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Rally Capped
Cubs Come Back from Four Down, Lose Anyway
Jason O. Watson/US PRESSWIRE
After Randy Wells gave up a grand slam for his third homer of the day (and second to Pat Burrell), we figured the Cubs weren't coming back from a 7-3 deficit to the Giants. But the team roared back, led by Starlin Castro's four hits, to tie it at seven. Alas, Andrew Cashner let in the game-winning run in the ninth and the Cubs lost 8-7. It was the Cubs' 29th one-run loss of the season, and was especially tough considering they knocked out the usually dominant Matt Cain in the sixth. We might consider it a moral victory, but who cares about those?
ESPN Chicago: Burrell hits grand slam, solo shot as Giants recover... [+ video]
Chicago Breaking Sports: Giants beat Cubs 8-7 on walk-off single in 9th
CSN Chicago: After walk-off loss, Cubs left wondering what's next
MLB: Despite rally, Cubs suffer walk-off loss [+ video]
The Defense Rests
Cubs Gloves Give Them No Love
Everyone's blaming a fair amount of the Cubs' problems on the youth movement, which is understandable. But the Sun-Times points out that the team's 91 errors, tied for the most in the majors, has been a bigger problem. Yesterday's game, for example, might have turned out differently if third baseman Jeff Baker hadn't muffed a throw to first and Starlin Castro hadn't missed ANOTHER tag on a stolen base. (Grrrr.) But maybe the D will improve as the team gets older, right?
Chicago Sun-Times: Worse than kids' stuff
Please, Mr. Postman
Steve Stone Does Not Heart Ryne Sandberg
Steve Stone has no problem saying, "Hate to say I told you so." In his mailbag, Stone says he tried to warn the Cubs that they were taking on too many big contracts, but was told he was just bitter. "Now the pigeons have come home to roost," he crows. (Actually, it's "chickens," but let's not split idiomatic hairs.) Stone also steps out and says there's one clear choice for the Cubs' next manager: Joe Girardi. "No one is in second place," he says. Interesting.
CSN Chicago: Steve Stone mailbag: Who should manage the Cubs?
Speed Racer
Newest Cub Prospect Is, Apparently, Fast
The wee Mike Fontenot was kind of a fan favorite. Alas, now he's gone. So who exactly is Evan Crawford, the guy the Cubs got in return? Well, he's pretty damn fast, according to some sources WrigleyBound talked to. So far, he's got 12 triples and 24 stolen bases in Single-A ball. He also, however, has a whopping 108 strikeouts, possesses "fringe" arm strength, and his routes in the outfield leave "quite a bit to be desired." So maybe he's the next Joey Gathright? Remember him? No? Well, there you go.
WrigleyBound: Cubs acquire OF prospect Evan Crawford
Journeyman
A Look at Alfonso Soriano's Interesting Route to the Majors
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. Today's Good Read is a 2002 look at the byzantine path that led Alfonso Soriano to his current status as huge albatross Cubs' left fielder. Soriano went from the Dominican Republic to Japan to California's National Adult Baseball Association (which is about one step above your office softball league). Now, he's on the Cubs until the cows come home — but at least it's been an interesting path to get here.
SI: He's arrived
The record for one-run losses in a season is 44 by the 1968 White Sox... Did the Cubs sign a new defensive replacement? And what's the new statue outside Wrigley Field? The Heckler knows.
"The Cubs' best player next year is going to be Ted Lilly, Ryan Theriot, or Mike Fontenot.... Wait, what?.... Oh crap."
-Matthew Bonaccorso
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