Sleepy in Seattle
Drowsy Offense Shutout Despite Dempster Gem

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Stop us if you've heard this one before: The Cubs got great starting pitching, but did zilch with runners in scoring position and lost 2-0 to a team whose record was 28-41 coming into the game. Ryan Dempster went eight innings and gave up only a homer to Franklin Gutierrez in the second inning. But the Cubs bats were as powerful as Urkel's biceps, and the round-tripper was all the Mariners needed. The most bewildering play happened in the fifth, when Alfonso Soriano led off with a double, then inexplicably took off for third on a routine fly out to left field. What is there to say?

ESPN Chicago: Vargas, M's blank Cubs for fifth win in row [+ video]
Chicago Tribune: Cubs drop 2-0 decision to Mariners
MLB: Cubs blanked in Piniella's return to Seattle

Opportunity Is Knocking
Division-Leading Cardinals and Reds Are Struggling
Yesterday, we noted the Cubs' chances of making the playoffs are about as bright as Megan Fox's Oscar chances. But there's something that's falling in the North Siders' favor these days: The Cardinals and Reds are struggling, too. As Talking Chicago Baseball notes, the Cards are 9-9 in June, while the Redlegs are an even less impressive 9-11. Now, all the Cubs need to do is start winning. Alas, the North Siders are only 7-11 themselves in June. But... maybe, right?

Talking Chicago Baseball: Reds and Cardinals giving Cubs what they want

Sayonara, Fukudome?
Cubs Step up Efforts to Trade Right Fielder
So it seems as if Kosuke Fukudome's time as a Cub has just about ended. He's provided some decent moments, such as this recent walk-off single. But as Fukudome has gone through yet another mid-season fade, man-about-town Dave Kaplan says "several sources" have told him the Cubs are shopping the southpaw right-fielder. It comes as no surprise the Cubs are offering to pay a substantial amount of his contract, which runs through next season. Guess they're serious about this Tyler Colvin character, eh?

Kap's Corner: Cubs trying to move Fukudome

State of Confusion
Piniella Bewildered by Cubs' Losing Tradition
Some say Cubs skipper Lou Piniella saved baseball in Seattle. The team was essentially an afterthought when he took over, yet under him the Mariners became an AL powerhouse. Which is why he's so confused that the Cubs can't turn it around. ''It almost blows your mind that they haven't won in 102, three or five years, whatever the heck it was," Piniella says. "It seems almost impossible.'' Former manager Dusty Baker says some managers see winning with the Cubs as "the ultimate challenge." He says, ''Whoever does it is going to be The Man forever."

Chicago Sun-Times: If Lou only knew...
Yahoo! Sports: Piniella sentimental in Seattle return

Minor-League Miracle
Guess Who's Dominating in Iowa?
For some, no one symbolizes the Jim Hendry era more than Jeff Samardzija. The Cubs drafted the Notre Dame WR in the fifth round of the 2006 draft, then gave him a whopping $10 million contract and the infamous no-trade clause. Unfortunately, Samardzija wasn't exactly lights out as a pitcher, so he was sent back in Iowa earlier this year. And now here's the good news: he's kicking serious ass there. Bleacher Nation finds that Samardzija has an 1.59 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 34 innings. In other words, don't give up on him just yet.

Bleacher Nation: Remember Jeff Samardzija? How's He Doing These Days...

A tight hamstring has delayed Carlos Silva's next start, meaning he won't face the Mariners, his former team... Aramis Ramirez's first start after a stint on the DL will be Friday... Want to see an amazing combination of Cubs' devotion and kitschy art? Check out this video.

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?