A New York State of Shame
Mets Rout Cubs, Dempster, Bullpen in 18-5 Win

Jerry Lai/US PRESSSWIRE

When Ryan Dempster left yesterday's game in the fifth inning, the Cubs were only down 7-5. The bullpen then proceeded to give up 11 runs, leading to the humiliating blowout. The primary culprits were James Russell and Thomas Diamond, who both got tagged for five runs. We're pretty bummed about Diamond, who was the starting pitcher in the Pacific Coast League All-Star Game just a few months back. But his ERA now stands at a whopping 7.89. On the plus side... well, the Cubs won the series. So there.

ESPN Chicago: Mets score 5 runs in 3 different innings to crush Cubs [+ video]
Chicago Tribune: 'Tough day' pretty well sums up Mets' rout
Chicago Sun-Times: Ugly loss ruins Quade's weekend
Daily Herald: 2 out of 3 ain't bad for the Cubs — but that 3rd game was awful
MLB: Dempster, bullpen roughed up by Mets [+ video]

A Bad Omen
Key Iowa Cubs Lose It in Big Game
It's possible Ryne Sandberg and Jeff Samardzija will be at Wrigley Field next year. So we're disappointed both had such bad showings in a key Iowa Cubs game yesterday. In a potential division winner, Sandberg was ejected in the first inning after arguing a call at second base. And while we've been hearing Samardzija's new cutter is so great, he got knocked around for seven runs in six innings. In the end, the Cubs lost 8-7 in 15 innings, meaning the team needs to win today to make the playoffs. Oh, the tension!

Des Moines Register: Sunday's 15-inning loss means it's down to the wire...
Daily Herald: Sandberg's Iowa team faces must-win scenario today

X-Man: Evolution
Nady Putting up Solid Numbers Lately
Count us among the people who were excited about the offseason Xavier Nady signing — let's not forget he had 25 homers and 97 RBIs in 2008. Alas, he's been fairly underwhelming this year... until recently. Before yesterday's game (in which he went 1-for-4), Nady was batting .345 in the 22 games he's started since Derrek Lee left town. The dude has had two Tommy John surgeries since 2002, so maybe he just needed some time to recover. Fun fact about Nady: His son is named Xavier Henry Nady VII. Do with that what you will.

MLB: Nady sizzling at plate since Lee trade
Chicago Tribune: Nady making most of playing time

Less is More
Cubs' Starters to Throw Less So Kids Get More Experience
The Cubs seem to be taking this youth movement pretty seriously, huh? Quade said the team will be limiting the number of pitches starters throw in order to make a better evaluation of the team's many rookies. "Part of the reason the starters have gone late into games is because the bullpen has been slow to come around in the middle area," Quade said. "The more confident you are in the bullpen, the more prudent you can be." That's one way to find out if the kids are alright.

MLB: Cubs to keep eye on starters' pitch counts

Aramis Ramirez got his 1,600th hit yesterday but he also strained his right quad and is listed as day-to-day... Jeff Baker is batting .750 with two walks, one double, and two RBIs in four games as the leadoff man... Scott Maine has yet to give up a run in three relief appearances at Wrigley Field... We've never caught a ball at the Friendly Confines, and yet this woman in Tampa Bay had three hit at her in one inning!

Submit your Rant on Facebook
*Don't be a Sox fan... be clever. If it's smart enough, we'll publish it here.
What's this?