibing and relaxing. Yep. Pretty decent day.

Nothing else really to talk about with regard to yesterday. Can't really think of anything that I would like to add to what I have already mentioned. Can't come up with a thing.

Except this.

You cannot fucking walk the first two batters you face and hope to be a closer for a championship team. You cannot cannot cannot cannot fucking do that. You have to throw strikes. That is the fucking key to being a closer, you numb nuts moron. I didn't watch the game, because I don't have one of those new fangled "get every game" kind of TV machines, but I am glad I didn't because I would have been slightly agitated by the happenings of the bottom of the ninth.

I'm sorry, Cub fans. This is not a championship team. I'd love to facilitate your (and my own) optimistic unreality that this team can be THE team to lead us to a World Series championship, but I am sorry to tell you that I have awaked and realized that this team cannot even get to the world series. Not as it sits. No way. Nope. Nyet. Nein. Nada. Will not happen. We keep playing like we have the last two weeks and we will end up third in our division.

But other than that, yesterday was lovely. Nice day. About 80 degrees, which is perfect. The pool water hit 83 thanks to the direct sunlight of the last few days. Played with the new puppy. Worked on the novel -- actually added a chapter, which is a lot for one day. And that was that. Today is another day. There is now a ton of pressure on Sean Marshall...and the Cardinals have to be sky high coming in. It will be tough for him to keep them from scoring a lot of runs early today. I hope that he can.

Welcome back, Aramis. Clutch homer. Too bad it counts for nothing. Should have been a game winner. Good thing I am not bitter about yesterday's loss, huh?

Happy Sunday, everyone.

Sherm (not at all upset about losing yesterday, as you can tell.)

Great win

Great game yesterday...exciting and well played. What was it that I'd said? That Zambrano would be on a pitch count and come out after six with a shutout? Hmmm...props to me.

Nice job by Bobby Howry. Anyone can (and has) given up a solo shot to Pujols...it was EVERYONE else that he pitched to that made the difference.

Very, very nice win.

Hopefully Lilly can keep it going today.

Long weekend for me which means bourbon and/or tequila, wine and cigars. Enjoy!

Sherm


(enough about baby poop already)

The season really starts tonight

If we are going to win this thing, and I think that we can -- we need to beat the Cards in St. Louis. Starting tonight. It's been a shit week or two, going 3 and 7, and thanks to the Mets and DBacks...we are still in first place. No complaints with being in first at this time of year...but we are the team to beat and we need to start pulling away.

I know that Doc R is a big fan of "slack", but Soto needs to hit six or seven. No higher than that until he shows greater plate discipline. Fukudome did better in the five spot than he has at the top of the order...at least against righties. Against certain lefties, big contract or not, I'd let him watch. Is it just me or does it seem that everytime that Fontenot starts to heat it up with the bat, he gets rewarded with extended time on the bench? How will he ever stay hot if he doesn't get the at bats? He'll play two or three games, and by the end of that, he's raking...and then he sits. I don't get that at all.

We'd be eight games up if we'd have gotten Barry Bonds back when I first suggested it. Maybe more. Me for GM.

Not a good time for Marmol to go completely insane. What's with him? Mental? Can he play centerfield? Can he hit?

Say what you will about Edmond's age or foot speed -- the guy has been a huge pickup and is a big reason that we are still in first and not looking up at the Cardinals.

Think that Zambrano is on a pitch count? I do. He'll come out after six with a shutout. Think the pen can hold it? We'll see. I'd bat him eighth just to do it.

I'll be back in Chicago next week -- might try to take in a Cubs - Reds game. Look for me, I will be the guy in a Cub shirt.

More later, I'm sure, as I am home all weekend. Happy Fourth of July to all. Have a safe holiday. God Bless America!

Sherm

Sorry for the delay between updates

It is wrong to wait too long between updates, massive or not.

Flew back from Perineum, FL last night, so missed the game. Doesn't sound like I missed much, although it reads like Marquis pitched well again. Hard to win the close ones without your primary hitters in the lineup. Soriano and Ramirez would have accounted for at least a chance to win the game. Lee is a lot less fearsome these days (Saturday notwithstanding) and a lot less powerful -- especially without someone behind him. And I know you all like Soto, but I still find his plate discipline atrocious. Yes, he hits some mistakes hard. Good for him. He needs to learn to hit good pitches, too, if he wants to hit in the five spot in the major leagues.

Was a steal of home really our undoing? Shame. Hard to blame that, though...we are supposed to be an offensive team and we should score more than one run in every game. Here's a question for you. DeRosa has a huge game in the five spot or six spot the night before. Huge. So why move him to the two hole where it's a change of batting philosophy? Why not let him stay in the middle of the lineup and try to drive in some more runs? Maybe it works, maybe not, but why not stick with it for another night?

Fukudome is no longer an unknown. I like the guy, but he's striking out a lot more now than he did early because the league is building a book on him. I prefer Theriot at the top of the order and Fukudome further down.

Non-Cub related note. I stayed at the same hotel in St. Pete that the Red Sox were at. Spoke to Manny and Mike Lowell yesterday morning and was surprised that Manny isn't bigger. I thought he was big, but he's not. Compact, yes, big, no. Lowell on the other hand, is a mountain. Big dude. Good guys, actually. Talkative and jocular. I half expected Manny to throw me down, but he was pleasant. I told them that I know a guy who knows Jose Canseco. They weren't impressed. They did want to know when Smitty would be updating his blog. Not really.

Back to Cub baseball. I am hoping that this is our midseason rut. That we've taken all the injury hits that we will take and that we will start to click again soon and pull away from the division. We need the big guns back and we need to make an intelligent deal or two after the break. Don't give away the future for a rent a player, but we need a guy or two that can push us over the top. Let's discuss, or argue about who those players are. Do we still want Brian Roberts? Is Sabathia the one? Do you want Maddux back for the stretch run? Randy Wolf? Brian Fuentes?

Here's what I think. I think we should have gotten Barry Bonds back when I first said it. Think we'd have lost last night with him in the lineup? I don't. Think we get swept by the Sux with him in the lineup? I don't. Think we get swept by the Rays with him in the lineup? I don't. You get my drift. It might be too late now...but I'd still like to have him on our bench and playing occasionally. But that's sour grapes at this point.

Speaking of sour grapes. Why didn't anyone else want Kyle Lohse? Why didn't we?

We need another starter. The young guys are doing well (the Seans) but we need another biggie. Get Sabathia if you can without mortgaging the next ten years. If you can't, find someone you can afford. But get another starter.

That's all for now. I have to go check Smitty's blog and see if it's been updated. Right.

js