Hendry on WGN Radio:

Said Cubs will have a "wave" of players come up soon from Iowa and then again in September.

Said Greg Maddux put his stamp on acquiring Blake DeWitt

Byrd has ended up being a pretty good signing and at reasonable money. Hopefully Castro, Colvin, and other young guys coming up can be impacted by him. Lets give JH credit for this signing.

I totally agree with the Byrd signing. He has turned in to the leader of this team and really shows everyone how to play the game the right way. I love his hustle and hope he stays around for awhile.

Gonzalez homerun just highlights the futility of this season

When a team like the Cubs is so closely associated with futility, I am sure it owns many MLB records for such. Like last night's MLB record for consecutive hits allowed in an inning. I would imagine that Gonzales was the first MLB player to complete the cycle with a walk-off homerun.

Gonzalez became the 6th player in big league history to hit a walkoff homer to complete the cycle ... first since Dwight Evans of the Red Sox in 1984.

A game winning, cycle ending home run. At this point in time, I live with the expectation the Cubs are going to suck and suck hard. So instead of dwelling on that, how about Gonzalez? Him AND Huston Street for Matt Holiday. And the kid wins with a cycle ending homer. Good for him.

WOW! First pitch ... Game over. Gonzalez with a cycle!

Nice one Neil, you called that early.

Will the Cubs ever have a Carlos Gonzales? That kid can play ball.

Should have had Marmol in. Ouch!

I was so busy . . . just got in.

I was wrong about JHendry holding onto Lilly & Theriot. I haven't had time to evaluate the two pitchers yet.

I have info on both of them ... pretty detailed. Check out the report

In case anyone is interested Rich Harden is having a nice outing for the Rangers against the Angels.

6 innings and no runs.

This has a creepy feel to it ... two outs and two strikes on the batter and Marshall gave up a single.

Excellent play by Castro

Not a good idea by Trammell to have Marshall pitch the 8th. Marshall and Coors simply to do work

Last night's performance by Marshall was a fluke. Cashner's was much more of a concern.

Good job by Marshall in the eighth.

Gary, I had memories of Marshall struggling at Coors ... including last night 11 runs on 16 hits in 8 1/3 (11.88 ERA and a 2.28 WHIP) without last night still 6 runs in 7 2/3.

DLee hits a three run dinger? In 2010?

Misprint by the ticker?

Rip ... I was wondering if we would hear from you today.

Man, Fowler almost got that one.

That was Lee's 1000th run of his career

DLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice shot by DLee!!

Good job by Zambrano

Zambrano looks very nervous

atleast he hittin 95 mph

There is not quit or give up in Byrd.

How can our other vets, watch him play all out, and not follow suit?

Levine was discussing Byrd this morning. He is the new leader of this team. Levine explained how Byrd has taken Colvin and Castro under his wing and is pushing them to do their best.

What a catch by Byrd!

Here comes Z

This team is down to $113 million (approx, depending on arb) for 2011. The catch is the team will not be all that much different at this point. JH needs to make some moves to clear some roster spots.

Pitchers for 2011

Dempster, Gorzellany, Silva, Wells

Marmol, Marshall, Cashner, Russell, Zambrano, Grabow, Guzman?, Samardzija (out of options).

Batters

Colvin, Castro, Aram, Soto, Soriano, Byrd, Fukudome, Dewitt (8 players)

Castillo/Chirinos(back-up catcher) (9)

Barney (utility) (10)

Almost all of the pitching spots are full, and 8 of the batters with 9 and 10 not significant spots. That would only leave 3 roster spots to help improve this team. JH needs to free up some roster spots. We can fill some from within our system, but if the right player is available, there should be the payroll dollars to do it. This should also mean we have the payroll dollars to just waive players that aren't productive.

Hammel had thrown only 65 pitches before the seventh began.

JH better keep working the phones. He needs to find away to move Nady, Baker, Hill, Fontenot, or Fukudome. All of these guys shouldn't be back in 2011. Of course, if he could get DLee to change his mind, that would be nice as well. My suggestion to release him and take the 10 days to trade him, might help him change his mind. We need Colvin, Fukudome, Aram, LaHair, or Spencer to play 1B, the rest of the year to see what we have for next year.

Agree, but think he will only be able to move the first four. Probably only be able to move Fukudome if he eats most of the contract.

Agree with you on DLee but just do not see happening.

Do not see any contenders that could use him.

That shouldn't be a problem eating his contract. We have plenty of OF's in our system to play at his level or better.

The Cubs I meant in reference to Fukudome's contract.

Glad to see DLee back into form.

5 for 25 (.200) since rejecting trade.

He should have taken the deal.

It's no wonder. His in-game performances are pretty low on his list of priorities.

Gonzalez is just torching the Cubs ... has a good shot at the cycle tonight. Last time the Cubs were in Colorado, Tulowitzki hit for the cycle.

Spilborghs just robbed Soto of at least a double ... Soriano scored and the Cubs put 2-spot on the board.

Hey the Cubs scored a run ... thanks to a gift by Mora

We even scored two.

The old Cubs offense is back. Hooray!!

I guess the trade has really further deflated this team.

I wonder if we will even win another game this year?

Hey guys!

Check out Harrold Reynolds talking sports out of his arse! lol[reference to the old espn commercial]

I like the dude a lot, but he seriously has no clue here.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100731&content_id=12851156&vkey=trade2008&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[press play]

The money that came with Silva from Seattle has to be paid within 18 months of the trade ... I know that. As for your question, I do not know the answer. I will have to do a little research.

Neil - Question on waivers.

If a team was dumb enough to claim Silva, and the Cubs said, he's all yours. Would the claiming team have to pay Silva's whole pay for the rest of his contract, or would the $$ coming from Seattle be included.

Just FYI, the Cubs are already losing. I didn't even realize the game was on, but they're losing 3-0 already in the second. I think it's over now, so back to talking about the trade deadline stuff!

Wow! That got out quick ... already 3-0

I expect these complete annihilations will continue the rest of the season. From now on, I will only be able to stomach special occasions, like Diamond's debut. Go Bears

By the way, good points. Although it is important to have the right mix of vets with young, the Cubs don't have the right vets. I would still keep Ramirez, Soriano is not going anywhere, but after that they all can go. What is the point in keeping Fukodome. Or maybe keep him for next April and then release him. He will have a good first 6 weeks and then that is it.

Need to find out which young guys can play. Must decide if Colvin is an outfielder or first baseman.

And by the way, at least DeWitt is left handed. That is what started this complete debacle.

I knew Aaron couldn't stay away, just way to passionate!

Aaron, I have always like Jermey Hermida and would do that deal in a heartbeat. The Red Sox were rumored to have interest in Fontenot ... so there could be a match. Great catch.

I think Snyder and Barney are the next two, after Diamond, as well. And Koyie Hill could be on the way out as well. If nothing else Welington Castillo should be a September call-up.

I do not see them dfa'ing Derrek Lee. Just not going to happen. Fukudome could be a waiver claim, but that is a longshot at best. They will not dfa him and eat all of next year's contract.

From all indications, they will try to move Fukudome and more than half of his 2011 contract this winter.

Lee should be DFA'd, if anything, for screwing over the rebuilding we were trying to do. I almost have to think that we would've received Brandon Wood in return for Lee, and that'd be fantastic, even though he's sucked...at least we get a guy that's had great power in the minors and still very young in the fold. Berkman and Oswalt are true professionals, and their loyalty and understanding of the Astros situation was very evident when they accepted the trades. Too bad Lee showed he had very little class handling everything.

As for Fukudome...good catch about the salary, but I disagree in some respect. Sure, they'll try to deal him in the offseason, but the chances of that happening are already slim, and while a team would only have to worry about next year's salary, it's still a hefty one nevertheless, and we'd probably have to eat it all then too.

Here's a good way to put it with Fukudome, and what the Tigers realized with Willis, Sheffield, etc. in the past. Simply put, Fukudome is riding the pine the rest of the year. He's not contributing in any possible way. Why keep him then? It's already a sunk cost. Pay him to play elsewhere, thus opening a spot for someone like Snyder or LaHair, Wright, etc., and allow the rebuilding to commence, or risk going into camp next year with him taking a valuable roster spot away from someone that can truly make a difference. In the end, teams like the Yankees, Tigers, and Red Sox understand the value of roster spots, and they'll eat that contract.

Lee is the same way, he's contributing next to nothing to this team. Why hang onto him when we could be developing someone else? I think Hendry needs to have a tough talk with him, and let him know he'll be benched come September in favor of LaHair, and see how quickly he approves a deal then. That's what any good GM should do. It's their job to tell it like it is

Aaron, I understand your points but I do not see them eating all of that salary. Just don't. Kenney's reaction last winter to eating some of Bradley's deal spoke volumes in my opinion.

Aaron -

Here is the list of guys I would DFA. There is no benefit to these guys still using a roster space.

Fukudome

Nady

DLee

Fontenot

Grabow

baker?

I wouldn't have a problem with DFA Baker either, but he can fill a need 2B against Lefties and can play all over.

Cubs just announced Thomas Diamond will be called-up from Triple-A Tuesday and make the start against the Brewers. Cubs will purchase his contract from Iowa and add him to the 40-man roster.

Neil,

I saw the Red Sox just DFA'd Hermida. What do you think about Nady and Fontenot for Hermida in August? I believe the waiver situation is Hermida can't be officially put on until the 2nd or 3rd or clear, or something like that, so it'd give us some time to put Nady and Fontenot through.

I know Hermida has largely disappointed in his career thus far, but like DeWitt, scouts have loved his game for quite sometime. He's still just 26 years old. Time to find out Rudy's true worth to this team, am I right?

Also, if Hendry moves Fontenot and Nady, that brings us down to 36 on the 40-man roster. You have to assume that Schlitter and possibly Berg might get the old DFA as well, which would likely mean 35 guys. If Nady goes, it's likely that Snyder gets the call, and if Fontenot goes, it's likely that Barney gets the call.

I still think moves that have to be made are:

DFA Lee in August, bring up LaHair

DFA Hill in August, bring up Chirinos/Castillo

DFA/trade Fukudome in August, bring up Wright

Cubs just annouced Wells will start Monday and they will call-up a starter for Tuesday night.

Thomas Diamond threw 60+ pitches in a 4-inning start last Thursday for Iowa ... Tuesday would be his next turn in Sandberg's rotation

Any idea where Nady & Fontenot would have been shipped to?

No, I have not heard. I would imagine both would have gotten the Cubs PTBNLs or cash ... that's about it.

Those trades may still go through, as there is no doubt both will clear waivers.

should have thrown cash at the team or something just to unload them

Neil, once again, an amazing job today, of keeping up with all of the activity, and still being prepared for tonights game. I had almost forgot about having a game tonight.

Thanks Tony ... hopefully the Cubs remember there is a game tonight.

Tonight's lineup:

Colvin - RF

Castro - SS

Lee - 1B

Ramirez - 3B

Byrd - CF

Soriano - LF

Soto - C

Fontenot - 2B

Gorzelanny - P