Cubs Upgrade Their RAM
Ramirez and Byrd's Homers Beat Phils

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Aramis Ramirez and Marlon Byrd put the Cubs on their shoulders yesterday and said, "Hop on boys, we got this one!" The duo combined to go 5-for-8 with four runs, three RBIs, and two homers. Byrd hit a clutch homer to tie it and A-Ram cranked one in the eighth that proved the game winner. Ted Lilly overcame the trade talk to pitch seven solid innings, striking out eight and allowing three earned runs (and he even walked to drive in a run). Carlos Marmol struck out the side in the ninth to seal the win. Nice.

ESPN Chicago: Hot-hitting Ramirez sparks Cubs' comeback... [+ video]
Chicago Tribune: Cubs' Lilly strong in 4-3 victory over Phillies
Chicago Sun-Times: Lilly fan-atic: K's 10
Daily Herald: Cubs selling hope ... for now in 4-3 win over Phillies
MLB: Byrd, Ramirez homer Cubs past Phillies [+ video]

Right Said Ted
Dempster & Co. Want Lilly to Stay
We're not crazy about discussing rumors day in and day out, but that's the reality of a 41-50 team. After Ted Lilly's solid performance yesterday, however, it seems the Cubs want might keep one of their most consistent pitchers. Ryan Dempster, for one, backs that move. "I've always said if you had five Ted Lillys in your starting rotation, you'd have the best rotation in baseball," he said. But do the Cubs really have a chance here, or is this just a nice — but very small — streak? Hmmm.

ESPN Chicago: Dempster hopes Lilly stays
CSN Chicago: Cubs win again, Lilly wants to stay in Chicago
ESPN Chicago: Lilly gives Hendry reason for pause
SI: With prize Lee gone, assessing the trade market for pitchers

Burying Z Hatchet
Lee Says Zambrano Incident Is in the Past
Derrek Lee talked about the Carlos Zambrano freakout for the first time, saying it's "over with and we'll all be fine." Lee and Zambrano have been teammates since 2004 and have always gotten along — Lee even stood up for Big Z when fans booed him in 2007 after a brutal game. Either way, we're happy to hear this isn't going to be a problem when Big Z comes back. It looks like everyone will be fine with his return... except maybe the Gatorade cooler.

Chicago Breaking Sports: Cubs' Lee: No hard feelings towards Zambrano

Trading Silva for Gold
Should the Cubs Get Rid of Carlos Silva?
To say Carlos Silva has been a pleasant surprise would be quite the understatement. The numbers say it all: He's 9-3 with a 3.45 ERA. But will Silva revert back to his old ways of mediocrity? Cubbies Crib says "his trade value is probably at the highest it is ever going to be," so the Cubs would be wise to unload him now. Plus, the Cubs owe him up to $23.5 million. But does it make sense to trade of one of the season's lone bright spots? We're not so sure.

Cubbies Crib: The Cubs should trade Carlos Silva

Pick of the Litter
First-Round Pick Vitters Getting on Track?
We're just going to come out and say it: first-round pick Josh Vitters is having a pretty miserable season since he got called up to Double-A. He's "hitting" .219 and striking out four times as often as he walks (9/36 BB/K ratio). Sure, he's only 20 years old, but this was supposed to be our third baseman of the future. On the plus side, he's put together a couple of solid games lately — he's four for his last six with two homers and six RBIs. Hopefully he'll find his groove and we can start forgetting about the whole Casey McGehee thing.

Times Free Press: Smokies jump Lookouts
Minor League Baseball: Josh Vitters Stats

Maybe we're softies, but we're suckers for this kind of thing: A couple got engaged during yesterday's game... ChicagoNow has a treat for all you Cub fans who loved "Major League"... Ryne Sandberg reminisces about his days in the minors.

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