Outshined_One

All Star? Nah. I wouldn't go that far with him. From what I've seen of him in person and from what I've been reading about him, a lot of his future depends on whether he can stick at 3B. At the rate things are going for him, I don't really feel that is overly likely since he's had a number of issues out there defensively that might not easily be corrected with coaching and repetition. On the other hand, he has done a very good job at 1B. He's made a number of nifty plays around the bag and could be a plus defender there, imo. His bat should play well as he develops. His frame seemed to be pretty much filled out when I've seen him, but the guy hits a lot of ropes that I think a number of his doubles could translate into HRs. He could develop into a solid 1B, but nothing particularly spectacular, imo.

Sorry to hear it man. Hope everything turns out for the best for you.

Ahhhhhhh, tough luck. If you have some time for lunch on Sunday or want to fill up pre-concert on Saturday, I'd recommend an Italian beef sandwich from Al's (dry, sweet peppers) and a small lemon Italian lemonade from Mario's at the very least. I used to go to high school about a block from there and would eat around there all the time.

The Chiefs are facing a pitcher whose name looks like someone's cat walked across a keyboard. Rzepczynski!

like E St Louis ? I'm thinking more along the lines of Vanuatu.

We gave up less for Harden.

That and you get constant updates on how his dog can't get along with him.

Addressing your questions... 1) First thing's first, meet your new best friend, the CTA train system map: Link. Traffic in and around downtown can be an enormous hassle, especially if you're not familiar with the major thoroughfares and all of the streets which are one way or become one way at various points. If you want to see the sights, the CTA is your new best friend. If you look at the map, direct your attention to where the Pink Line intersects with the Blue Line. Your hotel is between the Racine and Illinois Medical District stops on the Blue Line. 2) I would absolutely recommend taking the CTA to get to Wrigley. Driving and finding parking near there can be an absolute nightmare and is freaking expensive. You can park in the DeVry Lot, but you're coming from a part of the city where traffic is going to suck getting there. In order to get to Wrigley, hop on the Blue Line train headed downtown (I want to say it's marked "O'Hare", but it might be marked "Rosemont" thanks to construction) and get off at Jackson. There's a free transfer to the Red Line at Jackson where you go down some stairs and through a tunnel. When you get to the Red Line, take the northbound Red Line train marked "Howard" (there will be plenty of Cubs fans on there) to the Addison stop. Wrigley's right there when you get off the train. 3) Depending on the game's length and how well the CTA is operating, you can probably get back to your hotel by about 4 PM if you leave the game immediately. 4) Driving to Toyota Park from your hotel is a bit...exciting. You're in a decent area with some really good Italian food (Mario's Italian Lemonade and Al's Italian Beef on Taylor are both musts) and a college campus nearby, but it's close to some iffy areas of the city. I would recommend getting on 290 East, taking it to 90/94 East, and getting on 55 South from there rather than drive down Ashland to get to 55 South. It's a bit longer and the traffic is a bit more intense, but you avoid potentially making new friends with the local criminal community in the Pilsen neighborhood (which, in fairness, is starting to go on the upswing). How long are you in town? Lots of us can provide recommendations in terms of things to see and do, along with advice on local things worth knowing.

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/46/mariakanellis0012ly1.jpg

Trade-wise, I'd poke around for the following... 1) A LHP reliever. Another dominant reliever period would be nice, but I'm not a huge fan of the lefties the Cubs currently have in the bullpen. Brian Fuentes would be nice, but if another option presents itself, that'd be good. 2) Another SP. I'm hoping Hill comes back healthy, but given Harden's health, Dempster pitching a ton in the first half, and the questionable nature of the back end of our rotation, another SP could help the Cubs' cause. I'm not thinking about someone like Wolf or Maddux who may or may not be an upgrade over Marquis. I'm thinking more along the lines of someone who can step into the rotation and at least be an effective #3 type. Rich Hill could fill that role, but if Burnett could be had for cheap or someone else is unexpectedly available, that could help. And then, in short... 3) RH power bat off the bench. 4) Backup SS in case Theriot comes crashing down to earth. 5) Backup CF who can hit RHPs in case Edmonds is re-injured or goes back to being ineffective.

It is!

Box Scores: Iowa is off until the 18th. Tennessee lost 9-3 Box Score: 2B N. Spears 1/5, 2B (15), K CF T. Colvin 1/4, R RF D. Deeds 3/4, R, 2B (23) C W. Castillo 2/4, 2B (7), 2 RBI 3B J. Lansford 1/4, R, 2B (8) SP G. Johnson 4 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 2 HBP, 9 GO-2 FO RP E. Campusano 2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 2 GO-1 FO Daytona PPD: Rain. Peoria lost 8-7 Box Score SS N. Samson 3/5, R, K, SB (5) LF E. Lara 2/4, R, 2B (4), RBI, K 3B J. Rosa 0/2, R, RBI, 2 BB, K, E (22, fielding) 1B R. Ridling 1/4, R, 3 RBI, BB C L. Bautista 1/4, 2B (18), RBI, BB, K 2B G. Guzman 1/3, 2 R, BB, E (5, throw) SP A. Santana 3 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 4 GO-2 FO RP J. Muyco 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 2 GO-2 FO EJECTIONS: Manager Ryne Sandberg (3rd inning) - 5th of the season Boise won 6-4 Box Score: 2B J. Harrison 0/3, RBI, BB, E (2, fielding) CF K. Calvert 1/5, 2B (1) 3B J. Vitters 2/5, 2 R, 2B (10), K 1B R. Keedy 1/4, R, 2B (5), RBI, BB, 2 K C C. Perez 1/4, 2B (5), RBI, K SS M. Gonzalez 1/5, 3B (2), RBI DH M. Brenly 0/3, BB RF D. Rundle 2/3, 2 R, 3B (2), RBI, BB, SB (2), OF assist at second base SP M. Perconte 3 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 4 GO-4 FO Mesa won 20-8, Box Score: DH M. Cerda 3/6, 2 R, RBI, K LF J. Jones 2/5, 2 R, 2B (4), HR (2), 5 RBI, K, HBP 3B J. Contreras 2/6, 2 R, 2B (6) RF N. Perez 2/6, 3 R, 2B (6), K, E (2, fielding), OF assist at second base SS J. Lake 3/4, 3 R, 3B (2), RBI, BB, SB (4) 2B G. Matheus 3/4, R, 2 RBI, BB SP D. Nunez 1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 1 GO-1 FO RP Y. Gonzalez 2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 GO-4 FO, E (1, pickoff) RP T. Mitchell 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, WP, 3 GO-0 FO DSL Cubs 1 lost 3-2 Box Score: SP R. Pichardo 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, WP, 7 GO-4 FO - 17 years old RP R. Carmona 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, WP, 1 GO-0 FO - just demoted from Mesa (18 years old) DSL Cubs 2 won 8-6, Box Score: SS C. Morales 1/3, 2B (8), K, E (20, fielding) - .314/.358/.453/.811 - 19 years old RF J. Morelli 4/4, 2 R, HR (2), 2 RBI - .326/.436/.522/.958 - 18 years old SP J. Tineo 5 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 2 HBP, 2 WP, 6 GO-5 FO - 21 IP: 3.86 ERA, 25 K/18 BB - 17 years old Overall: 3-3 At the MLBAAP in Gold Coast, Queensland: Kangaroos won game one 9-4, Box Score: RF S. Williams 0/2, 2 BB Kangaroos won game two 7-3, Box Score: RF S. Williams 1/2, RBI, BB, K

My keepers: Tom Brady Brandon Jacobs Anquan Boldin

I'm in. I'll pick my keepers soon.

That's his final line. Rebel Ridling is killing the ball tonight, with two doubles and a home run.

Bad throw from Hart. Morneau was safe.

Well, that throw sucked.

Lidge's hanging sliders will save Selig's feet from the fire.

Ryan Ludwick channeling his inner Jim Edmonds.

Must be crowded out on the field!

AL plays in the bottom half of the inning.

Fisticuffs at dawn!

Kazmir doesn't look right.

It's win-win!

I wonder what Kazmir's pitch limit is...