gflore34

The Cubs are 4.5 up and they're going to bury the Cards no matter how many more HR's Ankiel and Ludwick have than other Cub and Lohse' unexpected success.

Then they counter with Lincecum. I think they'll do to Linecum what they're doing to Cain today - run up the PC and beat the bullpen.

Get used to watching the opposing hitters look helpless Giants because tomorrow' your turn - Harden 2-0, .084 ERA, 5 H in 21.1 IP lifetime vs. the Giants.

Please, put down the kool aid and back away slowly. Kool-Aid? You're telling me you don't think that Barry Bonds bat could be useful to a major league team? Again, we are talking about Barry freaking Bonds for the major league minimum. I'd advocate (especially with Edmonds starting to cool and probably in need of more rest) putting him in left field, Soriano in right, and Fukudome in center. Soriano could handle right, and Fukudome is an excellent enough fielder to make up for Barry's lack of range. But he'd sign for the minimum. This could be as little as upgrading from Daryl Ward to Barry freaking Bonds for your go to pinch hitter. Collusion and nothing less. He put up a 1.000 OPS last year. .480 on base percentage. Obviously there might be a little rust. You may only get a .250/.400/.500 line out of him. Um, sign me up please still. Especially for next to nothing. He's only a spectacle because the media won't let it drop. Their job is to generate traffic or sell papers. But in the grand context of things he's a guy facing a perjury charge in a trial that won't happen until next spring training. Not our problem, we have every right to sign any available player who could help us. If I can come to grips with Jim Edmonds potentially being on the World Series winning Cubs team, I can come to grips with anyone. How the hell did so many of us become so high and mighty? We are talking about signing someone to play professional baseball. Not like we're talking about making a convict President. Though our President should be a convict. But that's another thread. :D Seconded, not to mention, such a move could be face saving for Bonds, in addition to giving him a chance at a WS ring - that's all that's left for him to accomplish - collusion be damned. I don't want to see the Tampon Bay Rays or any other recent expansion team make to their first (unless it's against the Cubs this year) or another WS before the Cubs.

2 out 3 at bad, I'll be satisfied with the same against the Giants. Does anyone else despise Jerry Hairston Jr. as I do? All he did as a Cub was that foot tapping nonsense while being an automatic out, goes to Reds and lights it up.

Given Marquis is not going to be sent to the bullpen why not give Marshall a few starts in Iowa while Hendry tries to move Marquis?

There's been some discussion of the possibility of a September return for the Brewers' Gallardo, what of Rich Hill? If he's going to make it back, September may just about right.

It's Beane's job to do the best he can for the Oakland A's. If Rich Harden was a 200 IP pitcher every year he could afford to hold out for the highest offer until July 31. He saved his financially questionable team lots of money this year, and erased any risk of losing Harden between now and the break. Could he have held out for more, probably. But how much more? I doubt a lot. People keep talking about other teams that have so much more to offer, without thinking about the fact that very rarely do those higher rated prospects actually get packaged in deals. He got a dirt cheap starting pitcher who can start in the majors the rest of the year and be under their control for years. Are the Yankees or Boston offering them that this year? The Yankees weren't offering pitching prospects for Sabathia or Santana, they weren't going to offer them for Harden. Gallagher is a legit prospect that people strangely undervalue. He's got a 2-3 ceiling, and he is already showing a tremendous likelihood of reaching his ceiling, or at least get close to it. He also got 2 guys who are capable of starting on good teams, and a very solid catching prospect. He got exactly what he was capable of getting for Rich Harden. He wasn't going to get much more if he waited, and he could have gotten nothing if he did. I share these sentiments, if the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers or Cardinals had a Gallagher available doesn't one think they would have made the trade?

Done

Given Harden had some health issues, I wonder if that'll bring his price tag down? If so, a rotation of: Zambrano Harden Lilley Dempster Marshall (hopefully, Lou in his desire for two LHP will place Marquis in long relief) coupled with the Cubs pen looks pretty damn good.

Time will tell however, given what he's doing as an 18 yr old, Vitters just might turn out to be something special. There's been quite a bit of whining about the Cubs not taking Wieters or LaPorta but, I wouldn't be surprised to see Vitters matching or surpassing their numbers when he's 23.

You expect Hendry to understand park factors? Or at least to weigh them more heavily than called me to explain why he didn't sign with me/former cy young 10 years ago factors? Not Hendry but, surely there must be a Cub scout or two informing Hendry to stay away from Wolf and Maddux. Trading for them is a lateral move, if Hendry' intent on improving the Cubs you don't make such a move.

I noticed the little blurb about the Cardinals, yes, Wainwright coming back will help but, I think their kidding themselves if they expect Mulder to be effective. I know about Duncan and his pixie dust however, I don't believe that involves a way back machine - Mulder is done.

I thought the same as well, however, like many other posters I was expecting a bunt, then again why would La Russa waste a PH to sacrifice? After all, the Cardinals are so "fundamentally" strong you'd think that any one of the pitchers would be able to lay down a bunt including McClellan. So, I've just reasoned myself into writing Lee should have been playing back.

If they able to acquire CC Sabathia it'll no doubt help but, apparently, its going to come at a very high price. Will such a price hinder their ability to help that bullpen? It, like the Cardinals' pen, is terrible and it will continue to cost them games.

There' a little difference between the '69 Mets and these Cardinals, the Mets had the likes of Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman in their rotation. Nolan Ryan in middle relief amongst others, the Cardinals and their collection of converted RP and failed SP's don't come within a light year of that Mets' pitching.

I believe the Cubs are going to bust out today, just a feeling, but, they're due for an offensive explosion and Wellemeyer is the perfect fuel for the fire. Despite last night' loss, with the pending return of Soriano and the addition of a SP (Hendry' going to make a deal) the Cubs are superior to the Cardinals and they will bury them.

It was great wasn't it?

White Sox hit don't hit a HR tonight and managed to score only one run - what a shock. In fact they've hit one HR the last two nights and have scored a total of three runs, I think the Tigers are to going to catch the White Sox if not, the Twins.

Nice to see the Cubs' opposition burned by some questionable strike calls especially when that opposition is the Cardinals. Also Kerry Wood rendered Pujols 300th HR one of the most meaningless 300th HR's in history - sweet.

How many hanging breaking balls did Isringhausen get away with that inning?

Boy, that sure looked to be a typical Cardinal bloop, dink their way back into the ballgame inning

That was beyond stupid on Soto' part

This is the inning the Cubs put up a crooked number

Hopefully the Cubs can get Looper' PC to at least 90 this inning