San Antonio Spurs

Cubs Down on the Farm Report - 09/06/10

admin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 06:02:00 +0000

The Iowa Cubs reduce their magic number to one but come up short in their first chance to clinch. Two Cubs minor league managers are named the Manager of the Year for their respective leagues. One Cubs minor league skipper is ejected from a game in the first inning. Three Tennessee Smokies are named postseason All-Stars. The Daytona Cubs and Peoria Chiefs are both eliminated from playoff contention. All four Cub full season affiliates end the year with records over .500!

All that and more in today's Down on the Farm Report!

Painful to Watch ... Cubs and Dempster Embarrassed Again - Cubs 5 Mets 18

admin — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 22:31:00 +0000

Game One Hundred Thirty-Seven - Cubs 5 Mets 18
WP - Jon Niese (9-7) LP - Ryan Dempster (12-10) Save - None

Ryan Dempster took the hill Sunday in search of his 100th big league win for the second time ... and he picked up where he left off against the Pirates. Dempster was horrible versus the Bucs and it was pretty much the same on Sunday.

Dempster struggled with his command in the 26-pitch first inning then gave up the lead in the second. Dempster labored through the first two innings and ran up his pitch count. Dempster walked three of the first ten batters he faced. Before he could record three outs, Dempster had thrown 51 pitches after two innings and it was apparent that Dempster would not be around for long

The Mets took advantage of a questionable two-base error by Tyler Colvin to start the fifth. Colvin appeared to catch a deep fly into right center by Angel Pagan but the umps ruled he did not. Dempster could not keep the Mets from tying the game after the missed call and ended up allowing five runs in the fifth ... and another RBI single by Jon Niese.

Dempster departed after just 4 2/3 innings. He allowed seven runs, three earned, on nine hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Dempster threw a Zambrano-esque 105 pitches, 63 for strikes.

The Cubs offense handed Ryan Dempster a lead twice and he could not keep the Mets off the board.

Aramis Ramirez had a big day at the plate (2-for-4 with a home run, a run scored and three RBI). Ramirez drove in the Cubs' first three runs with a single in the first and a two-run homer in the third. Ramirez's RBI knock in the first was the 1,600th hit of his career. Ramirez came up limping on a ground out to third in the eighth and was replaced by Koyie Hill.

Marlon Byrd (1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk) showed the importance of patience at the plate. Byrd worked a two-out walk in the third and scored on Ramirez's longball. Ramirez's 22nd homer tied him with the team lead with Alfonso Soriano ... and his 73 RBI lead the club.

Tyler Colvin celebrated his 25th birthday with mixed results. Colvin tripled, his fourth of the season, and scored the Cubs' fourth run on a sac fly by Geovany Soto ... but the error he was credited with started the Mets' five-run fifth inning.

The other half of the Dynamic Duo had a rough day as well. Starlin Castro ended his streak of six straight multi-hit games with a 0-fer at the dish. Castro (0-for-4) dropped his average to .317 and hit into two double plays.

Geovany Soto launched his 16th homer of the year in the seventh and put together a solid performance (1-for-2 with a sac fly, a walk, a run scored and two RBI) out of the eight-spot in Q's lineup.

Jon Niese beat the Cubs for the first time in his career. Niese did just enough in his first start at Wrigley and kept his team from being swept. Niese hit the ball better than he threw it and drove in two of the Mets' seven runs (2-for-4 with two RBI).

The Mets won the season series against the Cubs (4-3) and handed Mike Quade his fourth Major League defeat (8-4). The Metropolitans scored in double figures for the first time since June ... and Cubs' pitching, led by Ryan Dempster, gave up 18 runs on 21 hits with nine walks to the other team from New York. The Mets went through the lineup six times ... and started the seventh time through in the ninth. The 21 hits was the most for a Mets' team since 2005.

With the loss, the Cubs slipped back to 19 under the mediocre mark with a 59-78 record in Twenty-Ten ...

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Mets - 09/05/10

admin — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 15:05:00 +0000

Game One Hundred Thirty-Seven: Cubs (59-77) vs. Mets (66-70)
Game Time - 1:20pm CDT
Coverage - WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 188
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Ryan Dempster (12-9, 3.71/1.29) vs. Jon Niese (8-7, 3.70/1.38)

The Cubs are 8-3 under Mike Quade ... Could Q's crew actually complete the sweep of the Metropolitans on Blackhawks Day at Wrigley Field? It is fitting that Ryan Dempster will shoot for career win number 100 on the day Chicago's hockey team is being honored at the old ballpark.

In Other News ... and Rumors
The Cubs have decided to flip-flop Casey Coleman and Carlos Silva in the rotation. Quade announced Saturday that Coleman will go on Labor Day in the opener against Houston and Silva will make his return Tuesday night.

Bruce Levine discussed all things Cubs during Talkin' Baseball Saturday morning (ESPN 1000). While the off-season is still two months away from kicking into high gear, Levine changed his stance on the Cubs' payroll for 2011 and mentioned the likelihood of Adam Dunn being in a Cubs' uniform next season ... and beyond.

As for the payroll, Levine thinks the Cubs will operate in 2011 near the same $140+ million mark they did this season. Levine pointed out the Cubs must spend wisely ... then brought up Adam Dunn.

Levine feels Jim Hendry will do all he can do to bring Adam Dunn to the North Side of Chicago to play first base. Levine pointed out how defensively challenged Dunn is but reminded those listening how well he hits at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs 2010 season comes to an end four weeks from today ... but this afternoon it all begins with Ryan Dempster ...

Z Cubs Beat Z Mets - Cubs 5 Mets 3

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 21:37:00 +0000

Game One Hundred Thirty-Six - Cubs 5 Mets 3
WP - Carlos Zambrano (7-6) LP - Jenrry Mejia (0-3) Save - Carlos Marmol (27)

The Cubs improved to 8-3 under Mike Quade with their fourth win of the homestand Saturday (4-1). The Northsiders have played better ball with more energy over the last 11 games. The Cubs are more aggressive on the bases but more importantly Q has received production from the middle of his lineup.

The Cubs offense did just enough Saturday. Two of the five runs scored with two outs. Marlon Byrd, Aramis Ramirez, Xavier Nady and Geovany Soto drove in runs but Saturday was all about Carlos Zambrano.

Carlos Zambrano was wild early on but two doubles plays in the first two innings got him out of early trouble. Blake DeWitt and Starlin Castro turned a slick 4-6-3 twin killing in the first ... then Castro flipped to DeWitt to start the 6-4-3 to end in the second.

Starlin Castro's defense and indecision cost Zambrano a run in the fourth. The Mets executed a double steal on a 3-2 pitch to Lucas Duda that Castro could not decide whether he wanted to throw to the plate or tag Carlos Beltran.

Z settled down and allowed only one run on three hits in the first six innings. The Mets' fourth hit did not come until the seventh ... a solo shot off the bat of Ike Davis.

Zambrano put together another strong start and improved to 4-0 since returning to the rotation. Z allowed two runs on four hits with a pair of walks and eight strikeouts on 102 pitches, 63 for strikes. With his eight strikeouts on Saturday, Zambrano jumped over Kerry Wood for third All-Time on the Cubs' strikeout list.

Carlos Zambrano struck out a pair in the fifth ... Jenrry Mejia on a failed bunt attempt tied him with Kerry Wood for third on the Cubs' All-Time strikeout list. Zambrano then struck out the next hitter, Angel Pagan, on a ball in the dirt. The 1,408th strikeout of Zambrano's career was good for sole possession of third on the Cubs' All-Time strikeout list behind Ferguson Jenkins (2038) and Charlie Root (1432).

Carlos Marmol was nasty in the ninth. Marmol gave up a one-out single to Ike Davis but struck out the side looking ... with no walks. Marmol earned his 27th save in dominating fashion. With his three k's on Saturday, Marmol has struck out 118 batters in 65 1/3 innings (64 games).

Starlin Castro recorded his sixth straight multi-hit game. Castro raised his average to .321 with a 2-for-4 afternoon that included a run scored, a sacrifice bunt and a stolen base.

Aramis Ramirez hit his 21st homer of the year in the seventh and finished the game 2-for-5. Marlon Byrd was in the middle of the action again. Byrd doubled and singled in four trips to the plate with RBI and a run scored ... on a wild pitch third strike to Tyler Colvin.

Four different Cubs drove in runs and Geovany Soto's two-out double in the second plated Xavier Nady with the first run of the game. The offense scored in four of the first seven innings and pounded out 12 hits but still finished the game 3-for-13 with RISP and left 12 on base.

The Cubs improved to 59-77 on the season ... 18 games below the mediocre mark.

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Mets - 09/04/10

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:45:00 +0000

Game One Hundred Thirty-Six: Cubs (58-77) vs. Mets (66-69)
Game Time - 12:05pm CDT
Coverage - WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Carlos Zambrano (6-6, 4.36/1.67) vs. Jenrry Mejia (0-2, 3.25/1.59)

The Cubs are 7-3 under Mike Quade ... could they win their third in a row this afternoon? After falling behind in the first inning Friday, the Cubs battled back and won a game, a feat that has not happened too many time this season.

Today was expected to be a battle of rookie starters ... Casey Coleman against Jenrry Mejia. The Cubs pushed Coleman back to Monday or Tuesday against the Astros and moved Carlos Zambrano up a day. Zambrano was originally penciled in for Sunday.

Jenrry Mejia will be making his first big league start this afternoon.

In Other News
Carlos Silva is expected to be activated from the DL early next week. Silva could start on either Monday or Tuesday against Houston.

James Russell became the fifth Cubs pitcher to earn his first big league victory this season. Russell improved to 1-1 in his first year in the Majors.

Today it all being with Carlos Zambrano ...

Iconic Doorstep

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 03:54:00 +0000

It doesn’t suck when you get home to find a box like this waiting for you on your doorstep. The contents are amazing. Photos and reviews coming soon. Hard to classify golf shoes. They’re apparel, but they’re equipment too.

Good Things Come in Threes - Cubs 7 Mets 6

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 01:36:00 +0000

Game One Hundred Thirty-Five - Cubs 7 Mets 6
WP - James Russell (1-1) LP - R.A. Dickey (9-6) Save - Carlos Marmol (26)

With the wind howling out to right and the ball dancing out of the hand of R.A. Dickey, the Cubs won the first of three against the Metropolitans. The Cubs came from behind then held on late and improved to 7-3 under Mike Quade.

The Cubs hit two three run shots off knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. Alfonso Soriano gave the Cubs a 4-3 lead with his 22nd dinger of the year in the fourth. The Mets tied the game in the sixth but the Cubs took the lead for good in the home half.

Blake DeWitt lifted a 1-0 knuckler into the wind and the ball was carried into the bleachers in right. DeWitt's fifth of the season, fourth as a Cub, gave Q's crew a 7-4 lead.

David Wright and Luis Hernandez hit solo shots off Andrew Cashner and Sean Marshall in the seventh and eighth that cut the Cubs lead down to one.

Carlos Marmol issued his mandatory free pass but struck out one and held on to earn his 26th save of the season.

James Russell picked up the first big league win of his career. Russell replaced Randy Wells in the sixth after Wells allowed the Mets to tie the game. Russell retired pinch-hitter Carlos Beltran to end the inning with the go ahead run at second.

Randy Wells struggled again and gave up three runs in the first inning. Wells labored through 5 2/3 innings, allowed four runs on eight hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Wells continues to be more of a question mark than an answer moving forward for the Cubs. Wells threw a Zambrano-esque 103 pitches, 60 for strikes, in less than six complete. The Cubs have plenty of pitchers like Wells that have provided better results. Wells needs to step it up over the final month of the season.

The Cubs offense did a good job against the hard-throwing knuckleballer. Of the eight hits they collected against R.A. Dickey, six went to right, one to center and one to left. Five different Cubs recorded multi-hit games, including Starlin Castro. Castro finished the game 2-for-4 with a run scored and lifted his average to .319.

Xavier Nady's performance will be lost in the three-run homers by Soriano and DeWitt. Nady drove in the Cubs' first run and put together a 3-for-4 afternoon with two runs scored and a RBI. Nady also turned in the defensive play of the game in the fourth.

The Cubs improved to 58-77 on the season with Friday's win ... still 19 games below the mediocre mark.

My local PGA pro does more than help my short game

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:00:00 +0000

I haven’t driven my car in two weeks. The damn battery was dead this morning. It was nice of my local PGA pro Guy Lester to come over to my house and jump start my car. That’s what I call service!

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Mets - 09/03/10

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Game One Hundred Thirty-Five: Cubs (57-77) vs. Mets (66-68)
Game Time - 1:20pm CDT
Coverage - Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Randy Wells (6-12, 4.50/1.42) vs. R.A. Dickey (9-5, 2.57/1.17)

Updated - 9:26am CDT - Welington Castillo Recalled from Triple-A Iowa

The Chicago Cubs return to the field this afternoon for the first of three versus the New York Mets. Ron Santo's favorite team took three of four from the Cubs at Citi Field in April. The two teams with the highest payroll in the National League had hopes for the post-season in April ... but reality set in back in May and both organizations will be searching for ways to improve starting on October 4.

The Cubs are 6-3 under Mike Quade. They have shown some improvement, especially the younger players. But the daily errors, both physical and mental, continue to cost this group of players.

Marlon Byrd is expected back in the starting lineup this afternoon. The Cubs are also expected to active Welington Castillo prior to game time. Castillo has been in Chicago since Wednesday but could not be activated until Thursday. Castillo will be the first September call-up for the Cubs.

The Cubs will miss Johan Santana this weekend but not Jenrry Mejia, who will make his first big league start on Saturday. Santana left Thursday's game against the Braves with a strained pectoral muscle.

Will Kosuke Fukudome be in Mike Quade's starting nine this afternoon? Fukudome has been hitting the cover off the ball of late. He put up a .365/.467/.651/1.117 line in August with six doubles and four home runs ... then started September with a 3-for-3 effort that included a pair of doubles, a RBI and a walk.

In Other News
Tom Gorzelanny has a "small incomplete fracture under the pinkie of his pitching hand." The Cubs announced Thursday that Gorzelanny will miss his next start due to swelling his hand. After the swelling subsides, the Cubs will have a better idea when Gorzelanny can pitch again.

Carlos Silva could take Gorzelanny's spot in the rotation ... which comes back around Tuesday against the Astros.

The Cubs offense will have their hands full with the knuckleballer R.A. Dickey ... but it all starts with Randy Wells.

PING and Apple joining forces? That has to be good, right?

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:24:00 +0000

Two of my favorite companies are Apple and PING. If I could have a PING laptop I’m sure it would be easy to hit and the longest laptop on the market. PING and Apple are working together on a new feature in Apple’s iTunes called “social music discovery.” I’m not sure what PING and Apple [...]

Cubs Down on the Farm Report - 09/02/10

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:10:00 +0000

We've hit the final stretch of the regular season of minor league baseball. Going into this weekend, the Iowa Cubs are still fighting for a playoff berth. The Daytona Cubs are trying to fight off elimination. The Tennessee Smokies are riding-high trying to stay smoking hot as they head into the postseason. The Peoria Chiefs are trying to finish the season above .500.

Jeff Samardzija was knocked around, the Iowa offense exploded for season highs, and September call-ups will hold off until the end of the Triple-A season. The Smokies swap catchers, AFL rosters are released, and four Cubs prospects receive post-season honors!

Plus, an updated version of the CCO's Top Prospect Watch ... All that and more in today's Down on the Farm Report.

Five Out of Fifteen - Cubs 5 Pirates 3

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:18:00 +0000

Game One Hundred Thirty-Four - Cubs 5 Pirates 3
WP - Thomas Diamond (1-3) LP - James McDonald (2-5) Save - Carlos Marmol (25)

Q's crew did just enough on Wednesday afternoon to beat the Pirates for only the fifth time this season ... a 5-10 record against Pittsburgh is just one of the many reasons the Cubs have been below .500 all season.

The Cubs improved to 6-3 under Mike Quade and Thomas Diamond earned his first big league win after a comebacker knocked Tom Gorzelanny out of the game in the third inning. Gorzelanny was hit in the left hand on a rocket hit back up the middle by Jose Tabata. Gorzelanny appeared to put his left hand up to keep the ball from hitting him in the face. Gorzelanny left the game with two outs in the third and was taken to the hospital for X-Rays. X-Rays came back inconclusive but did show no displacement. Gorzelanny will have additional tests on Thursday after being hit for the second time this season.

Gorzelanny left with a one-run lead ... but it did not last long. Thomas Diamond served up a solo homer to Neil Walker that tied the game at one. Diamond settled down and completed 1 2/3 innings in relief of Gorzelanny and earned his first big league win. Diamond allowed two runs on two his with three strikeouts, a walk and a hit batsman.

Scott Maine and Andrew Cashner put up a pair of scoreless innings before Quade turned to the veterans. Sean Marshall was credited with an unearned run in the eighth. Starlin Castro's 22nd error of the year led to the free-run after Carlos Marmol walked Andrew McCutchen with the bases loaded.

Carlos Marmol was both light outs and infuriating once again. Marmol picked up his 25th save and struck out three in 1 1/3 innings but he also walked three ... including the first two batters he faced in the eighth.

Kosuke Fukudome hitting out of the three-hole of Mike Quade's lineup led the offense. Fukudome kept swinging his hot bat and notched a 3-for-3 afternoon with two doubles, a walk, a RBI and two runs scored. Fukudome broke up the one-one tie in the bottom of the third with a double that plated Starlin Castro.

Starlin Castro raised his batting average to .317 with a 2-for-4 performance that included a stolen base and two runs scored.

All five of the Cubs runs were scored on five different hits ... and driven in by five different players. Q's offense finished the afternoon a miserable 3-for-14 with RISP and left nine on base.

The Cubs improved to 57-77 on the year with Wednesday's win and series victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates ...

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Pirates - 09/01/10

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:45:00 +0000

Game One Hundred Thirty-Four: Cubs (56-77) vs. Pirates (44-88)
Game Time - 1:20pm CDT
Coverage - WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 184
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Tom Gorzelanny (7-8, 3.98/1.46) vs. James McDonald (2-4, 5.65/1.47)

Weather permitting ... The Cubs will begin the final full month of the baseball calendar with the series and season finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Battlin' Bucs have owned the Cubs this year to the tune of a 4-10 record. Surely Q's crew will not allow the Mighty Pirates to beat them for the 11th time this season ...

Marlon Byrd was limping at the end of Tuesday night's game and Mike Quade said Byrd would receive today off. Byrd is expected back in the lineup for the opener against the Mets on Friday.

In Other News
According to a report from Cubs.com, the Cubs will add six or seven players from the minors once Iowa's season is over. Welington Castillo is in Chicago just in case the Cubs need to put Geovany Soto on the DL. Castillo can be activated on Thursday.

Justin Berg, Jeff Stevens, Mitch Atkins, Jeff Samardzija, Sam Fuld and Brad Snyder are among the players expected to be called up. In order to call-up Brad Snyder, the Cubs will have to create a spot on their 40-man roster.

Starlin Castro will likely play in the Dominican Winter League for former Cub, Moises Alou.

Carlos Silva will suit up for the Peoria Chiefs once again tonight. Silva is expected to throw around 70 pitches in Kane County and if all goes well will rejoin the Cubs' rotation at some point next week.

Harry Carry's statue will be rededicated before this afternoon's game. Tom Ricketts and Dutchie Caray will be on hand. Caray's statue was moved to the corner of Waveland and Sheffield last week. Dutchie Caray will throw out the first pitch this afternoon as well.

The Cubs will unveil Billy Williams' statue on September 7. Williams' statue will be placed in the spot once occupied by Harry's statue.

Today it all begins with Tom Gorzelanny ...

Cubs Dump Another One to the Pirates - Cubs 7 Pirates 14

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:26:00 +0000

Game One Hundred Thirty-Three - Cubs 7 Pirates 14
WP - Jeff Karstens (3-10) LP - Ryan Dempster (12-9) Save - None

Ryan Dempster simply did not have it Tuesday night ... and the worst road team in all of baseball pounded the Cubs once again. Dempster labored through the first two innings on a hot night at Wrigley. He allowed five runs on 51 pitches before six outs were recorded.

Dempster could not find a rhythm but it was his mistake that opened the floodgates. Dempster bobbled a tailor made double play ball off the bat of Garrett Jones that would have gotten him out of the first inning. But instead, Dempster was only able to get one ... and before he could record the third out, the Mighty Pirates took a commanding 4-0 lead.

Ryan Dempster had allowed only five earned runs in his last five starts combined ... and he allowed that many in just two innings Tuesday night. Dempster left after three innings, his shortest outing of the season, and seven earned runs ... a new season low. Dempster's line: seven runs on seven hits with three walks, four strikeouts and a hit batsman on 70 pitches, 43 for strikes.

Dempster came into Tuesday in search of career win 100 but instead he picked up his ninth loss of the season.

While Dempster was struggling with his command and finding a rhythm, the Cubs' pathetic offense was busy making Jeff Karstens look like a Cy Young candidate. Karstens retired the Cubs on just 10 pitches in the first inning ... and sat down six of the first seven batters he faced. The Cubs managed only two singles in the first four innings.

Jeff Karstens picked up his first road win of the season ... and just his third win of the year. The last time Karstens won a game, before Tuesday, was back on June 19. The Cubs quit once again Tuesday night. Karstens allowed two runs on four hits without a walk, again without a walk, and six strikeouts in six dominating innings.

The Cubs young pen provided the Mighty Pirates additional batting practice in relief of Ryan Dempster. Marcos Mateo was not good but Mike Quade said he's working on stuff with Larry Rothschild. Mateo gave up four runs on four hits, two long homers, without a walk and five strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. An error by Starlin Castro gave the Pirates a fourth out in the seventh, and ran up the Cubs' unearned run total. James Russell could not pitch around Castro's mistake and allowed three more runs on three hits.

Sean Marshall and Carlos Marmol actually kept the Mighty Pirates off the board in the eighth and ninth.

The Cubs' lone highlight prior to the eighth inning was a two-run homer by Koyie Hill in the fifth. Hill's dinger was his first of the year ... the last time Hill hit a homer was May 29, 2009.

The Cubs scored five of their seven runs in the eighth off of Sean Gallagher and Chan Ho Park. Micah Hoffpauir doubled in a run. Starlin Castro singled in and scored a run ... and Darwin Barney singled and scored in the eighth as well.

Starlin Castro raised his average to .315 with a 2-for-4 night at the plate. Castro drove in the Cubs' fourth run in the eighth ... his 40th RBI of the year.

The Pirates ended their 14-game road losing streak Tuesday night and improved to 5-3 at Wrigley this season ... the Pirates last win outside of PNC Park came on July 28 at Coors Field. The Mighty Pirates continued their domination of the Cubs in Twenty-Ten and improved to 10-4 versus Chicago this season.

The Cubs finished August with a 10-19 record and with the latest embarrassment, slipped back to 21 under the mediocre mark on the year (56-77) ...

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Pirates - 08/31/10

admin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:01:00 +0000

Game One Hundred Thirty-Three: Cubs (56-76) vs. Pirates (43-88)
Game Time - 7:05pm CDT
Coverage - Comcast SportsNet Plus - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 186
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Ryan Dempster (12-8, 3.42/1.25) vs. Jeff Karstens (2-10, 4.98/1.44)

What a long month for the Chicago Cubs. Not only did the team struggle to a 10-18 record with one game remaining, but also they made countless changes in personnel.

Since July 31 ... Ted Lilly, Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot and Derrek Lee were traded. Lou Piniella stepped down, Mike Quade took over and Jim Hendry began his search for the next Cubs' skipper ... and that is not counting all of the big league debuts or the rest of the seemingly daily drama.

The Cubs have shown a little improvement under Mike Quade. Many of the players say they are more relaxed. Whether they are referring to being without Piniella or the fact that a team 20 games under .500 has little pressure is unknown.

The Cubs have not had a winning month all year and it would be good to see them finish the lost season out on a positive note. Several minor league players are expected to join the team once rosters expand on Wednesday. Jim Hendry mentioned a couple of players would be called up as early as September 1 while the remainder will come up after the post-season is over in the minors.

Geovany Soto woke up Monday with a sore knee and reported to the park with a limp. The Cubs sent him for a MRI, which came back negative. Soto's knee is structurally sound but there is some minor swelling. Soto is listed as day-to-day..

It all starts with Ryan Dempster ...