Welcome to Smallville
Clutch Hits and Solid Pitching Lead to Win

Jason O. Watson/US PRESSWIRE

One lousy extra base hit: that's all the Cubs could manage against Braves' rookie Tommy Hanson and the Atlanta bullpen. Thankfully, the North Siders made all nine of their other hits count, winning 5-4 to snap a five-game losing streak. Tom Gorzelanny's seven solid innings combined with Aramis Ramirez's 3-for-4 performance (with two RBIs) to help the Cubs win. Tyler Colvin drove in two runs, and Carlos Marmol rebounded from yesterday's implosion to close out the game. We'll take it.

ESPN Chicago: Ramirez helps Cubs hold off Braves this time [+ video]
Chicago Tribune: Gorzelanny sharp as Cubs top Braves
Daily Herald: Aramis Ramirez helps Cubs beat Braves 5-4
CSN Chicago: Cubs hang on after Gorzelanny's strong start [+ video]
MLB: Gorzelanny's gem snaps Cubs' streak [+ video]

The Lost Boys
Is the 2010 Season a Waste?
Joyless. That's how the New York Times describes the Cubs' 2010 season. The saddest part? We can't really argue with them. Most Cub seasons have unforgettable moments that keep us motivated, a stretch of games where the North Siders catch fire. All we've gotten was Zambrano-gate and Ted Lilly's near no-no. We thought Tom Ricketts would change things, but Year One has been "awful, an embarrassment." The solution? The Times thinks we need a hard-nosed general in the mold of Dallas Green: "Even the noodle would snap to and look busy," the paper says.

New York Times: Joyless seasons for White Sox and Cubs

Old School
Piniella and Cox Face Off For Last Time
More than 8,000 — that's how many games Lou Piniella and the Braves' Bobby Cox have managed over their epic careers. That's 52 seasons of eating, drinking, and living baseball. And then more drinking. While Cox looks to be headed to the playoffs (again), Lou is hanging it up on the heels of a disappointing season. His six division titles don't hold a candle to Cox's 15, but they both have the same number of rings: one. When these legendary managers are gone, baseball will never be the same... and umpires will probably breathe a collective sigh of relief.

MLB: Two legends to face off for final time
CSN Chicago: Piniella and Cox are managers nearing the end

What a Bour!
Promising First Baseman Has Career Night
So we need a first baseman, do we? With Derrek Lee gone and Tyler Colvin still a newbie, 22-year-old Justin Bour had quite a game for Single-A Peoria. Bour went 3-for-5 with a double, a grand slam, and seven RBIs. Maybe he's trying to tell Jim Hendry something. Bour leads the team in home runs (12), doubles (24), and RBIs (78). Not bad for a guy who was drafted 770th overall in the 2009 draft. The 6'4", 250-pound first baseman is a nice target for his infielders — sounds kinda familiar, doesn't it?

MiLB: Bour has career night in wild win

Freaky Deaky
What's Normal for the Cubs?
Lots of things freak out the blog Cubby Blue, such as the idea of Tyler Colvin playing first base and Derrek Lee in a Braves jersey. Then there are the non-freaky things, such as when Alfonso Soriano strikes out with runners in scoring position time after time, or the Cubs losing when they were one strike away from winning. Despite how bad 2010 has been, the one thing that freaks out Cubby Blue the most is 2011. It can't be worse that this year... can it?

Cubby Blue: Chicago Cubs. What's freaky and what's not.

Aramis Ramirez is 7-for-12 (.583) with five RBIs in his last three games... Looks like Starlin Castro will qualify for the NL batting title race by the end of August. If the season ended today, he'd place sixth... Welcome to all our new subscribers who signed up during last night's Cubs Fan Report interview on WGN's Nick Digilio Show.

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