So Close, So Far
Only Juan Pierre Gets a Hit vs. Ted Lilly

Rob Grabowski/US PRESSWIRE

Is there such a thing as a heartbreaking win? The Cubs managed just that last night with a 1-0 victory over the White Sox. Ted Lilly raised his trade value (let's be real here) with an awesome performance, as the veteran lefty had a no-hitter going into the ninth inning. Meanwhile, Sox pitcher Gavin Floyd took his own no-hitter into the seventh inning, but Alfonso Soriano and Chad Tracy produced the Cubs' game-winning run with consecutive hits. The Sox's lone hit came when Juan Pierre, a mediocre Cub in 2006, led off the ninth with a single. Carlos Marmol loaded the bases, but eventually saved the gut-wrenching win.

ESPN Chicago: Lilly carries no hitter into 9th... [+ video]
Chicago Tribune: Lilly makes up for Cubs' poor offense... [+ video]
Chicago Sun-Times: Close encounters
Daily Herald: Lilly takes no-hitter into the 9th, Cubs avoid sweep
MLB: Lilly's no-hit bid paces Cubs' win [+ video]

Beanball War on the Way?
White Sox Aren't Happy About Getting Plunked
Clearly, Cubs fans and Sox fans don't like each other. Now, that animosity might be making its way onto the field. Bruce Miles is hearing that the White Sox are pissed that Cubs pitchers hit five South Siders over the final two games of the crosstown series. The theories Miles passes along: Lou Piniella ordered the hits because he's still smarting from Steve Stone's criticism (huh?), and the Cubs are unhappy that Pierre stole a base on Friday with the Sox up 7-2. We'll see what happens when the teams play at The Cell next week.

Daily Herald: Bad blood brewing?

I Saw the Sign
The Verdict Is in: Toyota Placard Is Ugly, Critic Says
The Trib's Pulitzer Prize-winning architectural critic has weighed in on Wrigley Field's new Toyota sign, and Blair Kamin is most definitely not loving it."The two support posts are stubby and boxy, like squared-off versions of Gumby," he writes, adding that the Toyota logo and letters "look completely out of place." The sign creates a jarring visual shock, Kamin says, and "is hardly the innocuous insertion that Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts claimed it would be." To us, there's only one sign that we really love.

Chicago Tribune: New Toyota sign at Wrigley: as ugly as the Cubs' season

Tyler? Barely Knew 'Er!
The Case for Starting Colvin... Forever
We really thought this year might be different, that Kosuke Fukudome might actually not fade like U2's cred. Well, we were wrong. And now that Goat Riders of the Apocalypse has pointed out the numbers, it's especially clear who should be starting in right field. Fukudome's average has gone from .344 in April to .253 in May to .185 — friggin' .185! — so far in June. Meanwhile, Colvin's numbers go like this: .289 in April, .333 in May, and .304 in June (before last night's game). Seems pretty clear who should be getting the playing time, yes?

Goat Riders of the Apocalypse: The Tyler Colvin Thread
Chicago Breaking Sports: Phil Rogers: More time for Colvin...

Conspiracy Theory
Is a Starter Going to Get Booted from Rotation?
We'll admit, we can be a little paranoid. We often have the impression that someone is surreptitiously observing us. That's why we're prone to believing Agony & Ivy's theory that there's something more to the Cubs' recent demotion of James Russell, who was replaced with right-handed Mitch Atkins from Triple-A. The blog theorizes that Atkins, the current Pacific Coast Player of the Week, could take Randy Wells' spot in the starting rotation. Agony & Ivy notes that Wells has lost five straight decisions, and hasn't won since April 30. Hmmm...

Agony & Ivy: Has Wells run dry in starting rotation?

The Trib has some great pictures of the Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup at Wrigley Field... You won't be seeing former Cub Jake Fox at Wrigley this week, as the Oakland A's released him. Fox hit 11 HRs for the North Siders last year. Good luck, Jake...

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