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My first choice would be to sign Kevin Jones and 2nd choice is Travis henry. Kevin Jones makes a lot of sense. I'd go with Jones. Henry has reportedly fathered 9 children with 9 women. I doubt Angelo will want to take in another problem player. I think it's only 8 women! In other news, the Bears signed WR Marcus Robinson, who signed in order to retire as a Bear. Well, there goes the mystery of what hat he will wear into the Hall of Fame!

LOL. Derosa's the everyday 8th hitter right now. If you just showed me the stats and I didn't know the players, I would construct the Cubs lineup as: Fukudome Theriot Ramirez Soto Derosa Soriano Lee Edmonds Derosa's been great this year, and was pretty good last year. His defense hasn't been great this year, but versatility does have its place. I was one of the bigger proponents for Roberts, believing that DeRosa would make the bench better or a run at starting SS. But the way everything played out looks like it was for the best, and DeRo has responded accordingly.

Couple things about moving up Zambrano to Thursday. It would keep the bat in his hands. His regular turn would be Friday in an AL park, meaning Cubs would DH and Zambrano would not hit, possibly taking a huge advantage away from the Cubs (Z's bat better than his opponent's bat in the 9-hole). He'll have to pitch in 2 DH games anyway, might as well split them up so he doesn't go over 2 weeks without an AB. Also, there are off days next Monday (Hall of Fame exhibition) and the Monday after. The scheduled could be tweaked there also. And if anyone thinks the White Sox games are important, if you use the regular 5-man rotation from here to the break, Zambrano misses both Sox series. Also, you don't want to keep him on 4-days rest (skipping a starter for each off Monday) because then he will miss the Cards series. I could see vs. Atl 10- Lilly (vs. ATL) 11- Dempster (vs. ATL) 12- Zambrano (vs. ATL) 13- Marquis (at TOR) on regular rest 14- Gallagher (at TOR) vs. Halladay, poor kid. 15- Lilly (at TOR) 16- OFF DAY 17- Dempster (at TB) 18- Zambrano (at TB) 19- Marquis (at TB) 20- Lilly (vs. CWS) 21- Gallagher (vs. CWS) 22- Dempster (vs. CWS) 23- OFF Day 24- Zambrano (vs. BAL) 25- Lilly (vs. BAL) 26- Marquis (vs. BAL) 27- Dempster (at CWS) 28- Gallagher (at CWS)-- maybe Rich Hill here if he's ready. 29- Zambrano (at CWS) 30- Lilly (at SF) 1- Marquis (at SF) 2- Dempster (at SF) 3- Gallagher (at SF) 4- Zambrano (at StL) This way gets Zambrano vs. the best teams. Vs. Atlanta over Toronto. White Sox/Cards over San Francisco. Gets Gallagher vs. a weak SF lineup and out of the Cards series.

I think this is gonna be a tough week for me. Have some starts to choose from, which always worries me. Don't want to pick the wrong ones. Four starts are vs. either the Red Sox or Marlins, (#5 and 6 in ML runs scored this year) with Hamels getting both and Volquez getting Boston. Do I start both Myers and Hamels (basically do I start Myers?) and hope they shutdown the Marlins in back-to-back games? Do I start Wainwright who left his last game w/ an injury? I'll probably start Lilly vs. Atlanta w/ no Chipper, but what will he give me in his former home in Toronto? Does Francis have a good game in him vs. CWS?

It was one of my worst weeks this week in a big game. I'm definitely disappointed. I'm still the top scoring team in the league, but my team has been outscored by my opponents. That's absolutely amazing. That is pretty nuts. You have the best team on paper (er, computer?) too. Couple guys were hurt. You will be there in the end, IMO.

Really just the Red Sox and Angels have a realistic shot to me. The White Sox could pull a surprise, but I don't see them being able to shutdown Boston or outhit them in a 5-7 game series. After the Rockies run last year though, I wouldn't count out the Rays, but they would be a longshot at this point. Tigers and Yankees (probably need some help in trades) are probably the 2 most likely teams down in the standings to make a run. Damn Seattle.

Damnit, NC you won't go away. If you and Don would lose, I could open up a very comfortable lead in the division. My 6 game win streak is as much as any team has won total all year!

Most players have better home numbers than road numbers. I don't have the numbers, but I'd guess Wrigley is playing as one of the best hitter's parks in the league, granted a lot of it because the Cubs play there.

Eric Patterson and Jason Dubois go deep in the 1st for Iowa. Pie now apparantly is the I-Cubs 5th place hitter.

I'm pretty sure that Benson was under the influence on the boat. But I'm just as sure the police were completely out of line in that situation too. However, after this recent DUI arrest, it doesn't matter what's true or not. You gotta side against Benson now. Not a smart idea for a guy already on thin ice and in trouble w/ the law. Plenty of reason for the Bears to cut him now.

sonova

Defense wins championships.

Z to Marmol to Wood That's how it should go to lock up the W. Hopefully nothing dumb happens. Z goes 8....then Wood.

Not saying Fontenot woulda done that last AB, but just saying....if he did, it would be 5-2 right now.

Pure like steroids.

Lou needs to get kicked out. I probably would as a fan right now.

From the dugout?

Why throw Kemp a 1st pitch fastball? Have we not learned anything from Chris Young?

Send Derrek.

Well, it's a hit.

one is better than none. Sinker baller that had given up only 1 hit, double play was very predictable. Agreed. Don't mind the bunt there because you have two ground ball hitters up there against a ground ball pitcher. Add to that Fontenot has been struggling lately and Johnson is batting against a right-hander. All of those make playing for 1-2 and staying out of the double play a pretty good option. I believe that's also the one situation where sac bunting increases your run expectancy even in an average situation, and that was a much better than average situation for bunting. If you play for 1 run, the best you are gonna do is score 1 run. Cubs had hit 6 GBs to that point and none of them found a hole. Odds are everything they hit on the ground isn't going to be fielded and fielded cleanly at that. LH hitters have had success off of Lowe, Fontenot is one of 2 in the lineup. Lowe had just walked a man on 5 pitches and gave up a line drive single, the first in the game.

Yep, Lowe had thrown 5 of the first 6 pitches out of the zone and left one up for the first hit. With a LH hitter at the plate, who Lowe has bad splits against. He was as hittable right there for Fontenot as he will probably be all day.

Geo goes opposite field. If Lee starts doing that, he'll heat up again.

Probably. About as much effort as a routine pickoff throw to 1B.

Ha. Intentional walk in the 4th inning of a scoreless game?