Eight Is (Barely) Enough
Marmol Melts Down, But Cubs Squeak out a Win

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Going into the ninth inning with a 8-3 lead, you'd think a win was a done deal. Yet Carlos Marmol made it interesting terrifying, allowing three runs and bringing the winning run to the plate. In the end, the good guys won 8-6, led by Tyler Colvin's four RBIs (three coming on a third-inning homer) and Derrek Lee's two-run double. Ryan Dempster was solid, going seven innings and allowing three runs with eight K's. The Cubs avoided the sweep, but the White Sox won the first BP Crosstown Cup. Congrats on that.

ESPN Chicago: Ninth-inning rally falls short as White Sox's streak ends [+ video]
Chicago Tribune: It gets a little hairy, but Cubs hang on...
Chicago Sun-Times: Cubs enjoy that run's-done feeling
Daily Herald: Sox winning streak ends at 11 as Cubs hang on...
MLB: Cubs put White Sox streak on ice [+video]

To Tell the Truth
Zambrano Says He Was Encouraging Team. Really.
Carlos Zambrano has a strange way of motivating his teammates. "This team is horsesh*t!" is what he apparently bellowed at teammates in the dugout on Friday. And yet the Sun-Times quotes "a source close to Zambrano" as saying, "All he wanted to do was pump the team up." Indeed, Zambrano is blaming Derrek Lee for creating the ruckus in the dugout. This isn't exactly flying with his teammates: One anonymously quoted Cub said anyone who believes Zambrano "must be smoking something." The way this season is going, save some for us.

Chicago Sun-Times: So much for a 'sorry'
Sporting News: Source: Zambrano was trying to encourage, not berate, Cubs

Covering for Carlos' Contract
GM Hendry Defends Giving Big Bucks to Big Z
It seems Alfonso Soriano no longer possesses the Cubs' worst contract. These days, that honor belongs to the suspended Carlos Zambrano and his 5.66 ERA. The team signed Zambrano to five-year, $91.5 million deal in August 2007, but Jim Hendry defended the move yesterday, saying, "He certainly would have been one of the hotter tickets on the street if that thing went to the end of the season." Yeah, maybe....

Daily Herald: Hendry defends Zambrano investment
Chicago Sun-Times: Hendry defends Z's big contract

Become a better Cubs fan by tuning in to Cubscast, an award-winning podcast produced by two fellow die-hards since 2005. Cubscast produces new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the season. Monday's Episode: Lou and Sheps discuss Big Z's dugout freakout on the South Side, grading the team's reaction, a good win on Sunday, and a special interview with Andrew and Joel from Cubs Fan Report (editor's note: That's us!"). Listen to Monday's Cubscast Episode Subscribe to Cubscast on iTunes Visit cubscast.com

Calling it Quits on Carlos?
Reading Between Lines, Cubs Mega-Peeved with Big Z
One thing is clear after Zambrano's outburst on Friday: Management is P-I-S-S-E-D. Jim Hendry was unhappy that Zambrano dined with Ozzie Guillen Friday night, and no one from the team had spoken with the volcanic Venezuelan as of yesterday. "Until something gets rectified, I think probably the less conversation the better," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. In the last four seasons, only four MLB players have been suspended by their own team. Two have been Cubs: Milton Bradley and now Zambrano. 'Nuff said.

Chicago Tribune: Cubs, Zambrano need to communicate
MLB: Cubs have not talked directly to Zambrano [+ video]
SI: Cubs await MLB feedback on Zambrano suspension

Cell Out
A First-Person Account of Going to the Cell
We'd rather listen to an eight hours of vuvuzelas than see a game at U.S. Cellular Field. Thankfully, Agony & Ivy went to Saturday night's Cubs game and lived to tell the tale. (The writer didn't even wear a Hazmat suit! Talk about bravery.) On the plus side, the benches have backrests, the food was good, and the ribbing between sides was "good-natured." On the downside, there was no leg room, the music was too loud, and the fans moved around during the game, not between batters. Oh, and the Cubs lost.

Agony & Ivy: Section 163, row 9, seat 7

Derrek Lee suffered from "back stiffness," which was why Xavier Nady played first base and Lee was DH... Want to sit in the Wrigley Field bleachers for only $10? Enter promo code "SANTO" when you order bleacher tickets online for select dates... Several promising Cub minor leaguers have been promoted, including: outfielder Brett Jackson and pitcher Rafael Dolis to Double-A, and outfielder Ty Wright to Triple-A.

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