Let it Z
Zambrano Continues to Be Awesome in 4-0 Win

Jason O. Watson/US PRESSWIRE

Our favorite thing about last night's win over Milwaukee wasn't that the newly mellow Carlos Zambrano only allowed three singles and struck out nine. Or that he went 3-for-4 with a run and a RBI. No, the best part was right after he got pulled with just one out left in the game because Starlin Castro made yet another error. Instead of fuming, Zambrano patted Castro on the back as he left the mound. Awwww. As for the offense, the Cubs scored three unearned runs on the Brewers' three errors, but hey, we'll take a win.

ESPN Chicago: Cubs' Carlos Zambrano wins fifth straight decision [+ video]
Chicago Tribune: Zambrano pitches and hits Cubs to 4-0 victory
Chicago Sun-Times: Zambrano stays on a roll
Daily Herald: Zambrano dominant again, Cubs beat Brewers 4-0
MLB: Vintage Zambrano brilliant in three-hit effort [+ video]

Them's Fightin' Words
Brewers Come Out Swinging Against Hendry
Some yukster in the Milwaukee press box put out fake a press release advertising a book that Jim Hendry supposedly put out, titled "How to Finish Near Last Place with the Highest Payroll in the League." Among the chapters: "Why I signed Milton Bradley!" and "Why I released Casey McGehee only to see him hit 20 home runs and drive in nearly 100 runs for a division rival!" The Brewers denied any responsibility, but needless to say, the Cubs were not pleased.

Chicago Breaking Sports: Fake press release ripping Cubs GM at Miller Park
Daily Herald: Book it: Practical joke 'falls flat'
Tales from Aisle 424: Brewers attempt at comedy is funny, but not ha-ha funny

Out of Season
Are Season Tickets for 'Chumps'?
We almost always concur with And Counting, but we have to agree to disagree with the blog's latest post about season tickets. The blog gives several reasons not to get them, including: it's a hassle to get to Wrigley Field, the stands can be filled with drunks, and it's just plain old expensive. The blog admits, "Maybe this makes me a bad fan.... But in my eyes, people paying thousands of dollars to watch the Cubs on a daily basis are getting robbed." It may be rough, but we're in for next year.

And Counting: Cubs season tickets are for chumps

Who's the Boss?
Ricketts Has No Problem Hanging with Everyday Fans
We don't get the complaints about the new Cubs' owners. Yes, the team isn't winning, and no, we're not ga-ga about the noodle. But we have a hard time thinking Tom Ricketts has made too many missteps since taking over the team. For proof, check out this post from Cubby-Blue that shows Ricketts going through the crowd, shaking hands and posing for pictures. "I bet that when the Cubs finally turn this around and get on the winning track again, we're REALLY gonna like this guy," the blog says. We tend to agree.

Cubby-Blue: Tom Ricketts is the harding working man at Wrigley Field
NPR: Chicago Cubs' owner wants to reverse history

No Business like Show Business
The Short, Unhappy Life of Eric Show
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 an ESPN look at the life of Eric Show, the pitcher known for two things: Giving up Pete Rose's record-breaking hit, and hitting Andre Dawson in the face with a pitch. Normally, we wouldn't feel much sympathy for Show (as in "Cow"), but it turns out he was a troubled soul who became a hardcore drug addict and died of an overdose in 1994.

ESPN: The tortured life of Eric Show

Zambrano is 5-0 since undergoing anger-management therapy... Jeff Samardzjia might start the Sept. 18 game against the Marlins... Minor leaguers Chris Archer and Brett Jackson will play for the U.S. in the Pan Am Games... Regardless of your political affiliation, this video about President Bush's visit to Yankee Stadium for Game 3 of the 2001 World Series in the aftermath of Sept. 11 is pretty compelling stuff... Along those lines, on the ninth anniversary of Sept. 11, you might consider a donation to the Flight 93 fund.

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