Turning the Corner?
Despite Everything, Things Looking Up for Cubs

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The Cubs aren't in first place and it's almost June. So much for the Pollyannas. But despite the bullpen troubles, the inconsistent offense, and a cleanup hitter looking to get the Mendoza line renamed after him (we're looking your way, A-Ram), the Sun-Times notes things actually aren't that bad for the Cubs. They took two out of three from the Rangers, who had the league's best home record coming into the series. And the offense is starting to pick up: the four-run first inning on Sunday was the biggest inning in two weeks (!). With the bullpen settling into a clear hierarchy (starter-to-Marshall-to-Marmol), maybe now's the time for Ramirez and D-Lee to finally start turning it around. This is a tough week, though: First the Dodgers come to town, and they've gone 16-5 in their last 21 games, then the Cardinals swoop into Wrigley this weekend.

Chicago Sun-Times: Road signs pointing up for Cubs

A Six-Headed Monster
Could a Sexta-Rotation be the Answer?
The guys at Bleed Cubbie Blue have a solution to the which-starter-gets-screwed-with-Zambrano's-return-to-the-rotation problem: Break baseball tradition and go with a six-starter rotation. Hey, anything's worth trying the way the season is going so far, right? Not so fast — we think the logic is a bit flawed. Just because a pitcher has an extra day of rest doesn't mean Lou isn't going to waddle out there and yank him in the fifth when he's getting lit up like Soto at a NORML convention. If a starter is getting shelled (which will happen), he's going to get pulled. And now the bullpen — the weak link — becomes not only ineffective but also stretched thin. But hey, might be worth a shot, and Lou isn't shy about trying new things. Share your thoughts on the six-man rotation idea on Facebook.

Bleed Cubbie Blue: Should the Cubs try a six-man rotation?

Starlin Search
Castro in the Leadoff Spot?
There's been some talk of moving Starlin Castro and his .409 OBP to the leadoff spot to take advantage of his hot bat. The numbers make sense, at least at first glance. But numbers can be deceiving, especially with a rookie who couldn't even order an Old Style if he sat in the bleachers (poor guy!). He's never played at the Triple-A level, he only batted 665 times in the minor leagues, and he's got a mere 60 at-bats in the bigs. Yes, he's adjusting well, but let's not push him too hard and break him. We all know how that worked out for Felix Pie. And Corey Patterson. And Ronny Cedeño. Ahem...please don't push him too hard, too early.

Daily Herald: What's next for Cubs? More Castro, a reset rotation

Become a better Cubs fan by tuning in to Cubscast, an award-winning podcast produced by two fellow die-hards since 2005. Cubscast produces new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the season. New Episode: Lou and Sheps rewind a successful Texas swing, Cubs sign Bob Howry, Milton Bradley acknowleges Jim Hendry's impact, Marlon Byrd's bold prediction, and much more. Listen to latest Cubscast Episode Subscribe to Cubscast on iTunes Visit cubscast.com

Number Crunching
The Good, the Bad, and the Bullpen
Watching game after game of baseball certainly gives you a good idea of how the team is doing. The record does, too. But if you dig into the stats, you can get a whole new angle to the story. That's what View from the Bleachers did, and here's what they found: The bullpen is not good but is getting better. Soto is doing awesome, although 10 RBIs is a little sparse. Derrek Lee is going to start bustin' out anyday now, because he is simply too good to stay in this funk. Oh and remember Kevin Gregg? Trust us: You don't want to know how he's doing.

View from the Bleachers: Cubs by the numbers

Carlos' Comeback
However This Turns Out, It Won't Be This Bad... We Hope
The Heckler breaks the news on how big Z's return to the rotation could go. With Big Z's short temper and the delicate topic of whether he still has a fastball... it could get a little catty between Rothschild and the big right hander. Here's to hoping that the scenario The Heckler poses is just that — a humorous impossibility — and that Zambrano comes back to the rotation with a vengeance.

The Heckler: Zambrano kicked out of simulated game for arguing balls...

If you've always wanted to toss the ball around Wrigley, sign up for their "Hey Dad, Wanna Have a Catch?" program on Saturday, June 26. Sounds fun, but believe us, it ain't free... For all you fantasy baseball nuts, you may want to take a look at A-Ram and D-Lee in your leagues. ESPN thinks they have the greatest odds of bouncing back.

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