Saved by Zero
Dempster, Bullpen Shut Down Marlins in 2-0 Win

Steve Mitchell/US PRESSWIRE

Ryan Dempster was just this side of awesome last night, pitching seven shutout innings in last night's win. He threw 123 pitches (what, was Dusty on the bench?) and worked out of several jams, bringing his record to 14-10. The Cubs got lucky on one of their runs — left fielder Logan Morrison lost a routine fly in the lights, and Geovany Soto scored from first. Starlin Castro committed an error and dropped an easy double-play ball, but he also helped Carlos Marmol escape with his 32nd save by making an awesome catch to end the game.

ESPN Chicago: Ryan Dempster deals 7 shutout innings [+ video]
Chicago Tribune: Dempster pitches Cubs to 2-0 victory
CSN Chicago: Dempster keeps going strong for Cubs [+ video]
MLB: Dempster, Cubs work out of trouble in Miami [+ video]

Getting a Wedgie
Gammons' Prediction for Skipper is... Eric Wedge?
Baseball maven Peter Gammons was on WSCR's Mully and Hanley show yesterday, and he surprised everyone by predicting former Cleveland skipper Eric Wedge will be the Cubs' manager next year. Whoa. So who is Eric Wedge? Cubbie Doctor's Examiner notes he's only 42 years old, he managed the Indians for seven years, and he took them to the ALCS in 2007. But he also "underperformed" with a roster that included C.C. Sabathia, Cliff Lee, and more. In the end, the blog thinks it will come down to Ryne Sandberg or Mike Quade.

Cubbie Doctor's Examiner: Gammons thinks Wedge just might be the man

Don't Look Back in Anger
Considering the Cubs After the Fire Sale
Not long ago, the Cubs cleaned house and traded several players: Derrek Lee, Ted Lilly, Ryan Theriot, and Mike Fontenot. Now that we've played a number of games since then, Desipio asks: "Are we better off than we were?" The answer: No. Of those four players, the blog says Ted Lilly is the only one the team misses. So the team's record is better, but the talent level is about the same. That said, the blog concludes that the team is in for some rough times next year: "If you thought 2010 was bad, brother you ain't seen nothing yet," it says.

Desipio: Are the Cubs better after the fire sale?

Pick 'Em
Alas, Cubs Can't Get Top Spot in MLB Draft
The baseball draft is a total crapshoot, and often the first pick doesn't amount to much. (Just check out Luke Hochevar, the 2006 first pick who sports a 5-5 record and a 4.81 ERA for the Royals.) That said, the Cubs have lost their shot at the top choice by going on this winning binge under Mike Quade. As Tales from Aisle 424 notes, the team will likely end up with around the eighth pick in the draft. That's OK, Mark Grace was drafted in the 24th round.

Tales from Aisle 424: Cubs eliminated from another sadder race

Tyler? Barely Knew 'er!
A Look at the Cubs' Promising Right Fielder
So it seems the Tyler-Colvin-at-first-base experiment is only going to happen "if we wanted to have fun some fun in Houston," Mike Quade said. "(It) would almost be on a whim at this point." So maybe he's still just an outfielder. But as CSN Chicago points out, the six-foot, three-inch Colvin has developed as a hitter over the last few years, hitting 20 homers this year when he only hit 15 last year in the minors. So maybe his fielding will develop just as quickly? We'll see.

CSN Chicago: Colvin has handled everything thrown his way

Tom Gorzelanny will rejoin the rotation Friday against the Cardinals... The Cubs will interview Bob Brenly soon for the open managerial position...Want to win cool prizes from the Cubs? Just follow @CubsInsider and/or @Cubs on Twitter, and you can take home hats, T-shirts, and other schwag at some upcoming CubsInsider FollowFest parties.

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