Little Slide Rooter

JJ Hardy with a 2 run shot. Now that guys on a tear.

Garbagalanny just walked Sheets. Now that takes talent.

Sheets has been getting himself out of some jams today, most recently 1 out runners on 2nd and 3rd, but I guess thats what good pitchers do against bad teams. He does, however, have 101 pitches through 5.

If The Cubs are willing to take on the full salary for the last 2.5 years of his deal, we could probably get him pretty cheap, maybe for Ronny and Murton or Hoffpauir.

Didn't realize CC Sabathia came with 4.5 games in the standings too. Over 2-3 months he could.

If you have Towles in this list, may as well put in Felix Pie as well. Unlike Hill, Willis, and Francouer who have had a few years of major league success, a lot of the others are basically prospects who werent ready yet.

2-1 Brewers, and Sheets with 67 pitches through 3. Could be a long day for that bullpen.

if the Brewers land Sabathia, any 4-5 combo of Marquis, Marshall, and Gallagher wont be good enough. Parra/Suppan/Bush goes from being a blow average 2-3-4 to being a pretty decent 3-4-5.

Bill Hall with a 2 run shot, so yeah, this ones pretty much over.

Ward/Sexson would be a nice little combination off the bench as Ward/Floyd was last year.

It might be a bit to much, but it all depends on how much were willing to move. I think Pie, Ceda, and Marshall would be a better deal. Of course if Seattle insisted on Gallagher as a deal breaker, Id have trouble saying no, specially if the Brewers were to land CC.

Only 2 games that matter today, and I dont like the Bucs chances vs. Sheets.

If it ever happens, for all we know the guys in diapers as we speak.

Why isnt Bedard getting consideration? Seattle is 18 out of first and arent going anywhere. Bedard is arbitration eligible in 2009, an I dont know what they plan on doing. I wonder if the Cubs offered to take on the remainder of Sexsons contract as part of the deal as the Red Sox did with Lowell to land Becket that might incline them to send him our way.

Calm down Gallagher lovers. If after 2 or 3 starts, Marquis proves hes at his vintage second half self, he'll be sent to the pen or DFAd.

The Cardinals or White Sox will no doubt sign him 2008 Rookie of the Year 2009 Cy Young.

Damn. thats worse than Lees slump. I wonder if whatever he went to the Domincan for has been on his mind for a little while and affecting his play.

The question is, what tradeable prospects to we actually have? I mean those that could turn some interest. Heres a short list I was able to come up with between Iowa and Tennessee. We have some intriguing A prospects, but it's too early for them to be anything other than throw ins. Iowa Jeff Samardzija Kevin Hart Casey McGhee Eric Patterson Felix Pie Micah Hoffpauir Josh Kroeger might have some throw in value Tennessee Jose Ceda Donnie Veal Wellington Castillo Tyler Colvin Jake Fox or Matt Craig might have some throw in value. Some A players that could be worth something include Vitters, Ridling, Flaherty, Pawelek, Rhee, Marquez Smith even Ryan Harvey might still have some value. Hes only 23. Im sure theres a few more out there. Again, with A players, it's too much of a gamble for other teams to have too much interst, although if we package Vitters with some other prospects, that could very well land us something. We basically have no Gamels or Laportas to offer. Again, we'll have to rely more on quantity than quality, and we can aford to. Unlike the Brewers, the Cubs are an organization that can afford to build with free agents and worry about draft picks later.

Randy Wolf, stay away. The Cubs should only trade for a pitcher if he's actually an improvement over what they already have. Agreed, but I'm afraid we're all going to be massively disappointed. Every year Hendry does something whether the Cubs are in contention or not, and whether its a worth while deal or not 2003-Ramirez and Lofton-got us to the playoffs and shaped the future. 2004-Nomar-sounded great on paper. The final piece to a perfect team. 2005-Matt Lawton. kind of a break even type of deal. 2006-We were sellers, Maddux for Izturis, plus the evacuations of Walker, Neifi, and the recently aquired Nevin. 2007-Jason Kendall, although it was before the deadline, and then Monroe later on. Another break even type of deal. History tells s something will be done. The question is, will it be to help or just for the sake of doing something. Personlly, I'm expecting him to pull another rabbit out of a hat '03 and '04 style.

I've been looking forward to Jim Edmonds triumphant return to St. Louis since we got him, and now I have to miss it for my stupid sister in laws stupid birthday. Still a sweep sounds very realistic here. If Zambrano is back to form, he should make short work of the Cards, while we should be able to jump all over Looper. Despite this years stats, Ted Lilly is a much better pitcher than Kyle Lohse, and Sean Marshall is basically pitching for a job Sunday, so he'll be giving his all vs. the much cooled off Todd Wellemyer.

Is Manny Parra considered a rookie or was he up too long last year?

Theriot, Marshall, Murton+prospects for Burnett+Eckstein? Heeeeeck no. Eckstein is not very close to Theriot right now and is 5 years or so older. Burnett isn't a huge improvement over Marshall just big. Plus that trade pretty much kills us from trading for anyone else of any caliber. If the Brewers really are as close to Sabathia as they think, we will need something to counter. Rich Harden would be ieal, but with the A's in contention, theres no reason for them to move him. Burnett is the next best option, and if taking Eckstein off their hands is the way to get him, so be it. While hes a career .700 OPSer, we could do a lot worse at the 8 spot in our lineup. We could do worse but right now we have better in Theriot so why f-it up. Plus it seems to me the team is very very close and Theriot is one of the better liked guys so you risk the chemistry issue as well. And this is all without mention that Burnett and Eckstein both get paid much much more than the others meaning whoever our owner is next offseason whether the same or new will be less inclined to sign a big FA. It wouldnt be for the sake of getting Eckstein and moving Theriot, it would be for getting Burnett, and they want to move Eck. Sometims you need to give something to get something. You cant always give up Alex Gonzalez, Francis Beltran, Bobby Hill, and Jose Hernandez and get Aramis Ramirez and Nomar Garciapara.

Thats a hell of a risk for a rent-a-player who may or may not get them into the postseason. After Braun, Fielder, Hart, their lineup just isnt that god, and their pen is awful. The Brewers are going to have to prepare for life after Sheets next year. It might not be a good idea to give up 2 of your top prospects, one whose one of the top in the game for a guy who MIGHT help them get into the playoffs.

Theriot, Marshall, Murton+prospects for Burnett+Eckstein? Heeeeeck no. Eckstein is not very close to Theriot right now and is 5 years or so older. Burnett isn't a huge improvement over Marshall just big. Plus that trade pretty much kills us from trading for anyone else of any caliber. If the Brewers really are as close to Sabathia as they think, we will need something to counter. Rich Harden would be ieal, but with the A's in contention, theres no reason for them to move him. Burnett is the next best option, and if taking Eckstein off their hands is the way to get him, so be it. While hes a career .700 OPSer, we could do a lot worse at the 8 spot in our lineup.

If this is true, its time to set our sights on Harden, and push hard. I know the A's are still very much in contention, and Billy Beane isnt going to give up something for nothing, but its something that will need to be done.