What the Buc?
Pirates Avenge Monday's Rout with 14-7 Win

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Ryan Dempster had given up five earned runs in his last five starts, so he was due for a dud. But geez... seven runs in three innings against the awful Pirates? (Well, awful against everyone but the Cubs — they're 10-4 vs. the North Siders.) That's Jason Marquis-caliber pitching. The Cubs scored five runs in the seventh off the Bucs' bullpen, and Koyie Hill hit his first homer of the year. But when you give up 14 runs to the team WITH THE WORST RECORD IN BASEBALL, it most definitely is not your year.

ESPN Chicago: Pirates end 14-game road losing streak [+ video]
Chicago Tribune: Another dismal loss to Pirates
CSN Chicago: Role reversal: Pirates double up Dempster, Cubs [+ video]
MLB: Dempster battered by Bucs as Cubs fall

Home-Field Disadvantage
Are Cubs Worst Home Team in Baseball?
Almost everyone loves Wrigley Field. Everyone, it seems... except the Cubs. The blog And Counting did an analysis of every team's home record in one-run games since 1970. Guess where the Cubs finished? DEAD LAST. Seriously. Number one was Colorado (no surprise), the White Sox came in at number 15, and the Cardinals were right behind them. And at the bottom of the list sit the Cubs, right behind the Pirates. "Is it Wrigley? Is it us? I don't know. But it's not working," the blog concludes. Wow.

And Counting: Wrigley: The worst home-field advantage in baseball

Chat Room
ESPN Talk Gives Insight into Cubs' Future
Bruce Levine is usually the guy exchanging dry barbs on ESPN 1000 radio shows. But yesterday, he led a chat that gave some pretty interesting insight into the Cubs. For starters, he sees Andrew Cashner as the Cubs' future closer and suggests the Cubs trade Carlos Marmol to the Yankees. He also said it might not make sense to deal Zambrano, given the Cubs will be paying a lot of his contract and likely won't get a lot in return. Lastly, he is well-aware of Adam Dunn's flaws, but shrugs and says, "You can't kiss all the girls." Too true.

ESPN Chicago: Chat with Bruce Levine

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International Mail
Piniella's Oddly Quiet Goodbye, The Noodle's Curse
Lou Piniella was involved in baseball practically since Ty Cobb was in short pants, so doesn't it seem strange that his goodbye was so low-key? "Yes, it was an awkward exit for someone of his stature," Paul Sullivan writes in his mailbag. "But it's a business, as Lou and the players have reminded us many times." As for first base next year, Sullivan compares Adam Dunn to whiff-prone Dave Kingman, but notes there aren't many other options out there. He also says there might be a reason for the team's woes this year: The Noodle.

Chicago Tribune: Ask Paul: Paul Sullivan's Mailbag

The Carlos Conundrum
What Should the Cubs Do About Big Z?
After his meltdown earlier this season and subsequent anger-management counseling, everyone assumes Carlos Zambrano is pretty much gone. Except now there's a catch: He's been pitching really well lately. As View from the Bleachers notes, he's 3-0 with a 1.84 ERA since his return from exile. The blog says "if he can pull himself together enough to be a No. 3ish guy next season, wouldn't that — along with Ryan Dempster — be better than nothing at the top of the rotation?" Maybe so. Tell us on Facebook what you would do with Big Z.

View from the Bleachers: What to do, what to do... with Big Z?

The Harry Caray statue will be re-dedicated today at 12:15 outside the bleachers with Tom Ricketts and Caray's widow Dutchie... Teams can expand their rosters today, but the Cubs are not expected to make any immediate call-ups... Contrary to some media reports, ESPN's Bruce Levine says GM Jim Hendry not yet interviewed Ryne Sandberg for the Cubs' manager position... Brett Jackson and Josh Vitters are among the Cubs propspects who will play in the Arizona Farm League, beginning Oct. 12... The Cubs will hold their annual Food Drive Saturday before the game outside Gate D, at the corner of Addison and Sheffield... Much-hyped Reds' flamethrower Aroldis Chapman made his major league debut last night and topped 100 MPH on the radar gun four times.

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