Revenge Is Sweet
Cubs Avenge Losses Against Red Hurler Arroyo

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

After years of getting dominated by Bronson Arroyo, the Cubs finally struck back. The North Siders beat the floppy-haired pitcher 3-2 for the first time in three years on the strength of homers by Xavier Nady and Kosuke Fukudome. Pitching on his 28th birthday, Randy Wells gave up a mere two runs over six innings. The bullpen came in to shut the deal, with Carlos Marmol notching his 24th save. Sometimes, it seems so easy....

ESPN Chicago: Kosuke Fukudome HR helps Cubs finally beat Reds'...
Chicago Tribune: Cubs' pen shuts down Reds
Daily Herald: Fukudome's HR sends Cubs over Reds 3-2
CSN Chicago: Cubs beat Reds, pass this night of auditions [+ video]
MLB: Young relievers, homers lift Cubs' Wells [+ video]

Role Call
Quade Isn't Only Cub Auditioning for Next Season
When Lou Piniella headed off into the sunset, he said the Cubs' young players were "getting the opportunity of a lifetime, and none of them wants to step up." So while Mike Quade is now 4-1 in his audition as the Cubs interim manager, it's the development (or failure) of the young pitchers that will keep us watching these final 32 games. Sean Marshall and Carlos Marmol can't pitch every game, so it was encouraging to see James Russell strike out the side in 7th, and to have Andrew Cashner deliver his third solid outing in a row. But can they keep it up?

Chicago Sun-Times: Cubs pitchers know heat is on as they try to show...
Daily Herald: Young arms pitching in, showing improvement
Muskat Ramblings: 8/28 open audition

I Am the Resurrection
The Rise and Fall (and Rise?) of Jeff Samardzija
There have been times we've almost given up on Jeff Samardzija. Like after this past spring training, when he pitched all crapsville and then pouted when he got sent down, we were like, "Forget this guy and his inexplicable no-trade clause." But not only has he been pitching well at Iowa, but he actually ASKED to stay down at Iowa. "We didn't want it to be a roller-coaster ride," he said. To us, that's bigger news than the cutter he's supposedly developing. And if he were actually good next year? That would be sweet.

Daily Herald: Samardzija happy to show pitching progress at Iowa
Bleacher Nation: Whoa: Jeff Samardzija asked to stay down at AAA Iowa
Agony & Ivy: Where have you gone, Jeff Samardzija?

At First Sight
Who's Going to Play First Base Next Year?
As you know, Derrek Lee is no longer a Cub. And call it a hunch, but we're thinking Xavier Nady is not going to be playing first next year. So who's going to be there next season? Goat Riders of the Apocalypse goes through the pros and cons of the leading candidates, including Tyler Colvin, Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, and Adam Dunn. The pros of Colvin, for instance, are that he makes the league minimum; the cons are that we have no idea whether he can do it at the major league level. Hmmm....

Goat Riders of the Apocalypse: Who plays 1B in 2011?
Muskat Ramblings: Who's on first?

Born to Run
Time to Let the Cubs Run Wild
Whatever the Cubs are doing, clearly it ain't working. So maybe they ought to try something completely new and start emphasizing speed. That's the theory of Agony & Ivy, who suggest the Cubs should save some money at first and put Tyler Colvin there. Then, with the money the team was going to spend on Adam Dunn (or whoever), the North Siders should go after free agent Carl Crawford. The absurdly fleet Tampa Bay center fielder could add a new dimension to the team, providing speed, pop, and some fire. We like.

Agony & Ivy: Cubs should follow winds and change approach

Alfonso Soriano leads the team in home runs and RBI's, but he hasn't had a good month since May... We guess if you're 90 and you've been watching the Cubs all these years, you aren't too optimistic... Southwest Airlines will be giving away 25 pairs of tickets to Monday's game, although no one told them that the Harry Caray statue moved... One of the perks of attending a Minor League Baseball game? You might end up going home with first base.

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