Late September Updates from the Wire

The Cubs open the final series of the regular season on Friday night at Miller Park. The series in New York though took its typical toll on the Cubs....even Koyie Hill's reaction to the safe call on Ryan Church Thursday night brought up memories of images from years past. The Cubs played a solid series but that stadium has been trouble for the organization for many, many years.

Lou Piniella named Ryan Dempster the starter for Game One of the NLDS that begins on Wednesday at Wrigley. Dempster more than earned the nod.

Here are updates on Mark DeRosa and Ronny Cedeno. Could Carlos Zambrano pitch out of the pen this weekend? ....and the results from the MRI on Randy Wells that ended his season.

Mark DeRosa

According to a report in the Chicago Tribune, Mark DeRosa "might sit out the entire Milwaukee series for precautionary reasons." DeRosa missed Thursday with a "mildly strained left calf." The Sun-Times described DeRosa's injury as not being serious but stated the Cubs are being cautious due to the importance of DeRosa to the team.

Ronny Cedeno

The Cubs backup infielder was scratched from Thursday night's lineup "with a jammed right shoulder" according to a report in the Tribune. Cedeno suffered the injury when he dove head first into 1st base on Wednesday night.

Carlos Zambrano

According to reports on Comcast SportsNet on Thursday and from the Tribune, Carlos Zambrano could pitch a couple of innings out of the pen in Milwaukee this weekend. Lou Piniella is "undecided" according to the Trib but would like to get Zambrano a little work.

Randy Wells

According to a report in the Tribune, "an MRI on reliever Randy Wells' right arm on Wednesday revealed a stress fracture." The injury ends the season for Wells and creates another question for Lou Piniella to find an answer for.

Jimbo

OK, I just gotta ask.

On that Church play at the plate last night.....

Am I stupid, or what?

Isnt there still a rule about a base-runner staying within the base line?

You cant convince me that Church stayed in the baselines there. Yes, he over-ran home plate, but only because he went so far out of the base path, he didnt have a prayer of tagging the plate the first time past.

If thats the case, why not just run into the stands to avoid the tag?

Is that a judgement call by the home plate ump, that just didnt go our way, or what?

Sorry to dwell on last night's defeat.

Go get 'em, Cubbies

Cory

Man I hope DERO is ok. I think he is our MVP hands down. I actually prefer Fontenot instead of Cedeno.

I know last night's game really didn't mean anything to us but having that late lead and loosing then seeing those jags celebrate like they won the World Series made me sick! They do realize they struggled to barely get two wins against us...against mostly our backups?! That being said Gaudin, Hart, and Howry were brutal and I hope they see little or NO time in the playoffs....oh and nice tag at home Hill.