UMFan83

I think this is a leverage move for GarPax. They know that while they want Wade (something something recruiting for 2017), he's not critical for them. They know Wade has an obvious draw to Chicago. They also know that Wade has used the Bulls for leverage in the past, and I'm sure they are not 100% certain if his interest is genuine. So they pretend they can't get down there and see if he is willing to come to Chicago to meet them. Actually pretty impressed if this is what really happened.

Talking about how if Fowler can be ready to go on a rehab assignment in the next could of days the Cubs will probably allow him to play in the ASG. Which makes me wonder if anyone has ever been activated from the DL to play in the ASG before.

I'd be willing to burn a game in order to enjoy the entertainment value of this.

Mods, please change his name to Rondo Fan PLEASE. Just do it. All you have to do is take off the the 'n" Montero Fan would be better. Nah don't waste his strange magic on a broken down old catcher. Heyward Fan will work just fine.

My favorite Mitre moment was the time he outdueled Roy Hallday at Wrigley. Had to have been 2005 Edit: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200506080.shtml

Oh no what is Lester going to do?

What the hell kind of world am I living in that I am excited to see Tommy La Stella in the lineup?

Since this post 7 days ago, Addy has increased his line against lefties to .158/.304/.368/.673 Now we just have to work on his home/road splits this year (.930 OPS at home, .610 OPS on the road after .765/.635 last year)

This article on CBS sports listed Kyle Hendricks as an All-Star snub. Pretty cool that he's getting some fringe recognition. http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/2016-all-star-game-here-are-20-all-star-snubs-left-off-the-initial-rosters/

Yes, let's ignore Chelsea finishing in the top 3 in 11 of 12 years before last year. Or ManU's 22 straight top-3 finishes under Fergie (including 19 in the top-2). Or Arsenal's 20 straight top-4 finishes (they're way closer to ManU/Chelsea than they are to Leicester). Or Man City's 6 straight top-4 shortly after getting a huge influx of cash. Prior to this year, in the past decade, 38 of the 40 spots in the top-4 were filled by ManU, ManCity, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal. The other two were Spurs. And the top-4 best odds to win the EPL this year? City, ManU, Arsenal and Chelsea. Sounds exactly like the NBA Not really....5 years ago the Warriors were one of the saddest franchises in the league, now they are the evil empire. Cleveland is a horsefeathers city and hardly a traditional power, but they just won a title. Indiana recently went through a run where they were a legit challenger to LeBron's Heat teams. Using that "Top 4" Premier league team concept above, here are the conference finalists the last few years 2016: Golden State, Oklahoma City, Toronto, Cleveland 2015: Golden State, Houston, Atlanta, Cleveland 2014: San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Indiana, Miami 2013: San Antonio, Memphis, Indiana, Miami 2012: San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Boston, Miami 2011: Dallas, Oklahoma City, Chicago, Miami 2010: Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix, Boston, Orlando That's 16 teams that have made the top 4 in the last 7 years, over half the NBA. Of those 16 teams, only 7 made repeat trips, and the most any one team made it is 4 of the 7 years. Miami (4), OKC (4), San Antonio (3), Golden State (2), Cleveland (2), Indiana (2), Boston (2), Toronto, Houston, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Phoenix, Orlando, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis

The Bucks make a lot of sense. They have a ton of young talent and he played college ball in Milwaukee, many games in that very arena. They could use a veteran presence. No they won't win a title, but getting to the 2nd or even 3rd round of the playoffs would be a huge accomplishment for that city.

Pirates can really do some damage this weekend in whats left of the divison race, too bad the Cubs own them.

Starting 5 of Rondo, Wade, Butler, Gibson, Lopez in an NBA that has completely shifted towards the 3 point shot, sounds pretty iffy. I don't mind zagging when everyone is zigging but this doesnt seem like smart zagging if that makes any sense.

Lineup predictions? Assuming Fowler plays which is not certain at this point Fowler, CF Posey, C Harper, RF Bryant, 3B Rizzo, 1B Cespedes, LF Zobrist, 2B Russell, SS

Wow it looks like my ~100 votes over several email addresses actually made a difference

Yessss no yadi

Good point Think Addison made it. He's in the opening highlight video on ESPN

Also funny that he's asking ESPN to report his scoop when ESPN has the selection show on their network. Like they are going to leak news from a random blogger to scoop their own selection show minutes before it airs

haven't most of those rondon blown saves been related to the stupid 4 out attempts he's been handed for no good reason? Also, it's been like a week and a half of mattress soiling. I do not think the pitching coach has sabotaged them. lol, I know just venting. Just seems like nothing we've put out there is working during this stretch. Every starter is laboring to get through 5, some are getting shelled, reliable relievers giving up runs, etc etc. I know we'll be fine, just letting off some steam.

Did Chris Bosio get signed by the Cardinals to actively start sabotaging us? I can't think of a single pitcher on the roster besides Hendricks who hasn't horsefeathers the bed these last few weeks. Even Rondon has blown 3 of his last 5 save attempts, which are now infrequent because we are losing too much.

Iglesias in the last 2 series against the Cubs: 5 IP 2 H 2 BB 0 ER

You mean except the cities of Cincinnati and probably St. Louis. And Peralta's family

i thought it would send with a strikeout, not a popup

I was thinking that for sure Heyward's slow starts in the past have all but ended by this point but actually looking at his OPS on July 5th every year, he's definitely lower than any other year in his career but not by a ton 15 - .770 14 - .708 13 - .684 12 - .849 11 - .713 10 - .821