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The Lilly breaking ball is scary tonight-it's going all over the place (but mostly high and outside). He better find that release point before too long.

That would be fine with me. The Cubs would have a much greater chance of winning against the Phillies bullpen.

you say that as if the Cubs have had hitters go elsewhere and blossom into great hitters since...oh, let's say anytime in the past 20-25 years. Joe Carter wasn't to shabby now was he, I believe he has a couple rings on his finger! I wasn't talking about just hitters I was talking about any player, pitcher, batter and ballgirl for that matter. Well, if you're talking about anybody, they held on to Zambrano through his struggles and let him blossom into a great pitcher just a few years ago now. Rich Hill was also kept and has turned into a good pitcher.

Colvin? Next year? Presumably, Jones in 2008, then who knows in 2009. But with Colvin in AA, it wouldn't be a surprise to think the Cubs thought of him as their guy by then. Colvin makes Pie look like Adam Dunn in terms of taking walks. He's got 14 walks all year long. He only has an OPS of .700 right now in AA. Wow-that's actually good news to me. I hadn't checked on him in a couple of weeks-he's been on a hot streak and may actually be starting to figure out AA. 33 AB's, 13 H, 2 2B, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 SB

After May, Floyd had 104 ABs (and 9 BBs) and Murton had 105 (and 12 BBs). Technically correct, but I think it's more accurate to say they played about the same amount over the first couple months, don't you? Yeah, it would be. Sorry about the confusion.

Of the 6 likely NL playoff teams, the Cubs are Behind Milwaukee and Atlanta in offense Even with the Dodgers and Mets Ahead of the Padres and Diamondbacks And in Pitching: Behind San Diego Even with the Mets Ahead of Arizona, Dodgers, Atlanta, Milwaukee Yes, this team has significant holes that can be upgraded. People are talking like this team cannot be competitive in the playoffs with the current roster or that the Cubs will be taking the worst offense into the playoffs of all the teams, and that simply is not true. Would an upgrade make winning more likely? Of course, but the cost may be too high, and the Cubs have just as much chance as anybody else in the National League right now with their current roster.

Who's out there to get that we won't get fleeced over? Griffey? Dunn? Renteria? Probably forgetting a few others. You think Atlanta won't fleece the Cubs considering they're in the playoff race with us? Do you think Cincinnati isn't going to ask for the moon for both Dunn and Griffey? Are you sure you want to give Hill possibly for one of those guys because that might be one of the pitchers that goes. of course it's possible the Cubs would get fleeced acquiring one of those guys, but how do you know? are you saying it shouldn't even be considered and we should just assume there's no chance to get someone who will upgrade this offense? that seems insane to me. the braves need pitching. the reds need everything. is see no reason not to inquire about guys like this. and to answer your question specifically, no, i wouldn't give up R. Hill for those guys. but i'm not sure that's what it would take. Agreed that they should look into all those guys, but don't you think they are doing that? I'm sure the organization is still looking for a deal if they can find one that's good-they simply aren't desperate right now and refuse to overpay. Bruce told us a few days ago that Griffey was basically unavailable and that Dunn was commanding a very high price according to his sources.

SS, C and RF remain problems. There are holes on this team. We get no SLG from RF, no anything from C and I'm not sold on a middle IF of Theriot and Fontenot. The middle infield won't be Theriot and Fontenot though-it will be Theriot/DeRosa. Now that Murton is up and hopefully DeRosa's time in RF will be diminishing in favor of Murton (although yesterday was not encouraging in that respect) the only time Fontenot will play is when Aramis or DeRosa get a day off. Other than that, DeRosa should be at second most everyday. It would be nice if the team could upgrade at CF or RF, but I don't see it as absolutely necessary. The production should get at least slightly better at CF, RF, and SS just by the people playing there now.

That's only true if you think Hill not catching would somehow make Zambrano not hit. I think he's saying that offense at catcher is not nearly as important with Zambrano on the mound. Z's bat at pitcher makes up for the loss of putting Hill in the lineup at catcher. I wish they would stop putting Koyie with Rich Hill though. The offense with those two at the bottom is much more likely to struggle. Hopefully Hill just becomes Z's personal catcher and that's it.

Just little nit-picks: Murton didn't sit for 2 days after his Opening Day start, but only 1 day. Murton started 4 out of the first 6 games, not 2 out of the first 7 or 8. Murton still did play more than Floyd did over the first couple months of the year. Murton has had stretches where he has performed well in a platoon situation. July 2005 and July 2006, and early September 2005 and to a lesser extent August 2006. I hope management gives Murton his opportunity, and I hope he takes advantage of it when it happens (because I'm not sure how long it will last if he doesn't).

The Cubs have had 3 games on ESPN, and 2 on ESPN 2: The games on ESPN: Loss vs Mets in May Loss vs Braves in June Win vs Giants in July Games on ESPN 2: Loss vs Reds in April Win vs Cardinals in July

They weren't reluctant in the Garland-Karchner trade. But yeah, I'd be shocked if we got Dye. I hope this doesn't wind up being another Palmiero situation, where the Cubs come back years later after Murton's a monster and say "we never thought he would develop power" Of course in retrospect, now that we know why Palmiero developed power (i.e. roids), it makes a little more sense, but I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that Murton would develop more power. I'm still a little confused why the Cubs are sour on Murton now -- a bad April and suddenly everything he did last year means nothing? Something's not quite right with this situation. I don't necessarily think the Cubs organization is sour on Murton. They might not think that he can contribute this year (which is false) but at the same time there have been several reports that the Cubs have a very high trade value on him. When other teams have come calling to take him off the Cubs hands, the Cubs have said no way. It sounds to me that this paper is just speculating that the Cubs could offer Murton, not that they actually would. If they're high on him they sure have a funny way of showing it. Has he even played since he got called up? He has pinch-hit twice in the three games since he got called up. My guess is that he'll get a start in RF tonight. Plus, like I said, being high on him for the future and thinking he can contribute right now are two very different things, and the Cubs seem to believe in the former but not so much the latter.

They weren't reluctant in the Garland-Karchner trade. But yeah, I'd be shocked if we got Dye. I hope this doesn't wind up being another Palmiero situation, where the Cubs come back years later after Murton's a monster and say "we never thought he would develop power" Of course in retrospect, now that we know why Palmiero developed power (i.e. roids), it makes a little more sense, but I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that Murton would develop more power. I'm still a little confused why the Cubs are sour on Murton now -- a bad April and suddenly everything he did last year means nothing? Something's not quite right with this situation. I don't necessarily think the Cubs organization is sour on Murton. They might not think that he can contribute this year (which is false) but at the same time there have been several reports that the Cubs have a very high trade value on him. When other teams have come calling to take him off the Cubs hands, the Cubs have said no way. It sounds to me that this paper is just speculating that the Cubs could offer Murton, not that they actually would.

Unfortunately, I don't think Lilly will even get to wrap up Pitcher of the month on his own team (although it will be close): Carlos Zambrano (July-6 starts) 5-1, 1.38 ERA, 39.0 IP, 19 H, 18 BB, 34 K

My opinion at this point is that Fontenot and Cedeno should both be bench players. The lineup should be: Against RHP: Soriano Theriot Lee Ramirez Floyd/Murton (both getting a decent amount of at-bats) DeRosa Jones Kendall (or Hill when Z pitches) Pitcher Against LHP: Soriano Theriot Lee Ramirez DeRosa Murton Pagan Kendall (or Hill when Z pitches) Pitcher Fontenot and Cedeno should get about equal at-bats off of the bench as the two backup middle infielders.

I don't know if I'd go as far as saying most, but a lot did.LOL...funny how that changed so quickly. :lol: I'll admit I'm one of the ones who wouldn't have minded seeing him traded at the time. The Cubs didn't look to be in contention and it looked like he was in a freefall. Now his claim about winning the Cy Young Award this year doesn't look so crazy after all.He should be the leading candidate after today. Wonder how much teeth gnashing there is in the front office after not signing him to the very reasonable deal at the beginning of the season? He's not anywhere near the Cy Young Award quite yet. He might not even be in the top 5 right now. If he keeps pitching like he has recently though, he could move up the ranks quickly. Besides Penny, Young and Peavy, who is there? I'd put Smoltz and John Maine definitely ahead of Z right now. I'd probably put Z slightly ahead of guys like Oliver Perez, Brandon Webb, Tim Hudson, Noah Lowry, and Ted Lilly-mainly because while all those people have better ERA's than Z, Z's wins, strikeouts, and IP will probably put him in better contention for the Cy Young than any of them.

Wow. I didn't notice that. To me, that makes it much more realistic that Hendry can add Griffey to this team. Also, isn't Prior arby-eligible? Ack, forgot about Prior. He's not going to be getting any type of raise though, and in the off chance he does it's not going to be much at all, < 1 mil. If Prior gets a raise, then the Cubs would non-tender him IMO. My guess is that he gets the full 20 percent decline in arbitration-I mean, he didn't throw a pitch this year, so I'm not sure how Prior could convince an arbiter that he deserves more than the mininum allowed (which is around 3 million for him next year).

I don't know if I'd go as far as saying most, but a lot did.LOL...funny how that changed so quickly. :lol: I'll admit I'm one of the ones who wouldn't have minded seeing him traded at the time. The Cubs didn't look to be in contention and it looked like he was in a freefall. Now his claim about winning the Cy Young Award this year doesn't look so crazy after all.He should be the leading candidate after today. Wonder how much teeth gnashing there is in the front office after not signing him to the very reasonable deal at the beginning of the season? He's not anywhere near the Cy Young Award quite yet. He might not even be in the top 5 right now. If he keeps pitching like he has recently though, he could move up the ranks quickly.

I'm surprised-our batter-pitcher matchups look pretty good. We've had limited at-bats against Hamels, but all the guys at the top of the chart in at-bats have had success against Hamels (Soriano, Theriot, Ramirez, Murton, and Pagan has a HR in 5 at-bats) On the other side, nothing incredible, but most of the Phillies better hitters haven't really faced Lilly before.

Houston actually brought they tying run up to the plate in the SD game, but Burke struck out with the bases loaded to end the threat.

After this next week (where the Cardinals play Pittsburgh and Washington) the three weeks after that they are home against SD, home against LAD, at Milwaukee, at the Cubs, home against the Marlins, home against the Braves. I'd be shocked if they were in the race at the end of August with that schedule.

Bring up Epatt and send Fontenot back down. I'm not sure Epatt would help. He certainly hasn't been very good next to all the other hitters at Iowa. He's having a similar season to a guy like Coats, and somebody like Coats might be better for a bench role (although EPatt is of course a lot better prospect).

ESPN is reporting that the Bears are sending the Bills a 5th round pick. If the Bills had to have sent him back to the Eagles, the Eagles would have paid the Bills a 6th rounder, so Buffalo went with the better deal. I think this is a great trade for Chicago-the only concern I have for them is this is now another guy that they have to give a long-term extension to.

You have to file a protest that the umps violated a certain rule and you have to state what that rule was. The Soriano play was a subjective call, so the umps didn't violate any rules. And what happens after you file the protest? How do they go about fixing the situation? I'm not exactly sure about that one :D. The only protest I've ever known to be upheld was the George Brett situation, but that one was easy because his out was the last one of the game, so they just erased the out, put the home run on the board, and kept playing. I'm not sure what would happen if it happened in like the 3rd inning, although my guess is that they would erase the last 6 innings and continue the game from the point of the problem.

You have to file a protest that the umps violated a certain rule and you have to state what that rule was. The Soriano play was a subjective call, so the umps didn't violate any rules.