Who will stay? Who will go? The MLB non-waiver trade deadline is 3:00pm CDT this afternoon. Will Jim Hendry be a player? Or just stand-pat and finish the season with his poorly constructed roster?

Ted Lilly is in play, so is Ryan Theriot ... and he told friends Friday he feels he will be traded at some point before the deadline. Teams have asked about Carlos Zambrano and Sean Marshall. While the rumors are flying, the Cubs have been very, very quiet.

Will Saturday have has much activity throughout the league as Thursday and Friday? Welcome to the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline.

Game One Hundred Three - Cubs 2 Rockies 17
WP - Jeff Francis (4-3) LP - Ryan Dempster (8-8) Save - None

The 2010 version of the Chicago Cubs keep finding embarrassing ways to lose a ballgame. Just when you thought you've seen it all, Lou Piniella's pathetic excuse for a baseball team takes the field.

The Rockies turned a 5-2 advantage in the eighth into a 17-2 drubbing ... and all 12 runs were scored with two outs. The Rockies batted around twice and ripped 11 straight hits with two outs. In the process the Rockies set a Major League record with the 11 straight hits off of Sean Marshall, Andrew Cashner and Brian Schlitter.

The Rockies pounded out 13 hits in another nightmarish eighth inning and scored five runs off Marshall in 2/3 off an inning, six off Cashner and one off Schlitter before the Cubs could record the third out of the inning.

Ryan Dempster had another bad start against the Rockies. Dempster left in the fifth without recording an out. In his shortest outing of the season, Dempster allowed five runs on seven hits with five walks and five strikeouts. Dempster struggled with his command once again and threw 105 pitches in four-plus innings.

Dempster was sharp the first time through the lineup but seemingly fell apart after allowing Jeff Francis' first hit of the season. Francis ended an 0-for-16 skid and scored the first run of the game.

While Sean Marshall and Andrew Cashner had their worst outings of the season, James Russell was extremely good in relief of Ryan Dempster.

The Cubs offense disappeared again. Tyler Colvin drove in one of the Cubs' two runs with a triple in the sixth. The Cubs managed only four hits and two walks ... and have clearly quit.

Starlin Castro was a loud 0-for-4 Friday night.

Ryan Theriot was pulled as part of a double-switch in the fifth and started the speculation he had been traded. Theriot is still a Cub ... and so is Ted Lilly.

The Cubs dropped back to 11 games under .500 on the year (46-57) with their third loss in a row. The Cubs have been outscored in their last three games by a score of 31-4 ...

Game One Hundred Three: Cubs (46-56) vs. Rockies (52-50)
Game Time - 8:10pm CDT
Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 188
Location - Coors Field, Denver

Ryan Dempster (8-7, 3.71/1.28) vs. Jeff Francis (3-3, 4.56/1.33)

Updated - 5:44pm CDT - Carlos Zambrano Reinstated from restricted list - Bobby Howry granted Unconditional Release

Lou's crew returns to the field tonight after spending Thursday making their way to Denver.

Carlos Zambrano is expected to be activated before game time. Zambrano has completed his anger management classes and could see his first action since June 25 at the Cell. Zambrano will join the Cubs' pen and Brian Schlitter is expected to return to Iowa to make room on the active roster.

The Cubs won both games against the Rockies in mid-May at Wrigley ... and will miss both Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez this weekend.

The Rockies have not played to expectations this season. And as the non-waiver trade deadline nears, the Rockies could be buyers as easy as sellers. The Rockies are rumored to have interest in acquiring Ryan Theriot. Will Jim Hendry make a deal with Colorado that includes Theriot before 3:00pm CDT on Saturday?

Tonight it all begins with Ryan Dempster ...

According to a report from Ken Rosenthal, the Dodgers are "talking to the Cubs about a trade for both Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot."

The Cubs organization liked what the saw in Michael Brenly so much they drafted him twice. The Cubs picked Brenly the first time in the 43rd round back in 2005 then took him again in the 36th round three years later.

Brenly is the son of Len Kasper's broadcast partner and one of the candidates to succeed Lou Piniella in the Cubs dugout. Michael's father Bob, a former Major League catcher and part-time third baseman, is currently in his second stint in the Cubs broadcast booth.

The Cubs squads in Iowa, Tennessee, and Daytona are all playing well. Third overall pick in the 2007 MLB Draft Josh Vitters is out with a broken hand. The injury to Vitters led to a number of roster moves throughout the organization. One Cubs minor league manager will be at the helm in the Arizona Fall League. One Smokies hurler earned a Pitcher of the Week award. Jeff Samardzija goes deep, Z gets roughed up, and the Daytona Cubs have won ten straight.

All that and more in today's Down on the Farm Report.

Game One Hundred Two - Cubs 1 Astros 8
WP - Bud Norris (3-7) LP - Randy Wells (5-8) Save - None

For the second game in a row the Cubs pathetic offense managed only one run. One bleepin' run against Bud Norris and company. The Cubs have scored only two runs in the last nine innings and lost for the eighth time to the Houston Astros this season (4-8).

Randy Wells clearly did not have it early on. While Wells did not allow a run and surrendered only one hit through the first five innings, Wells tied a season-high with four walks before crumbling in the sixth.

The beginning of the end for the Cubs was Wells' fifth free pass of the game (a new season high, or low). Wells walked Lance Berkman to lead off the sixth ahead of a double by Hunter Pence and the first of two, two-run homers by Carlos Lee.

Wells left with two outs in the sixth after surrendering three runs on five hits with five walks and four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

The Astros broke out the lumber over the last three innings. Houston scored three in the sixth, two in the seventh and tacked on three more in the eighth. 12 of the Astros' 13 hits came from the sixth inning on.

While Brad Mills' offense was hitting the cover off the ball, Lou's offense could not take advantage of early opportunities. The Cubs scored their only run in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Aramis Ramirez ... 0-for-8 with RISP and nine left on base.

Carlos Lee proved he is still a Cubs' killer Wednesday afternoon. Joey Votto has just about taken Lee's crown, but Lee almost single handedly beat the Cubs Wednesday afternoon: 2-for-4 with two, two-run home runs, two runs scored and four RBI.

The Cubs mailed another one in this afternoon ... and it all began with the manager's starting lineup.

With the loss, the Cubs fell back to 10 games under .500 at 46-56 on the season. Wednesday's defeat was also their 30th against the NL Central. The Chicago Cubs are 19-30 versus the division, 27-26 against the rest of baseball ... and the biggest problem has been their head-to-head match ups against the Astros and Pirates. The Cubs are 7-17 versus the two teams under them in the standings and 39-39 against the rest of baseball.

Game One Hundred Two: Cubs (46-55) vs. Astros (41-59)
Game Time - 1:05pm CDT
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Minute Maid Park, Houston

Randy Wells (5-7, 4.07/1.37) vs. Bud Norris (2-7, 6.08/1.61)

Can the Chicago Cubs win a series against the Houston Astros? After a good performance behind Carlos Silva Monday night, the Cubs were all but shut out on Tuesday ... can they beat the young Bud Norris in his first career start against them this afternoon?

If the Astros pull out the win today it will mark Houston's fourth straight series win against the Cubs this season (4-7 on the year) ... the first time Astros have accomplished the feat since 1981. Yes, that is how bad the Cubs have played against Houston this season.

Following Tuesday's loss, Lou indicated a couple of his regulars would receive the day off. Couple that with Geovany Soto likely out again today and his under performing lineup could be even worse this afternoon.

Today it all starts with Randy Wells ...

According to a report from Bruce Levine, the Twins "have been the most aggressive team in their pursuit of Ted Lilly." But the Dodgers may have found a way to squeeze in the $5.5 million left on Lilly's contract.

According to Levine, "look for Minnesota and the Dodgers to be front-runners for Ted Lilly as teams make their final pitch to make a deal with the Cubs in the next 72 hours."

Game One Hundred One - Cubs 1 Astros 6
WP - Brett Myers (8-6) LP - Andrew Cashner (1-4) Save - None

Once again Ted Lilly did everything he could to post a win ... and once again the offense gave him zero support. In what was likely Ted Lilly's last game in a Cubs' uniform he left with two outs in the sixth after not allowing a run.

Ted Lilly entered Tuesday night with the lowest run support in all of baseball ... and the Cubs' pathetic offense did not disappoint. Lilly received a no decision and gave up just five hits with three walks and eight strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Lilly threw 113 pitches, 67 for strikes.

The Cubs' offense (and that word is used loosely) totaled two hits and one was of the infield variety in the first eight innings off Brett Myers. Tyler Colvin broke up the shut out with his 16th homer in the ninth. Starlin Castro followed with the Cubs' fourth hit of the game. The Cubs managed only five baserunners against Myers in nine innings. Tyler Colvin and Aramis Ramirez were the only two Cubs to make solid contact.

Three Cubs reached base in nine innings ... Tyler Colvin, Marlon Byrd and Starlin Castro. Brett Myers dominated the Chicago Cubs and made them look foolish once again.

The game changed on a single pitch from Andrew Cashner in the seventh. Cashner hit Humberto Quintero on a 0-2 pitch to start the inning. Before it was all said and done, the Astros scored six runs on just two hits off Cashner in the seventh ... by far the worst outing of his young career.

Lance Berkman hit his fifth career grand slam off Cashner in the seventh ... and capped another ugly inning for the Cubs in 2010. The Astros scored six runs on just two hits off Cashner. Cashner also hit a pair of batters and walked two, one intentional, in the debacle.

The Cubs lost to the Astros for the seventh time in 11 games.

With the loss, Lou's crew slipped back to nine games under .500 with a 46-55 record.

Game One Hundred One: Cubs (46-54) vs. Astros (40-59)
Game Time - 7:05pm CDT
Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 186
Location - Minute Maid Park, Houston

Ted Lilly (3-8, 3.88/1.12) vs. Brett Myers (7-6, 3.24/1.26)

Can the Cubs beat the Astros on back-to-back days and win a series against Houston? Ted Lilly was supposed to be dealt by now. Several reports had Lilly on his way out of town by the end of last weekend, but Lilly made the trip to Houston and will suit up once again tonight.

Tonight is a rematch of the game last Wednesday at Wrigley. Lilly dominated the Astros while Brett Myers did the same against the Cubs. Both received a no decision and the Cubs lost in extras but they could not hit with RISP. Sound familiar?

Brett Myers has not lost at home this year and loves facing the Chicago Cubs.

Koyie Hill should get the start behind the plate tonight. Geovany Soto left Monday's game after fouling a ball off his foot. Piniella said he is questionable for tonight's game and they would like to get him back in by Wednesday ... Friday at the latest in Denver.

From the Rumor Mill
Dave Kaplan had plenty of tidbits during the Cubs' 10th inning Show (WGN Radio) Monday night. According to Kaplan, the Cubs have been trying to trade Carlos Silva but he is owed too much money and many feel he will return to the pitcher that he was in Seattle.

The Cubs tried to trade Kosuke Fukudome to the Nationals in June. According to Kaplan, they were willing to send $2 million of his remaining salary for this season and half of his 2011 salary (Fukudome is owed $13.5 million in 2011) and the Nationals said "no."

Kaplan is hearing Tyler Colvin or Aramis Ramirez could be the Cubs' first baseman next season ... Derrek Lee will not be back.

Despite starting at Iowa, when Jeff Samardzija returns to the big league team it will be as a reliever not as a starter. There is talk the Cubs will move Andrew Cashner back to the starting rotation.

In other news ... Keith Moreland will be back in the booth with Pat Hughes for the remainder of the series in Houston.

Tonight it all begins with Ted Lilly ...

Come one, come all. Come on down with your money and old junk no one wants. In fact, bring some of that new junk no one cares about either. It is time for the event of the year. The Cubs fire sale starts today!

After close to four months of what can be best described as painfully worse-than-mediocre baseball, the Cubs are preparing for the future. The window of time has come ... and gone. And again, it included ZERO World Championships for our beloved Cubs. So it is time to move on and start anew. Somehow the world just smells better today.