Cubs Strand 11 in Painful 3-2 Loss, But Theriot Is on Fire

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Here's a shocking stat: the North Siders have lost every series they've played this season against non-Milwaukee teams. Wow. Yesterday's 3-2 loss was particularly painful, as the Cubs squandered yet another quality start and left a whopping 11 men on base. Ryan Dempster deserved better, going eight innings and whiffing six while allowing only four hits. Alas, two of those hits left the yard, and that was that. Maybe that Brewers sweep was a mirage. On the Good News side of the ledger, Ryan Theriot is batting .487 over an eight-game hitting streak.

Chicago Tribune: Cubs' offense again fails, repeatedly, in clutch
Chicago Sun-Times: Same woe: No-go 'O'
Daily Herald: Sweet Lou sours as bats betray Cubs again in 3-2 loss to Nationals
ESPN Chicago: Dunn homers as Nationals hold off Cubs

Starlin Gazing: Castro's Stellar Play Might Dictate a Move to Big Leagues Soon
Cubs fans really adore their prospects. After all, if a guy hasn't played, he can't disappoint. That's one reason everyone was excited about shortstop Starlin Castro, the 20-year-old phenom who tore up spring training. He didn't make it up to start the season, but ESPN Chicago's Bruce Levine says it looks all but inevitable now that he's tearing it up in Tennessee with the Double-AA team. That means Ryan Theriot goes to second, and someone — Chad Tracy, Mike Fontenot, or Jeff Baker — goes bye-bye.

ESPN Chicago: Castro could be joining Cubs at any point

He Hate Me: Are the Cubs the Most Disliked Team in Baseball?
The most disliked team in the major leagues? If you ask a White Sox fan, he'll undoubtedly say (after reluctantly turning down the Foghat) it's the Cubs. Surprise! It's the Cleveland Indians, according to the Wall Street Journal. Huh? They hired Nielsen Co. to use some fancy algorithm to analyze web data and find the answer is, indeed, the Tribe. Where do the Cubs come in? The WSJ article didn't say, so we called Aaron Lewis, communications director at Nielsen, and he gave us the scoop: The Cubs come in at number 15 out of 30. Meanwhile, the White Sox appear at number 7 on the list. Slow ride, indeed.

Wall Street Journal: Are the Yankees truly the most-despised ballclub?
Bleed Cubbie Blue: To fans of other teams: Why do you hate us so much?

Small Change: MLB Adds Some Welcome Tweaks to All-Star Game
Remember when the All-Star Game ended in a tie? Commish Bud Selig has made some changes to ensure that doesn't happen again: DHs will be on the roster every year, a pitcher who throws the Sunday before the game must be replaced on the roster, each team gets 34 players (up from 33), and one player will be able to come back into the game if someone gets injured. The reviews seem largely positive, so far.

Yahoo: MLB adopts four recommended rule changes to All-Star Game
ESPN: DH to be used every year

The Byrd Is the Word: Marlon Makes Magnificent Catch
Don't you feel sorry for outfielders when they lose the ball in the sun, and they stand there looking helpless as the ball lands two feet away? The first part of that equation happened yesterday to centerfielder Marlon Byrd, when Luis Atilano knocked a fly ball into the outfield. But Byrd made a no-look, behind the back... you know what? Just watch the clip. We can't describe it.

MLB: Byrd recovers to make a great grab

Today's Report by Joel Reese

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