Ouch.
Cubs Lose 3-2 in Absolutely Agonizing Fashion

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

If losses were injuries, last night's defeat would be a triple-roundhouse kick in the cojones from Chuck Norris. So what was the worst part? Was it Ted Lilly going eight innings and giving up a mere one run — and not winning? (His only run came an eighth-inning blast by Corey Hart, who might never surrender the NL lead in homers.) Was it Carlos Marmol starting the ninth by hitting the first batter he faced, speedster Rickie Weeks? Or was it the fact that the Brewers' winning run came with two outs and was driven in by Casey McGehee, a guy the Cubs had in their system but released in 2008? Oh, the humanity.

ESPN Chicago: McGehee delivers winner for Brewers... [+ video]
Chicago Tribune: Cubs fail to support Lilly again
Chicago Sun-Times: Bottom coming up fast
Daily Herald: Hit batsman stings Marmol, Cubs in 3-2 loss to Brewers
MLB: Marmol can't convert for Lilly, Cubs [+video]

Meet the Simpson
An In-Depth Look at the Newest Cub
We're taking if on faith that Hayden Simpson, the Cubs' first pick out of Southern Arkansas, will be decent. After all, Cubs' scouting director Tim Wilken is known as a draft ninja/shaman/soothsayer. So why did everyone else see Simpson as a fourth or fifth round pick? "His competition," says The Unfortunate Cubs Fan. "Facing inferior competition makes the transition to professional ball much, much harder." Also, Simpson is generously listed as six feet tall, and "he may not have the body to absorb the physical abuse that a 32-start season would entail."

The Unfortunate Cubs Fan: Who the hell is the Cubs' first-round selection?

Day 2 Live Crew
A Look at the Other Cubs Draft
The Cubs' big draft news was the Simpson pick, but they took 29 other players yesterday, too. The second-rounder was a speedy outfielder who has what might be the best name in baseball: Reggie Golden. Others include LSU catcher Micah Gibbs, Northwestern lefty pitcher Eric Jokisch, and southpaw hurler Bryan Harper (the brother of #1 overall pick Bryce Harper). Then there's the fifth-round pick, Villanova's Matt Szczur, a centerfielder who Baseball America listed as the second-fastest player in the draft. Szczur also plays football and was considered a potential NFL pick. Maybe he can use his signing bonus to buy a vowel.

MLB: Cubs go treasure hunting on Day 2 of Draft [+ video]
The Cub Reporter: 2010 Cubs Draft tracker ticker — Day 2

Stone Cold
Sox Broadcaster Busts on Piniella's Use of Colvin
One thing about Steve Stone: He doesn't mince words. And he didn't hold back the other day when talking about Lou Piniella and his usage of Tyler Colvin. "Lou doesn't have a great grasp of how to use young players," Stone told Comcast SportsNet. Colvin could be a good player, Stone says, "But he can't do it on the bench." ESPN's Bruce Levine defends Piniella, calling Stone's remarks a "vast overstatement." Do we sense a brouhaha brewing?

ESPN Chicago: Report: Stone Criticizes Piniella

Thumb and Dumber
Ramirez Injury Forces Former Slugger to Bench
We'd like to think it's Aramis Ramirez's thumb injury that's created such woes for him this year, but he was brutal before it happened. Either way, his injury is landing him on the 15-day disabled list. As a result, Chad Tracy — who's hitting .396 down in Iowa — will get the call at third base. We're really, really hoping this changes the season for Ramirez, who was literally the bottom of the barrel of NL hitters.

Chicago Breaking Sports: Cubs' Ramirez likely headed for disabled list

Ryno Charging on from Cubs?
Orioles Might Want Sandberg to Head East
The conventional wisdom is that Ryne Sandberg has been anointed to succeed Lou Piniella, whenever that move happens. But Sandberg, who's the Iowa Cubs' skipper and is in his fourth year with the farm system, says he's not waiting around for that day to come. "My whole focus is to get to the big leagues with somebody," he says. Now, there's some talk that the Baltimore Orioles might be interested in Sandberg's services. Considering the Orioles' prez is Andy McFail McPhail, who was once the Cubs' president, there might be some fire to go with that smoke.

Des Moines Register: Ryne Sandberg would consider Baltimore Orioles job

BP is keeping its name on the Crosstown Cup, the trophy given to the winner of the Cubs/Sox series, but the company is definitely dialing down its involvement in light of the Gulf oil spill... Sometimes, you should believe the hype: Stephen Strasburg, the Nationals' next wunderkind pitcher, struck out 14 and hit 100 mph in his MLB debut.

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