This winter I would like to see the cubs trade Fukudome and put Fuld in CF.

I like Fuk, but I think he has some value and would help them clear some payroll. To me, he's an excellent RF, but not fast enough to play CF. And he's good fundamentally, which I like. But they desperately need some speed in that OF, and Fuld would provide that, for cheap.

Unfortunately, Bradley and Sori have zero trade value. You're stuck with them.

I'd love to see Fuld...and Fox get opportunities as every day players...add Hoffpauir to that list also....But I no longer trust the Cubs to make the right moves.

Unfortunately Fukodome is scheduled to make 14 million next year and 14.5 million the following year. He's not worth that kind of money so trading him is not likely unless we take someones crappy contract and the crappy player that comes with it back in return.

I've been thinking. If the Cubs make the playoffs, will all these questions about bad deals and trades end or will it take a World Series to end those questions?

Um...once again...the Tribune and Muskat

are reporting the sale of the Cubs

(ie signing of papers) is "imminent"

Ho Hum.

The Cubs are going to be sold????? Really? LOL

cc....Your 2 cents are worth a couple of bucks more than that. Sadly what we want and what we get from pro sports are different things. Partly, we are to blame because many of us are amused or entertained by people who act out, and we applaud that one way or another.

Partly, in the Toy Department that is sports, organizations cut way too much slack for players--especially stars. The players begin to think that they are bullet proof--until they find out the hard way that they are not.

I'm hoping that Z and Soto have learned a lot during a relatively short, six months period of time. And I know that you do to. With all of their behavioral and conditioning issues, they are less than a year removed from pitching a no hitter in the bigs and being ROY. We clearly need them to be at the top of their games.

Unfortunately (likely) in this era of abandoned corporal/rigorous punishment in schools, on the streets and in sporting venues, more lessons have to be learned the hard way. And that is my 2 cents worth.

JimK,

Thanks. I totally agree. By the way, I'm only worth a couple of bucks ? Dang, I was hoping for more. Haha.

David Kaplan on WGN, who I really like, talks all the time about how disappointed he is with Lou's "toughness". He said that Lou told him that today's players are "different" and can't really be disciplined. Kaplan asked that same question to Bobby Cox and he disagreed. I think most people would. I think its total BS.

I hate to say it but to me Lou has really let the innmates run the asylum. I would love to see some new fresh blood in the dugout. I think Ryno would be a hungry tiger as a manager. He is defintely not he same mellow guy we saw come up back in 1981 as a player. I would love to see it. And I would love to see Maddux as pitching coach. But of course, we'll never see it. Some other smart orgnanization will pick him up.

Lou is old and looks very tired. He needs to go.

cc002600, I am with you on Sandberg for manager. I don't want anyone other than an ex-Cub to be the next manager. I am tired of all the same guys moving around. And I hope Sandberg goes back to playing baseball the way it should be played. That is, each game means something in the overall scheme. I am tired of resting, benching, coddling all these major league players. They are being paid well and should, as major leaguers, know how to play the game. Guys are closers, RBI guys, etc. I think this is all BS. They should know how to do everything. Hitters should be able to lay down a bunt when needed, shorten up and make contact, and hit behind the runners. What has happened to this great game? There is a definite lack of team play. After what Sandberg said at the Hall of Fame, I think he has the right mindset to come in and manage the Cubs. GO CUBS!

cc....Who are the Kool-Aid drinkers giving Z a pass? Are they just those who haven't commented? Some of them may just be following mom's adage on speaking out. LOL

Joe S....I agree with you that Z and Soto and other athletes have to maintain a high level of fitness. I do think that Soto has to play because we are now determing who can help us next year. Hill gives us solid defense and top character, but Soto was and could be so much more. Playing in the summer heat should help with any conditioning issues.

With the nearly intractible problems we do have with guys like Soriano and Bradley, we had better hope that Z and Soto will get their acts together. They both can, they are younger, and my glass of Kool-Aid says that they will.

JimK, I believe that you have been one of the few that has criticized big Z, so I absolve you from the kool-aid hall of shame. LOL.

But my only point was that when I read the posts out here, 90% of the venom is directed at Soriano / Bradley / Miles / Gregg, but somehow Zambrano goes unscathed. And trust me, I agree with all of the criticism for those guys. But, but, but when I look at Zambrano making $18M, completely underachieving, acting like a spoiled jackass time and time again, and now he comes out and says he's been lazy and not doing his exercises, how can you not be incensed by that ? I brought this up the other day when the story broke, and not one person even commented. If it was Soriano who said that, the website would have shutdown from overload. You know what I mean ? Why does Zambrano get a pass ?

I think his failures this year and even last year are just as egregous as anyone on this team, and yet, I see don't see many people criticizing him.

It makes me scratch my head.

The other one who gets a pass is Soto. His season has been an absolute abomination. Again, what if Soriano or Bradley had been caught smoking dope or came to camp overweight ? Holy cow. The guy is hitting .220 with 29 RBI's. That is beyond horrible.

just my .02 cents

cc002600...(Billy Williams Man?)

I've consistantly said "Z" is no ace.

If Wood and Prior were still in their 2003 form...he's still be # 3 or less.

He has the talent to be an ace...but never the work ethic...and that's a sin.

Imagine if Zambrano had the heart of

Wood or Michael Jordan...

He would be a consistant plus 20 game

winner...and several time Cy Young guy.

The Cubs signed him to a contract that he didn't earn...on the hopes that he would...and he has never produced to his capabilities...(Don't give me no-hitter)

He should be consistantly better.

He does not get a pass.

Suzy,

Ah, yes, you are correct about Billy Williams....he was always my favorite. Very astute.

Saying that Z is "no ace" to me is correct, but that is hardly harsh criticism for a guy that makes 18M and hasn't earned a dime.

I think you are missing my point. Soriano / Bradley / Miles / Gregg / Heileman / Hendry / Lou have been skewered on here at same level of Bin Laden for gosh sake, and yet to me Zambrano is just as guilty, if not more guilty, of being a turd in so many ways, on AND off the field.

Maybe you and I are reading different things, but I see very little out here in terms of criticism for Z. This guy has as much to do with our poor record as anyone on this team, given the expectations for him.

To me, he's a cancer. I would trade him in a heartbeat, if the cubs could get something for him.

Spoiled....sure

Needs to take his career more serious....sure

Underperform....not so much. The team is 14-6 when he starts. Maybe someone can look up the record of other "aces" but 70% is pretty good

So you're ok with your ace, making $18M, having a grandtotal of 7 wins with about 1 month to go in the season ?

Call me a nut, but I expected a little more from my "ace".

Just for reference, Jason Marquis, the guy everyone couldn't wait to dump, has 14. That would be double for all you math wizzes out there. :-)

Sorry, but for the money he's making, he's been crap.

What do you think are th22e chances that Harden comes back next year ? I think its less than 50/50 b/c they won't want to pay him.

But I would like to see them make him a closer. Much like Kerry Wood, his stuff is nasty, and he can't go mare than 5 or 6 innings as a starter. And, it will help keep him off DL.

I think Marmol will be a disaster as closer. If you can't throw strikes, futgetaboutit.

Aaron...you're right...Rosenbloom is on a roll.

Here's his latest...skewering Lou's comments:

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/rosenblog/

Best line of the day from that article....

Soriano runs pass routes that Devin Hester would be proud of.

LMAO

Very good game last night, it was nice to see everyone contribute and Ramirez driving the crap out of the ball.

Joe: I am very glad you guys had a great time at the game! I can't wait to take my kid to their first game.

Regarding Hendry and Lou's comments: Unreal.

Cloycub: You're exactly right! That's why the games are played.

Not too mention the Dodgers haven't been playing the greatest ball right now. They are 7-11 so far this month, and they are 9-11 at home since the all-start break.

I'm not saying we are going to walk in there and sweep em, but IF, IF our offense can show some kind of consistancy we should at least take 2 of 4, or maybe 3 out of 4!

Random thoughts:

1)It stinks going into a series thinking

you have little chance. Wouldn't it be nice for a change to be PLEASANTLY surprised?

2)How have Pirates fans endured 17 straight losing seasons?

3) A Haunting specter is looming in front of me...as a fan of the Cubs

and Red Sox...a Cardinals/Yankees

World Series is a real possibility.

AAARRRGGGHHHH.

- As a fan of GOOD baseball I will watch...but I may be flogging myself with a notched whip while doing so.

GO CUBS...please surprise the heck out of me...and yes, I'll take that kool aid

now...it's the only thing that might help me survive...lol

How have Pirates fans endured 17 straight losing seasons? Easy...they have stopped going to games. It means they're fed up with the product. Does that mean they're still not fans? Nope, I know a few Pirates fans, and they've been fans of the team since the "we are family" days. They stopped going, because they said they no longer wanted to feed the coffers of owners that didn't put a quality product on the field.

Problem is, the Cubs don't have too many of those fans. As Kaplan and Rosenbloom have pointed out in the past (and other writers as well), the Cubs only started spending when in 2006, management noticed thousands of empty seats, particularly in the bleachers, which are almost always packed full. So, they did what every management team for the Cubs did prior to them, and went out and got the biggest name free agent available, and didn't care about a supporting cast, nor did they even think about who they were signing, and to future value of return from a guy that'll be 38 years old at the end of his deal. Oh, they made a splash alright...but it was a splash into the abyss.

I'm not going to re-hash the deals again that coulda, woulda, and shoulda been made. What I am going to say is this....if Cubs fans would wise up, this 101 years of no championship would've never happened. After all, we have always been a big market team, and for years, a big market team with a small market payroll. If fans stopped going, ticket revenues would fall, owners would get pissed, and they'd clean house. We've NEVER had a clean house before, do you realize that? It's always been patchwork teams. Sometimes you have to bleed the organization from its errors of the past and start fresh. Look how long it took the Rays to get good.

Do you guys realize that the Rays organization personifies what the Cubs organization has been like for ages?!? They thought that by signing guys like Jose Canseco, Wade Boggs, Fred McGriff, Greg Vaughn, Wilson Alvarez, etc., it'd put fans in the seats. It took them years to figure out that no fan enjoyed the atmosphere of Tropicana Field, nor did they enjoy losing teams.

In the Cubs' case, they have fans that LOVE Wrigley, and largely don't care about the product on the field for the most part. (we do...but most fans don't...you have to be honest). The atmosphere around Wrigley wasn't always that way, which is why the Trib brought in Harry Caray to turn things around, and boy did he ever, ushering in sell-outs, etc., and a different vibe at the park. Problem was, the Trib soon realized that they could be hugely profitable without spending a dime, and that was our downfall. They'd sign guys like Dave Smith, Goose Gossage, Rick Aguilera, George Bell, Danny Jackson, etc....big names, just to keep fans interested, and you know what? They'd all be big name, aging players on the downside of their careers. It was ludicrous, and I'm pissed off that I bought into all of it, because I didn't just drink the kool-aid...I chugged that thing down.

The organization as a whole has improved under the watch of MacPhail and Hendry...but they were clueless as to how to operate a big market team. MacPhail came from small market Minnesota, and I remember when he came on that he'd put an emphasis on the draft to develop our own talent, and that's why he hired Hendry, who did a fantastic job initially as farm director. We put an emphasis on pitching (unfortunately, that was Hendry's downfall, because he could NEVER identify hitting talent), and that, in itself, turned the organization around, which never had a legitimate quality pitcher come through our ranks since Greg Maddux. But one thing MacPhail and Hendry NEVER knew what to do with was money. They also never understood how to use their farm system to make quality trades for young, up-and-coming talent.

I've met the Pirates scouting department (mostly because I was scouted by them, but also because I know several new guys now), and they are absolutely on top of their game. They've understood that being a small market team means that they have to start from scratch and purge the organization of all overpaid veterans, and try to get the best value for their players. While I think the Pirates got hosed in the McLouth trade, I was told that they did that deal, because McLouth was nearing big paydays, and he was in his late 20's. They absolutely had to get in return players that would be under their control for several years so they could develop them slowly, which is why they requested Locke and Hernandez in the deal. Other teams apparently were offering more along the lines of what we gave up for Grabow and Gorzelanny----a few AAA prospects that'd be under control (meaning option years and arbitration) for like 1 or 2 years, and they knew that to be competitive, they'd have to sacrifice winning now for winning later. They've got an exciting young team, and some tremendous prospects coming up that hit for power.

We have absolutely nothing. Do you realize that only Ryan Flaherty has a legitimate chance at 20+home runs, especially with just 2 weeks remaining in most of their seasons? He's sitting at 19. Nobody else in our system even comes close to having a chance. That, my friends, is pathetic. The Giants' turnaround is very surprising to me. I thought it'd be another 2-3 years before they were competitive again, but they've rebuilt their minor league system, and already have the likes of Pablo Sandoval and Schierholz to show for it, and guys like Bumgarner on their way up for pitching depth. Once again, this crap ballclub, and crap organization all the way around rests on somebody's head, and it's time to stop blaming things on the sale of the team. Anybody with half a brain can make good decisions without a boss. You don't need a boss to tell you that signing Milton Bradley for 3 yrs and $30 million was incredibly stupid. Nor should you need a boss to tell you that trading one of your best prospects would be a bad idea and that you could've used as part of a bigger trade, to land a sucky closer coming off 9 blown saves and knee surgery.

Aren't you all tired of the excuses too?!?

"We play too many day games"

"We need to have more lefties" (in our lineup and bullpen)

"We had a long road trip"

"We've had a lot of injuries"

"Guys haven't played as well as they normally have in their careers." (this was the dumbest comment I ever heard from a GM...if he'd done his research, he would've seen that age, post-PED's era would have an effect AND that most of the players in question were inconsistent their entire careers prior to this one)

"The wind has blown in/out too much"

"I haven't been able to rest some of my players"

and my favorite of all

"What do you want me to do?"

Aaron...I completely understand and agree with you re...the Tribune Co...and how they marketed the Cubs...more likely...how they marketed "a day at Wrigley".

While I'm envious of the Pirates farm system...I'll reserve judgement on the results...If I were a Pirates fan...I'd be betting my paycheck that as soon as the team starts to look decent...it'll be traded away.

Re the Cubs...much it would be great

to tear the team completely down and start from scratch...they can't. The fans would never sit through 5 years

of nothing...nor would they pay the premium prices for a complete team of

of developing talent...I'd like to see it though.

There are at least 4 distinct types of

Cubs clients that go to Wrigley.

1) The tourists...from all over...that just want to spend a day at Wrigley.

2) The partiers...all day party...with great bars and atmosphere...before and after the game.

3) True Fans of baseball.

4) Corporate.

Many can be a combination of the 4.

Tourists and partiers are going to go

no matter what type of season the Cubs are having...maybe a little less in a down season...but a pretty good base.

Again...Corporate is always going to be there...as a business function...the economy and business will account for their fluctuations more.

That leaves only true fans that will increase or decrease attendence according to performance......

pretty good gig if you can get it.

AND THAT IS WHAT THE TRIBUNE BANKED ON.

That Ricketts is a true fan is the hope.

That he does it the right way...and I would think a Cubs reconstruction would be similar to what Kenny Williams has attempted on the South side...when he began infusing younger talent a couple of years ago...and fired his farm director.

RE: the Dodgers:

That's why they play the games man! ON PAPER the Cubs are a 90 win team. ON PAPER the Cubs ran away from the division this year. ON PAPER the 2008 Cubs won the world series, and ON PAPER the 2009 Yankees have won the World Series so we should just all give up.

I am as frustrated as anyone, BELIEVE ME, and I have stated that I have reduced my emotional involvement for sanity's sake, but come on! To state that the Cub's have no chance against the Dodgers so adamantly, is to take away the one beautiful thing about this game, NOBODY KNOWS!

Plug all the stats you want into a computer simulate it 1000 times, and I agree LA, STL, PHI wins over the Cubs 950 times and I am being Generous....But can you account for a ball rolling down the line and tipping off a base, leading to a double and 2 extra runs NO!

I am as mad as anyone about JH and LP comments today, read em on Cubs.com, but you know, I have come to expect it from them.

I am far from a Kool Aid drinker I assure you...but Please just let em play the games from now on. As a Cub fan, I have grown accustomed to watching train wrecks, dissapointment, failure, but you know what I keep watching and SO DO YOU! And for some reason, be it bad habit, glutton for punishment, or just stupidity or insanity, I want to see em go on a 30-12 stretch and win the whole damn she-bang, as much as I dislike the majority of the team. What can I say...I am a Cub fan.

Cloycub...well said.

For Aaron and any other future GM's

out there.

David Kaplan is seeking plans to turn the Cubs around...imbedded in his article

is his email address...and he will print

the best he receives in the Tribune.

Go get 'em boys...lol:

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/david-kaplan-chicago-sports/

For those on a short time cycle, here is a summary of Aaron's news report.

He implies that he could be re-thnking loathing as he finds that his for Steve Rosenbloom may have been misplaced.

His loathing of JH and Lou and a lot of the Cubs will continue for a long time.

The Dodgers and the Cardinals are much better teams than the Cubs are. Now that is late-breaking news that we can all use!

LOL

P.S. JH did fix something that was not broken--our 97 win team of 2008. He did that with devestating results, but most of us wanted change after two post season washouts. Aaron and all of the rest of us understand all too well that Bradley, Gregg and Miles were not the answers. We also understand that JH gets the blame for that.

Most of us understand that when the Cards two top pitchers rebound from 11 wins to 30 + and two of your own top pitchers have a similar decline, you are not likely to win. Toss in your version of Albert Pujols missing 65 games and two other bats failing off badly, and even Dummy the Squat could predict a train wreck.

Now, two questions seem to suggest themselves: (1) What do we do about the train wreck? (2) How necessary is it to keep showing replays of the wreck to grieving team family members and to keep telling them they deserve to suffer for their mis-guided support of team Blue? It's time to focus on question number (1).

Good to see Rosenbloom and other writers call out Zambrano and his lazy $18M ass, like I have been. Most of the kool-aid drinkers on here give him a free pass, for some reason. And Soto too.

IMO he's a total cancer

Neither one should have a pass. Soto should be BENCHED the rest of the year anbd let Hill play. Hill is a player who came back to play the game after losing three fingers on a hand. That's dedication.

Soto should be given a conditioning program to follow and told if he comes to camp one pound over the target weight he is as good as banned to the minors.

Any player with a strong work ethic would have worked their ass off to follow up their ROY campaign with another solid year. Not sat around getting fat and smoking a bowl.

Big Z...I blame management as much as I do Z. Z should have more pride for sure....and should work his ass off for the money he got paid. BUT...where is Rothschild at? Where is the strength and conditioning coach? If I'm paying someone 20 million to be my staff ace...and I already know I generally have to babysit...I'm all over him making sure he stays in perfect shape and does what he has to do. Especially during the season when he is right there under your nose. During the off season I send someone out to see him once or twice. Just ridiculous.

Why didn't Lou set up the rotation so Gorzelanny pitched in San Diego and saved Harden for the Dodgers? Even if it were short rest, Gorzelanny had only pitched a total of 6 innings in his last 2 starts.

"What do you want me to do?"

you're absolutely right. Manny, Kemp, Blake, and Martin will absolutely crush Gorzelanny. He only has a chance against the lefties Eithier and Loney. Hudson, a switch hitter will also likely dominate. The only break Gorzelanny will have is with Furcal, who has struggled this year, and maybe the 2 lefties and the pitcher.

I know that we had a good win last night, so this might not be nearly as funny to all of you as it is to me, but I must say...Steve Rosenbloom has been on a roll as far as I'm concerned, and I used to loathe the guy. Check his comments out from the other night:

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/rosenblog/2009/08/gregg-piniella-hendry-nyuk-nyuk-nyuk.html

****************************************

Kevin Gregg, who gives up ninth-inning home runs like he’s on commission, first blew a great effort by Ted Lilly to allow the dogbreath Padres to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth Monday night, then he gave up a three-run bomb to Kyle Blanks to lose the game, lose ground to the Cardinals and lose his job as closer. Gregg says he still believes in his stuff, and I’m thinking, go believe in it in Iowa the rest of the season. . . .

Do you know how hard it is to give up a homer in PetCo Park? It takes someone who’s extremely bad with disastrous stuff to do it. But Gregg is just that guy. Get a load of this: The begoggled mess has now allowed the most home runs among NL relievers, and you have to understand that LaTroy Hawkins is still an NL reliever. Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk. . . .

So, for those of you keeping score at home, the Cubs lost a road game to the worst team in the NL West, while the Cardinals won a road game against the best team in the NL West. The Cubs’ closer gave up his 12th home run, while the Cardinals’ closer nailed down his 30th save. The Cubs are using most of the Iowa Cubs lineup to try to catch Albert Pujols. Uncle. . . .

Let’s look at the back of this season’s baseball card:

The Cubs’ new free-agent closer this year, Gregg, choked again Monday night.

The Cubs’ new free-agent left-handed bat this year, Milton Bradley, has stunk from the left side.

The Cubs’ new free-agent utility man this year, Aaron Miles, has already been left curbside once.

The Cubs’ starting second baseman, Mike Fontenot, was given the job early in spring training without having earned and still hasn’t.

The Cubs’ third baseman, Aramis Ramirez, had no backup because the guy who could do that and more, Mark DeRedbird, had to be traded either to make room for the left-handed bat that can’t hit left-handed and who was called a “piece of [naughty word]’’ by the manager or he had to be traded to make room for the Jake Peavy trade that the White Sox made instead.

Jim Hendry, your plane is boarding. . . .

People who blame the endless sale of the team as the reason the Cubs can’t improve ought to just shut up and ask how the Cardinals are so good with a smaller payroll and seemingly lesser pitching staff. And when the general manager finally brings in someone who doesn’t stink --- Jeff Baker, hitting .333 since being acquired from Colorado --- the sleepy-slash-cranky manager sits him down in favor of the failure formerly known as Fontenot. So, there you go: A 97-win team from a year ago was redesigned by the general manager to satisfy the excuse-loving, playoff-choking manager who apparently wants to manage a team that is manager-proof, and then, as certain players failed this year, failed repeatedly, mind you, the manager failed to make appropriate moves. Lou Piniella, your plane is boarding. . . .

But wait. There’s more. Piniella praised Carnage Zambrano for admitting he’s lazy. Let me get this right: Zambrano failed to show respect for himself, his teammates and his manager, and after the $19 million arm admits he let down everybody, the manager who was played for a stooge is lauding the guy for his honesty. So, there you go: Piniella is not only cranky and sleepy, but lobotomized, too. . . .

Not to let the hitters off. I mean, one run against the Padres is almost as big a joke as the Cubs’ ripping up half of a 97-win team. . . .

*****************************************

He was dead on about everything, except, like classic Rosenbloom, forgot to research statements. "Cubs new free agent closer..." Sorry, Steve, he was traded for a top pitching prospect, which is actually worse.

But I 100% agree with everything he said, because I've been saying the same things all damn year...(and caught a LOT of flack for it early on)

Anyway, it was a very good win last night, but don't forget...this is merely a mirage. Aside from Lilly vs Haeger on Saturday, it's doubtful we win any of the games in LA. Here are the pitching match-ups:

Gorzelanny (5-2, 5.24 ERA) vs Weaver (5-4, 3.71 ERA)

*Torre even commented that he selected Weaver for the opening match, because of the way he matched up with our hitters. He's mostly a junkballer, something that we've proven we can't hit

Wells (9-5, 3.01 ERA) vs Wolf (7-6, 3.43 ERA)

*Wolf has dominated the Cubs of late, I believe, including a shutout if I'm not mistaken

Lilly (9-7, 3.42 ERA) vs Haeger (0-1, 3.86 ERA)

*this is the one game we have a shot at winning, and even that isn't a given. Haeger gave up just 3 runs on 5 hits to the Cardinals the other night...not a good omen for us

Dempster (6-7, 4.28 ERA) vs Billingsley (12-6, 3.70 ERA)

*Billingsley is 1-2, 3.27 ERA in 6 career starts vs the Cubs. He's coming off an outing against the Cards, where he gave up just 2 runs on 3 hits in 6 innings...also not a good omen, but this is an automatic loss anyhow. 4.28 ERA vs 3.70 ERA....Cubs have to score over 4 runs just to have a chance against a pitcher that doesn't even allow 4 runs on average. At this point in the season, it's ALL about the numbers thus far, and we AUTOMATICALLY lose this game. I'm not kidding...you just watch. It's why we lost the other night too, isn't it...It was 4-3 when Dempster left the game. That should tell you everything you need to know----4 runs given up on an anemic offensive team is just not going to cut it, you almost have to have an outing like Harden, giving up 1 hit, no runs, to even have a chance. Oh, and one final thing....Batters are hitting .296 against Dempster in the second half. OUCH!!! And, the Dodgers have 4 guys with 50+ RBI, 4 guys with double digit home runs (Manny trails by just 5 RBI from the 50+ RBI category and Hudson is within 2 hr, and Loney within 3 from making it 5 guys with 50+RBI and 6 guys with double digit home runs in their everyday lineup)

Here's their thumpers:

Eithier-25 hr, 82 RBI

Kemp-17 hr, 76 RBI

Blake-14 hr, 67 RBI

Manny-13 hr 45 RBI

Loney-7 hr, 71 RBI

Hudson-8 hr, 57 RBI

We have:

Lee-24 hr, 83 RBI

Soriano-19 hr, 52 RBI

Fukudome-10 hr, 44 RBI

ARAM-10 hr, 37 RBI

Bradley-9 hr, 31 RBI

Theriot-7 hr, 47 RBI

Soto-9 hr, 29 RBI

ouch...Fox at 8 hr, 32 RBI (not an everyday player) and Hoffpauir at 8 hr, 25 RBI (minors) and Fontenot at 9 hr, 36 RBI (benched now) were the only others of note.

Their entire team, bullpen included just dominates us in every facet of the game. They just lost 2 of 3 to the Cardinals by a combined two runs (2-3 on Monday, and 2-3 last night), and the Cardinals are the best team in the NL right now, with the Dodgers either tied or right behind them in my opinion. It's going to get quite ugly for us, especially since the Cards get the lowly Padres, whom we couldn't even beat up for 4 friggin' games, then round out the month against the reeling Astros and the lowly Nationals. Triple ouch for us. By the end of this weekend, we might be 10 games out in both the division AND Wild Card (especially with the way the Rockies have been playing)

Piniella and Hendry most certainly deserve to be fired for all of this, but as it stands right now, Hendry ain't going anywhere with his 4 yr extension he gave himself, and Piniella's renewal for next year makes it unlikely he goes anywhere either

Joe S. Read you rants over in the Blog and agree with you 100%... we have a couple of MORONS running this team..

As for DeRosa I don't think the Cubs have a chance of ever getting him back...

They threw him out the door and as long JH and LP are still here we can forget it.. also he is with a 1st class organization now and they really like him and will resign him.. Also I look to see the Cards probably being the NL champs.

We are now in the land of lala....

The team that forced all the dismal

changes and humiliation.

It would be very nice to see this organization rear back with heart

and sweep these guys...improbable

as it may seem...but it would

wash away alot of the debrie from this season.

I know...it's only wishful thinking.

JoeS...

1) I'm glad you and your daughter chose this game to go to...much better for your daughter to see a "happy camper".

I think you actually saw a prototypical

game of what the season was supposed to be like....sad it didn't happen that way.

2)The comments Lou and Hendry made in the articles of your post are incensing.

I'm with you. Either Lou doesn't see the same things we all do...or he chooses to ignore it. Either way it stinks.

3)Hendry: "For whatever reasons, players in the first year of contracts here have difficulty adjusting. Moises Alou is an

example of that. Bradley's done well in the last month."

Bradley equals Alou? Barf.

Does that mean Miles gets a pass on his "first year adjustment"?

Fuld/Fox/Blanco/Hoffpauir are not better options?

Sometimes I just want to scream.

Joe...sorry. I had inserted that commentary ahead of reading your community view. Your points were exactly my thoughts as well.

We should all be pissed when Lou makes such asinine comments. So let's keep playing Soriano in place of Fuld or Fox.

Lou is really an idiot!

Lou's commentary in today's Tribune...

"[But we don't] have the luxury here of having young kids we can bring up and put on the field to provide a little more energy, and possibly jump-start [the team]," Piniella said. "We don't have that. So our veteran players are going to have to dig in and get it done."

Wow...if I was Fox or Fuld I would go see JH and ask for a trade elsewhere...or perhaps encourage a change in managers!

Yep...thats exactly part of my rant in the community blog section...that quote (among others) made me pissed.....

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY POST IN COMMUNITY VIEWS...RANTING ABOUT JIM HENDRY AND LOU PINIELLA QUOTES IN SUN TIMES ARTICLES.

So, I took my daughter Abby to her very first Cubs game tonight. Bill Murray came along with us but didnt feel like getting sand in his shoes in the bleacher area so he sat elsewhere. lol Guess she was a good luck charm!

First off a tip of the hat to Randy Wells. During batting practice Abby was standing at the centerfield fence (the beach area--which is also where we sat for the game) and had a sign that said "My First Game--Go Cubs". Without being asked, he walked over got a baseball walked over and gave it to Abby..and signed it when I asked him to sign it for her. Classy!! He was actually the second person to give her a ball. A rookie Pads pitcher, Ryan Webb (he came on in relief during the game) gave her a ball because instead of yelling at him like the other kids...she yelled "May I please have the ball". Too Cute...

I'm wondering if anyone saw her on the Chicago TV feed...she was the cute lil girl in the pink shirt and Cubs hat in the sand area...from about the 4th inning on she was up against the fence with a yellow sign plastered to the fence...The Padres didnt put her on their telecast out here probably because her signs both referred to the Cubs. The other sign said "I love my Dad and the Cubs".....

I did see her when Soriano hit the triple to the CF fence..she was actually sitting on the first row of bleachers and then you see a girl in pink running towards the fence thinking she could get the ball...too cute!

It was precious to take her to her first game and have it be a Cubs game. She recognized a few of the players from seeing Dad watch on TV.

Classic lines from a 6 year old during the game though....

1) Seeing the Padres Friar mascot in the outfield between innings and looking at me saying hey thats the guy from the Burger King Commercial. No dear. Thats not the King.

2) Not understanding that players have music played that they like as they come up to bat. So when David Eckstein came up to bat and WWE's Degeneration X music hit and her eyes lit up..I had to explain that neither Triple H nor Shawn Michaels would be batting.

3) Approaching a security guard to ask if she could hold her sign against the fence during the inning. As we approached the security guard she looked like a she....but as we got closer and she replied "yes" with a manly voice it was clear this was a he-she. Before we could walk away out of ear-shot my darling daughter asks "Dad was that a man or woman she looked like both".

She giggled like crazy at the end of the game when she saw the outfielders do their jump and bump after the win. She kept saying they "bumped butts".

It was a great game to attend, thankfully. Hopefully they keep some momentum for a change.

I did see Hendry on the field before the game with reporters and then Lou walked up behind him. I thought they were going to start filming a Sea World promo together...

I sent Neil some pics of us at the game that he may decide to post.

I'm not sure what all the heckling of Bradley that Im reading about came from...must have been a few behind home plate...wasnt something that was noticeable from the outfield. Maybe thats what we need to do from now on...sit behinf him and talk crap so he gets mad and rips homeruns.

On to LA.....lets go Cubs!!!

Joe, I am so glad Abby saw them win and it sounds like you guys had a great time.

You might check iTunes for a copy of last night's game. I think they are available for purchase.

Check your email later about the photos you sent. I will explain what I am thinking.

Thanks for sharing.

JoeS, btw, my wife and I saw both signs...that's awesome man, you were definitely on live tv. If I recall, it was a neon green sign, right?

Yep..neon yellow...sounds like I might have to try and get a copy of the Chicago feed for her....

Such a great post. Congrats to you and Abby for being part of a Cubs win. I'm glad she enjoyed it and it sounds like she may be a fan for life! Welcome to the bunch!