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Whole Lotta Nothin'
Cubs Lose 7-0 Laugher to Dodgers
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
OK, see, that's exactly how NOT to go into the All-Star break. You want to charge in with momentum, not earn only four hits and score no runs. We knew things were bad when Rafael Furcal hit Carlos Silva's first pitch for a double. Then James Loney tagged a three-run homer, and then Silva got ejected for arguing a call at first base. (When you've given up five runs by the second, do you really care if you get tossed?) Before long, it was 7-0. Do you really want to know more details? Exactly.
ESPN Chicago: Padilla throws 8 shutout innings as Dodgers cruise... [+ video]
Chicago Tribune: Cubs head into break looking broken
CSN Chicago:
Reeling Cubs could really use the break [+ video]
MLB: Cubs, Silva close first half with thud in LA [+ video]
Confidence Game
Cubs Owner Gives Half-Hearted Backing to Hendry
Tom Ricketts talked about embattled GM Jim Hendry yesterday, and we're not quite sure how to read it. Hendry has put together an expensive team that's, well, not exactly flying like an eagle. "I have the highest level of confidence in Jim," Ricketts said, but he didn't exactly eliminate doubt when asked about Hendry's status next year. "The fact is, right now, Jim is our general manager," Ricketts said. "After that, we'll take it one day at a time." If we were Jim Hendry, we might be a smidge nervous.
Chicago Sun-Times: Not counting past '10
ESPN Chicago: Ricketts still confident in Hendry
Return to Wrigley
Big Z's Comeback Date Still Uncertain
How the mighty have fallen: At the end of 2008, Carlos Zambrano pitched a no-hitter. Now, he's on the restricted list and word is he won't be active for the upcoming Phillies series. Given that he needs to go through some pitching rehab, likely in Iowa, how much action will he get before the July 31 trade deadline? Probably not much. Then again, maybe the point is to hide him from other teams...? Or is that a tin foil hat conspiracy theory?
Chicago Sun-Times: Zambrano's return isn't exactly on the fast track
Des Moines Register: Carlos Zambrano could pitch for Iowa
Miscasting Cashner
Cubs May Be Wasting Stud Pitcher in Bullpen
Recently, Lou Piniella said Andrew Cashner's future was clearly as a right-handed set-up man. "That's his cup of tea in the big leagues," Piniella said. Talking Chicago Baseball heartily disagrees, calling Cashner a "potentially dominating starter." The blog says Cashner, who can hit 100 mph on the radar gun, deserves a chance to make it in the rotation. "It's a shame the Cubs have decided to minimize the value of their best young pitcher," TCB writes. Well, as long as he's on the Cubs, we'll take whatever role he's in. For now.
Talking Chicago Baseball: Cubs have bad plan for Cashner's future
Is Diamond Forever?
Phenom Pitcher Could Sparkle in Majors
Armed with a live arm and a name that makes jokey editors giddy, Iowa pitcher Thomas Diamond looks like a real gem (see?). The righty is 5-3 with a 2.69 ERA and — get this — he's starting in Wednesday's Triple-A All-Star game. Diamond was the 10th overall pick of the Texas Rangers in 2004, but needed Tommy John surgery in 2007. Then he injured himself by falling onto a sprinkler head (what the...?), and was released by the Rangers in 2009. Now he's in the Cubs' minor-league system, but he might be ready for prime time soon.
NOLA: Thomas Diamond overcomes injury, will start...
Andrew Cashner won over some teammates for plunking Blake DeWitt after Marlon Byrd was hit for the second consecutive game... Are you a huge baseball fan with $3,00 to burn?... Remember Cub killer Andy Van Slyke? He's written a novel about the Cubs winning the World Series. We have no idea...
"Now that the first half is just about over, I think the Cubs should let the Bizarro Cubs play — you know, the Cubs that win."
-Walter Bearstradamus Brzeski
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