Don't Call It a Comeback
Zambrano Battles in Return... Cubs Still Lose

Jason O. Watson/US PRESSWIRE

We almost feel sorry for Carlos Zambrano. He pitched a gutty game last night, laboring through five innings and tying a career-high with seven walks. Yet he allowed a respectable two runs and kept the Cubs in the game through 95 pitches (15 more than he was slated to throw). Alas, the Cubs offense again let us down and they lost to the Giants 4-3 in 11 innings. Marcos Mateo, who was called up yesterday, let in the winning run. The Cubs are now 1-11 in their last 12 games. Yeesh.

ESPN Chicago: Pat Burrell's walk-off sac fly in 11th helps Giants spoil... [+ video]
Chicago Breaking Sports: Giants outlast Cubs 4-3 in 11 innings
Daily Herald: Zambrano wild in his return; Cubs lose in 11
MLB: Big Z's rotation return can't stop Cubs' slide [+ video]

Carlos in Charge
Zambrano Success Could Key Big Off-Season
Unless he regains his near-ace form of a few years back, it seems like a given that Zambrano will be traded in the off-season. But if he looks this good in his remaining starts (without the walks, of course), it could make things easier for the Cubs to deal him. And if they can move him quickly, they might have the time and money to go after a big bat like Adam Dunn. So root hard for Zambrano to pitch well. It would make us happy.

Chicago Sun-Times: Zambrano still the man in the middle
Bats: For Cubs' Zambrano, it's a start

The Off Season
Is Derrek Lee 'Entitled' to a Bad Year?
Color us surprised, but Trib curmudgeon Steve Rosenbloom actually makes a good point in his latest frothing-mouth rant about the Cubs. He takes Lou Piniella to task for saying Derrek Lee is "entitled" to an off year. Look, there's plenty of blame to go around this season. But a large part of the problem stems from the Cubs' two former big boppers, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez, having brutal years. At the same time, didn't it fall on Piniella to move them down in the order, instead of keeping them in the middle of the lineup? Sigh.

Rosenblog: Cubs' pathetic-o-meter works overtime

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Poll Dancing
Cubs Don't Pull in the Votes in Surveys
A few sources have run "power polls" recently, which rate the MLB teams from 1-30. In these, the Cubs finished with an average ranking of... gulp... 26th. We could look at the reasons here — poor seasons from Ramirez and Lee, bad situational hitting, a bullpen packed with interchangeable rookies, etc. Instead, let's look at the players who have worn number 26 for the North Siders. There's the unforgettable Newt Kimball, Moe Drabowsky, Billy Williams, and our favorite, Larry Biittner. There, wasn't that more fun than analyzing a bad season?

Chicago Tribune: Yanks remain No. 1 but have pitching issues
ESPN: Power rankings: No question: Yanks still No. 1
Sporting News: Power poll: No need for Rays to panic

Hope Sinks
Optimism Is a Four-Letter Word for Some
We've all felt the pain of watching our favorite team stink up the joint. But rarely have we seen a rant of such epic proportions as the one by Tales from Aisle 424. The lengthy write-up eloquently predicts the Cubs will sell us the concept of hope this off-season, and "We want so desperately to believe in unicorns and the possibility that THIS IS THE YEAR! that we will gladly believe whatever the Cubs machine decides to feed us." The blog ends with a word that just about says it all: "Harumph." Indeed.

Tales from Aisle 424: Cubs know hope sells

Geovany Soto was put on the DL with tightness in his shoulder, while Derrek Lee was absent to be with his ill grandfather... To replace Soto and Lee, the Cubs called up catcher Welington Castillo and first-baseman Micah Hoffpauir... Carlos Silva underwent a successful cardiac ablation procedure and will return to the mound this season... Sometimes, you just have to do the stanky leg.

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