rawaction

All 3 are on the road.

No, Edmonds strong showing recently is the reason. He's provided the LH power behind Ramirez. true, but the protection idea for Ramirez seemed silly anyway. Ramirez hasn't needed protection before this season, and I don't think he needs it now. hopefully Edmonds has turned a corner and can maintain something close to this level though. So, you're saying Burnitz, Jock Jones, and Floyd didn't protect Ramirez? Well, you're right.

Yeah, Young had basically become my 6th OF. I have Sizemore, Hart, Guillen, and Ordonez starting and Victorino ahead of him on the bench. Also, figured I'd be ok with Brandon Jones and Chase Headley on my minor league roster, but starting off well in the majors.

No, Edmonds strong showing recently is the reason. He's provided the LH power behind Ramirez.

Need some quick responses. In a head-to-head league, where pitchers' wins are very important (10 pts per win). Have to set my lineup for the week. Should I start, Manny Parra, who's won 5 straight starts or Jeff Francis who has been on a won/loss alternating pattern of late, but has 2 starts. Parra gets Livan and the Twins. Francis faces KC and Detroit (Bannister/Rogers). Starting Parra would give me 6 starts vs. 8. Francis 7 vs. 8. But obviously, Parra is more likely to win.

If you loved Geo as much as everyone else, then you wouldn't be questioning him. You should be ashamed of yourself. naw, yeah he has struggled and it is starting to get worrisome, but not to the point of panic.

No way does anyone give Dempster $14Mil/year. 4-years/$36Mil, is probably the max. If I'm the Cubs, I'd give him no more than 3 years at about $20-25Mil, with a 4th year option. And that's all dependent on what else the Cubs do this season. If you can trade for Sabathia and re-sign him, Dempster doesn't get an offer. If trade for Burnett or Harden, you have their contracts to take on and shouldn't pay Dempster in addition to one of those 2 and Zambrano, Lilly and Marquis.

Except that they're both having horrible years and would cost too much. We're not looking for long term acquisitions, we're looking to win it all this year. Neither of those guys are performing in a manner to justify thinking they could help us this year more than any inhouse options. If they were having normal seasons, then they'd be worth whatever we'd give up to get them. Nobody that has been against either pitcher has talked about what they would cost in terms of prospects. All I keep reading is how both are struggling this year, when both have been around average pitchers this year who have a recent history of being among the top 20 in baseball. Both Harang and Bedard are better pitchers than Burnett, who most of the board (me included) would love. Again, I know balancing the cost in terms of prospects, Burnett probably makes the most sense, but to not be interested in Bedard or Harang at all is baffling. Not really. There's no reason to expect either of them to do better than, say, Marshall, nor any expectation that they'll be good enough to bounce into a three man rotation in the postseason with Z, Demp, and Lilly pitching better than they can be expected to. We have few decent trading chips in the system. If we give up any of those chips for Bedard or Harang, then we have little left to bargain with, and we take ourselves out of the running for a legit #2 like we're all hoping to get. I don't want to make a move that may make sense in the long term at the expense of making a better move for the short term. I think, given Bedard's and Harang's history, you have every reason to predict that they will pitch better than Marshall for the remainder of the season. Not the way they're pitching this year. Regardless, they still don't improve what our three-man postseason rotation will be. We're not looking like we need help improving our chances of making the postseason, we should be looking for moves to improve our chances of winning the WS. Improving our 4th and 5th rotation slots doesn't accomplish that. First of all, there's only a 3-man rotation in the 1st round. In all other rounds, most teams need a 4th starter. Secondly, all these people are clamoring for Burnett....he's clearly not as good THIS YEAR as Bedard and Harang. If Bedard and Harang aren't good enough, you are basically on the Sabathia or bust bandwagon, I must assume.

Vasquez is pretty hittable. In 15 starts, he's given up 7 or more hits 7 times. He has a 7.27 ERA in 3 starts this month with 7 BBs, in 17 innings (he walked 7 in 6 starts, 40 IP in May). He's starting to give up the longball. Lefties have killed him. Vasquez is a guy you can get to early, but he does go deep into games. Not really a guy that's prone to get blown out of the game like Contreras yesterday, but if the Cubs can get a few early, Vasquez should be ripe for the picking (apart) the 3rd time through the lineup. Dempster should have success against the Sox. They Sox had trouble vs. Aaron Cook....on a bad day for him. I think if Dempster gets the groundball going tonight, the Cubs could win by a pretty decent margin and complete the sweep.

I think Rich Hill is also done in Iowa. Word is, he may go down to Arizona to work on his issues. So, Iowa will likely be down 2 starters, thus the promotion of Jeff S.

He's starting to get it. 12-30, 2 BBs, 4 Ks, 4 XBH in his last 10 games.

Yeah, this ain't the Edmonds situation. Edmonds was signed in May. He was able to be thrown into a lineup that was dominating with several parts around him at the time and he would be just a role player. Garcia, if signed today, wouldn't see the rotation til after the AS break and I think it would mean Hendry would wait to see what he has rather than going after someone in a trade before the deadline 2 weeks later.

The Brewers are already tied with the Marlins for 3rd best record in the NL, both 3 games behind the Cards. If they get Sabathia, they have a legit shot to catch the Cubs, catching the Cards would be child's play. FWIW, the Dodgers are only 4.5 behind Arizona. It's not even July, people. If they get Sabathia, they too have a legit shot at that division.

First vote for Gallagher. Not that I don't like Gallagher or anything, but at this point, Rich Hill probably has no value. Hill was one of the top 15-20 starting pitchers last year. Right now, Rich's value is as a minor league headcase....a lot less than the #2 starter he has performed like for a good 1 1/2 years before this season. At this point, you might as well keep Hill and hope he turns it around again, as he did in the minors when he last had control issues, because you are selling way too low. Right now, Gallagher has more value than Hill. If you trade Gallagher, and his ceiling as a low 3, high #4 starter, you can possibly get a legit #2. If Hill comes back to his 06-07 numbers, you have another #2 capable starter. Plus, you'd have to trade more in a package with Hill than you would in a package with Gallagher at this point, unless someone really thinks they have a miracle working pitching coach.

I'd probably go with the same lineup, but add Derosa at 2B and behind Soto in the order.

Except that they're both having horrible years and would cost too much. We're not looking for long term acquisitions, we're looking to win it all this year. Neither of those guys are performing in a manner to justify thinking they could help us this year more than any inhouse options. If they were having normal seasons, then they'd be worth whatever we'd give up to get them. Nobody that has been against either pitcher has talked about what they would cost in terms of prospects. All I keep reading is how both are struggling this year, when both have been around average pitchers this year who have a recent history of being among the top 20 in baseball. Both Harang and Bedard are better pitchers than Burnett, who most of the board (me included) would love. Again, I know balancing the cost in terms of prospects, Burnett probably makes the most sense, but to not be interested in Bedard or Harang at all is baffling.

Daryle Ward commits an error at 1B, and Wells finally gets out of the 2nd. 2 IP, 9 Hits, 10 ER, 2 BB, 2 Ks, 68 pitches for Wells. Vitters did single in his 1st AB. my bad only 9 of the 10 runs are earned.

And a 3rd pitch leaves the park in the 2nd vs. Wells. He's still in there, having given up 10 ERs and 3 HRs. in 1 2/3.

Randy Wells giving Iowa their 2nd consecutive disaster start following Marshall's gem. 8 ERs on 7 hits in 1 2/3 so far. Mitch Atkins is pitching well for the Smokies. 6 scoreless, with 6 hits, but a 12/4 GB ratio.

During the game today, Len said that Marshall will start Tuesday and essentially, Gallagher will be skipped. According to Mr. Casper the Cubs rotation will be: 6/22- Dempster 6/24- Marshall 6/25- Lilly 6/26- Marquis 6/27- Dempster 6/28- Gallagher 6/29- Marshall 6/30- Lilly 7/01- Marquis 7/02- Dempster 7/03- Gallagher -----------------------following are my assumptions based on Zambrano coming back when eligible and the team not wanting to give the top starters an extra day of rest when they will have days off for the AS break right after. -------- 7/04- Zambrano 7/05- Lilly 7/06- Marquis 7/08- Dempster 7/09- Zambrano 7/10- Lilly 7/11- Marquis 7/12- Gallagher/Marshall 7/13- Dempster

Z didn't look too upset during the game today. Seemed to be his normal self when they showed him on camera. Getting him back to potentially start the 1st game of the Cards series should be a huge boost to the team in that series.

Something's really wrong when people don't even want to entertain the thought of Bedard or Harang. Price tag aside, either of those guys would be great acquisitions.

Seriously people? Bedard has a 3.97 ERA this year. Allowing a .233 opp. batting average. Striking out more than 8 per 9. 2:1 K/BB ratio. Quality starts in 7 of 12 games and 2 more 5 IP, 1 ER or less. Three disaster starts make his numbers look worse. He has horrible numbers on the road, but his road starts have been @ Bos, @ NYY x 2, @ Tex, @ TB. And has been pretty dominant at home. Also, keep in mind the Mariners have been the 2nd worse defensive team in baseball, barely better than the Pirates. The Cubs are 3rd best. The only disturbing thing about his numbers is the amount of fly balls he's been giving up. Was more of a groundball pitcher typically, but has given up more FB outs this year, and thus his HR rate has climbed. But Bedard is not a bad pitcher. In fact, I'd say he's a legit #2 starter when healthy. His injury history is better than Burnett and Harden's. I'd rather go after Sabathia, because he's better. Burnett because he'll come cheaper. But I'd consider Gallagher and Vitters for Bedard if it came down to that.

2008 season stats. Contreras- 3.24 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 2.21 GO/FO, 2.29 K/BB Marquis- 4.24 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 1.52 GO/FO, 1.23 K/BB Last 2 starts Contreras- 6.39 ERA, 1.82 WHIP, 0.73 GO/FO, 5/3 K/BB Marquis- 0.68 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 1.24 GO/FO, 3/3 K/BB

I'd put Z on the DL. Call up Marshall and you are a bench player short and a pitcher short with Z taking up a roster spot. DL him retroactive to yesterday, he's eligible to come off 4th of July to start against the Cardinals.