Same as It Ever Was
Cubs' Offense Reverts to Mediocrity in 3-2 Loss

Stephen Wells/Getty Images

We got our hopes up there, after the Cubs scored 23 runs in Arizona. Then the North Siders eked out a mere two runs in losing to the Dodgers last night, and we remembered. Randy Wells, who went two months without winning a game, deserved better: He gave up a first-inning run, then held LA scoreless until the seventh, when Rafael Furcal's two-run homer was fair by the width of Bar Refaeli's eyebrows. Alfonso Soriano homered and Aramis Ramirez scored a run, but a loss is a loss.

ESPN Chicago: Furcal's late homer rallies Dodgers past Cubs [+ video]
Chicago Tribune: Cubs lose 3-2 in wake of James decision
Chicago Sun-Times: Furcal, Dodgers snap Cubs' streak
CSN Chicago: L.A. Story: Wells pays for one mistake in Cubs loss [+ video]
MLB: Cubs can't hang onto late lead in LA [+ video]

Hot for Teacher
Zambrano May Have Given Cubs Valuable Lesson
Apparently, there's more to be learned from Carlos Zambrano than "don't go all punchy on teammates" or "don't freak out in the dugout." No, the big lesson he's taught us is this: Don't give big contracts to pitchers. That's what Talking Chicago Baseball says, noting both the Cubs and White Sox own the albatross contracts of pitchers who are out of commission (albeit for wildly different reasons). The Sox have Jake Peavy, who was up-and-down before his injury the other night. Then there's Zambrano, who... well, we know what's up there. Interesting.

Talking Chicago Baseball: Peavy and Zambrano teaching us a lesson

Sorry: The Hardest Word
Zambrano, Here's the Mirror. Give It a Good Look.
Former Cub Doug Glanville is now a baseball writer, and he's already one of the best. He says Carlos Zambrano needs to re-examine himself to get back in his teammates' good graces. Glanville says he'd remind Z that his "career is fragile, and an apology is probably worth keeping the bridge to the Cubs intact because, in a few years, all bridges may lead to nowhere." Meanwhile, the Sun-Times notes no one knows how Zambrano's reconciliation efforts will fly, and a trade is still possible. The White Sox do need to replace Peavy....

ESPN: Cubs need more than Big Z's apology
Chicago Sun-Times: Zambrano decisions remain in limbo
Watch Doug Glanville on The Interview Show: Part 1, Part 2

Cubs fans are some of the most loyal in the city, and for that we salute you! But even die-hard Cubs fans need a balanced sports diet. Gapers Block: Tailgate is a blog about all Chicago sports — not just the Cubs and other majors, but also the minors, the alternatives and even the amateurs. It's not just good, it's good for you! Visit Tailgate on gapersblock.com

Know Your Enemies
Is the New Twins' Ballpark Better than Wrigley?
We all know Wrigley Field is the best ballpark around. But we like to know who is trying to usurp the Friendly Confines' throne. The Cub Reporter visited the new kid on the block, Target Field in Minneapolis, the Twins' new stomping ground. The stadium left the blog "thoroughly dazzled," and while Wrigley's "engine still purrs," it could use some TLC. "Paying top dollar to sit behind poles and beneath structural hair nets while watching an also-ran is starting to lose its charm," the blog writes. Hard to argue with.

The Cub Reporter: A tale of two ballparks

The Thin Red Line
The Man Who Made .200 Famous
Man does not live by Cubs news alone. So every now and then, we'll run a story that's worth reading on its own. Maybe it's about the Cubs, maybe not. Today's Good Read is a look at the legacy of Mario Mendoza, the player immortalized in "the Mendoza Line," a label that equals a batting average of .200. Turns out Kansas City Royal George Brett coined the phrase, and it's been saddled around poor Mendoza's neck ever since. But does he mind? Maybe he's more excited about this fame, instead.

St. Louis Today: Branded for life with 'The Mendoza Line'

Gents, if you want to attract the ladies, might we recommend this finery... Today is the fifth anniversary of the Adam Greenberg game. To refresh your memory, he was hit in the head by the first pitch he saw. Greenberg suffered a mild concussion, and has never made it back to the major leagues... Shameless self-promotion: The Cubs Fan Report appeared on Outside the Loop Radio yesterday.

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