Just Another Night
Lilly Blooms, Offense Withers in Chilly Loss

Adam Lyons/Getty Images

We're running out of ways to say this: The Cubs got another quality start last night, but the offense didn't do jack and the North Siders lost. The 4-2 defeat was eerily similar to Sunday's 5-3 loss: A starting pitcher gives the Cubs a solid game, the team takes the lead, then is undone by a homer in the seventh inning. Starter Ted Lilly actually had a no-hitter into the sixth, but wasn't helped by three — count 'em, three — errors by Starlin Castro. Remember when we thought he was the savior? Ahhh, memories...

MLB: Offensive funk continues for Cubs [+ video]
Chicago Tribune: Tough night for slumping Cubs, especially Castro
Daily Herald: Cubs just can't seem to shake losing ways
ESPN Chicago: Marlins hand Cubs sixth loss in last seven games [+ video]

Castro's Rough Night
Rookie Not Exactly Havana Ball* at Wrigley So Far
Yes, Starlin Castro had a brutal debut at Wrigley. He committed three errors, made a painful mental error that let Hanley Ramirez reach second (this on the same play as his third miscue), and was showered with boos. On the plus side, he walked twice and his 'fro still looks sweet. ESPN Chicago encourages us to be patient with someone who's likely "the future of the team" and will likely have more nights like this (but hopefully with one or two fewer errors).

*Havana ball = havin' a ball? Hello? Is this thing on?

ESPN Chicago: Phenom makes some rookie mistakes

Survey Says...
Cubs Fans Most Hardcore in the Nation
If there's any Cubs fan stereotype that drives us crazy, it's that we're a bunch of beer-swilling frat boys who care more about our cellphone bills than the game. Finally someone has disproved it: Some pencil neck number cruncher analyzed some data to determine the "quality of a sports team's fans." We were never very good at math, but the final equation factored ticket costs, attendance, stadium capacity, and more. And guess who came out on-top? Cubs fans. Whoo-hoo! Suck it, Sox fans! Uhhh... we mean... Congratulations, fellow Cubs boosters.

Information Is Beautiful: Die hard index

Grab Some Bench
Should Lee and Ramirez Take a Seat for a Few Days?
If you wrote a list of the Cubs' biggest problems, the woeful hitting of the Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez would have to be near the top. Lee is hitting a feeble .211 and he hasn't homered since April 25, while the .163-batting Ramirez has the lowest average of any hitter in the majors with more than 100 at-bats. Trib curmudgeon Steve Rosenbloom advises this: Bench them both. "Right now, they look clueless," he writes. "Do the Cubs really lose anything if they sit .210 and .160 hitters for two nights against Florida?" After last night's loss, the answer seems to be no.

Rosenblog: Why is Derrek Lee in the Cubs' lineup...

Please, Mr. Postman
Sullivan Says Hendry & Piniella Likely Here for the Year
Yesterday, we noted that people are calling for the Cubs to jettison Sweet Lou, and people have been saying "Fire Jim Hendry!" since Ryan Dempster's goatee was just a mustache. In his weekly mailbag, Trib Cubs reporter Paul Sullivan said that the pair will likely make it through the year because "Tom Ricketts doesn't seem like an impulsive owner." Sullivan also notes minor-league prospect Josh Vitters was recently promoted to Double-A Tennessee, which sounds promising until you remember that he was the third overall pick in 2007. But hey, hope springs eternal.

Chicago Tribune: Ask Paul: Paul Sullivan's Cubs mailbag

Did you jump for joy when you learned John Grabow and his 9.26 ERA would be resting for a few days after discomfort was reported in his left knee? We sure did. Well, some much-needed bullpen relief may be on the way.

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*Don't be a Sox fan... be clever. If it's smart enough, we'll publish it here.
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