Déjà Vu All Over Again
Cubs Manage Only Two Runs in Another Loss

Bob Levey/Getty Images

The Cubs offense continues to post soccer scores, losing 3-2 despite getting another quality start from Carlos Silva. The surprisingly solid pitcher allowed just three hits and two unearned runs over six innings, but the offense couldn't get anything going despite outhitting the Sox 8-4. Ironically, the Cubs' only runs came from their most disappointing players: Derrek Lee singled in a run, and Aramis Ramirez hit a solo homer. But rookie Andrew Cashner allowed a homer to Paul Konerko in the eighth, and another loss was on the board.

ESPN Chicago: Konerko hits 19th homer to break White Sox past Cubs [+ video]
Chicago Tribune: Sox clinch City Series with 3-2 victory over Cubs
Daily Herald: Konerko's HR sends White Sox to 11th straight win
MLB: Cubs fall to White Sox, but see fresh start

The Pen is Mightier
Big Z Back to Bullpen After Suspension
You probably heard that irate GM Jim Hendry suspended $91.5 million man Carlos Zambrano indefinitely after Friday's meltdown. Now it looks like Big Z will head back to the bullpen when (if?) he returns to the team. Is this punishment for freaking out on his teammates, or is the team simply putting the top five starting pitchers in the rotation? That's what the numbers say: Lefty Tom Gorzelanny's ERA is 3.41, while Big Z's is an ugly 5.66. Zambrano apparently hates coming out of the bullpen, but clearly the team doesn't care.

ESPN Chicago: Zambrano will return to bullpen
Chicago Breaking Sports: After suspension, Zambrano back to bullpen

What Comes After Z?
Media Reactions to Zambrano's Meltdown
Now that the dust has settled, the reactions are in on Carlos Zambrano's outburst on Friday. The Trib blames the team for giving Zambrano so much money, while the Sun-Times says the Cubs should get rid of him at any cost. Bleed Cubbie Blue takes exception with Bob Brenly's opinion (he liked the outburst), saying winning teams "don't yell and scream at each other in public." FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal questions Zambrano's sanity, then points out the Cubs have dumped salary before and might need to do it again.

Chicago Tribune: Zambrano's suspension leaves peripheral mess
Chicago Sun-Times: Cubs have one option: Z must go
Bleed Cubbie Blue: On passion and fire in baseball
FOX Sports: Rosenthal's full count [video]

Ready, Willing, and Enabled
Is Management to Blame for Zambrano Mess?
It's easy to point the finger at the player who went off his rocker and freaked out on his teammates. But is it really just his fault, or are there other factors at play here? Agony & Ivy looks at the bigger picture and places the blame at the top of the organization. They criticize Jim Hendry for enabling Big Z's nutty behavior — such as pounding teammate Michael Barrett in 2007 — because he was such a great pitcher. But now that he can't get past the first inning, it's even more of a problem.

Agony & Ivy: Big Z's Krazy Kubs

Domino Effect
Zambrano Roster Move Affects Several Players
With Big Z getting suspended and heading to the pen when he gets back, the Cubs needed another bullpen arm to fill in for Tom Gorzelanny, who will return to the rotation. So the team needed fresh bullpen arms, which meant Jeff Stevens was sent down to Triple-A (despite a respectable 2.81 ERA). Getting called up from Iowa was someone named Brian Schlitter, who was 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA in Triple-A. We can't wait to hear Ron Santo try to pronounce this.

MLB: Cubs move Schlitter up, Stevens down

Here's some good news: The Iowa Cubs are in a three-way tie for first place in their division... Did you know the original Wrigley Field had a mental hospital in left field?... Next time you go to the bathroom at Wrigley Field, keep an eye out for this guy...

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