Ryan's Song
Dempster, Cubs Saved by Zero

Jerry Lai/US PRESSWIRE

Man, it would have been nice if the Cubs could have done this to the Dodgers in the '08 playoffs.... Oh well, bygones are bygones, right? Anyway, Ryan Dempster proved last night why he's one of our favorite Canadians. He went eight innings, struck out seven, and shut down the scorching-hot Dodgers, 3-0. Even better, the moribund Derrek Lee woke up, driving in all three runs with a single and a two-run homer. Carlos Marmol came in for a rare 1-2-3 save (with two K's), and that was that.

ESPN Chicago: Dempster, Lee help Cubs slow up Dodgers [+ video]
Chicago Tribune: Cubs blank Dodgers 3-0
Chicago Sun-Times: Superb Dempster handcuffs Dodgers
Daily Herald: Lee, Dempster team up to top Dodgers
MLB: Dempster, Lee power Cubs to win over LA

Big Z Makes Big Return
Zambrano Looks to Start Again Next Week
So Carlos Zambrano's tumultuous stint in the bullpen is almost over, as Piniella says Z is going to start next week against the Pittsburgh Pirates. But this is no feel-good comeback: As the Sun-Times points out in a surprisingly harsh write-up, "Somebody who doesn't deserve to lose his starting job is going to be replaced in the rotation by a guy who hasn't done anything to merit the move." Yowzah. The article also reminds us that Zambrano hurt the Cubs' playoff chances last year by refusing to get back treatment, then ducking out of a start 10 minutes before the game. Kinda pisses you off to remember that, doesn't it?

Chicago Sun-Times: This ball's in Z's court

Ramble On
Hitting to All Fields About the Cubs
It's pretty tough to figure out this year's Cubs. Are they the crapville team that lost five of six to the perpetually awful Pittsburgh Pirates? Or are they the solid squad that nearly swept the Texas Rangers, the league's best home team, in the Lone Star State? Just like Michael Corleone, Chicago Cubs Online writes, "Every time I think I am ready to turn my back on the 2010 season, the Cubs pull me back." Thus begins a compelling look at this year's team, including pointing out that Starlin Castro (who has 64 at-bats) has more RBIs than Geo Soto (who has 109 at-bats). Also, Tom "Double-Live Gorzo" Gorzelanny boasts an ERA of 3.09, compared to Carlos Silva's 3.52. And yet who's 2-4 and who's undefeated? Good stuff.

Chicago Cubs Online: The Cubs walk... a staggering swagger or...

A Long Look at Lou
Is This Year Piniella's Fault, Or Is It Just the Team?
Cubs skipper Piniella is like a Rorschach Test: You can see in him whatever you want. The blog Tailgate, for instance, looks at Piniella and sees a "Thorazine-addled Edward G. Robinson" who "shuffles out of the dugout as if he is being guided by his omni-belly to sleepily argue with umpires." Meanwhile, Another Cubs Blog says Piniella is a victim of an underperforming team that's simply let him down. "Their offense is inconsistent, their bullpen sucks, and they're giving teams extra outs," the blog says. Who's right? You tell us.

Tailgate: Our Two Dads
Another Cubs Blog: Lou Piniella is still the same

Everybody Is a Star
Soriano Could Make Mid-Season Classic
It wasn't too long ago that all the Cubs talk centered on Alfonso Soriano, how brutal he is in the field, and how the Cubs are saddled with his contract until eternity and beyond. Well, the contract remains the same, but the complaints have quieted as he's arguably been the Cubs' best hitter lately. He still fields with the visual dexterity of Mr. Magoo, but Soriano is sixth in the league in batting average at .319 and he's also a potential All-Star. He's currently placing 11th behind such names as Ryan Braun, Shane Victorino, and Jayson Werth. We're still less than enamored with Soriano's contract, though.

MLB: Hot bat has Soriano in All-Star mix

Looks like A-Ram's thumb is getting better, and he could be back in the mix by the end of the week... Word is that either Andrew "Straight cash, homey" Cashner or Jay Jackson could be promoted from the minors to the Cubs' bullpen sometime soon... The Cubs have agreed to broadcast up to three upcoming games on WIND-AM 560 so WGN can air the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup games. Go Hawks!... The 360-square-foot Toyota sign in left field took one more step toward reality yesterday, getting a unanimous thumbs-up from the City Council's building committee.

Submit your Rant on Facebook
*Don't be a Sox fan... be clever. If it's smart enough, we'll publish it here.
What's this?