Catch of the Day
Defensive Gems Seal 3-0 Padres Win

Jody Gomez/US PRESSWIRE

We'll never like Padres' pitcher Chris Young for nearly beaning Derrek Lee in the head a few years back (although that was quite a brawl afterwards). But Young pitched a strong game last night, shutting down the Cubs on three hits and six strikeouts over five innings. The Cubs' Randy Wells threw a quality start (seven innings, three runs), but allowed a run on a wild pitch in the fourth. The game might have come out differently if Padres' outfielder Will Venable hadn't stolen two likely homers with awesome catches. Jerk.

ESPN Chicago: Chris Young helps Pads blank Cubs to stay 2 back... [+ video]
Chicago Breaking Sports: Cubs lose 3-0 to Padres as Venable steals two HRs
MLB: Cubs robbed twice in loss to Padres [+ video]

Dempster Steps Out
Pitcher Endorses Quade for Manager Position
So we know everyone loves Mike Quade. That's fine. But Ryan Dempster went out on a limb and said he wants the Evanstonian (E-Town represent!) to get the job. "He's done a great job and I hope that he's here longer than just this year," Dempster said. "I hope he's managing for us next year because he deserves it.... Everyone in here really likes him." Wow. We're fine with Quade, but if Ryne Sandberg gets the gig, we're hoping Dempster understands when he's converted to utility infielder and clubhouse bathroom cleaner.

Chicago Breaking Sports: Dempster: Cubs should bring back Quade
Agony & Ivy: Quade making quite an argument for 2011 managerial job
CSN Chicago: The buzz is continuing to grow around Quade

Aces High
Who Will Be Cubs' Best Pitcher Next Year?
Recently, Carlos Zambrano said, ''You can count and see if I'm the former ace or I'm still the ace of this team.'' Given his recent run (and his, you know, $18 million salary), maybe he'll be the ace next year. But maybe not — hell, he may not even be here. So who then? Ryan Dempster? The Sun-Times notes you can't contend without a "shut-down" pitcher — imagine the Phillies without Roy Halladay. If the Cubs are going to make a run, "they'll need to identify, if not acquire, the commodity," the paper says.

Chicago Sun-Times: If Zambrano is 'former ace,' who ranks first on staff now?

My Dinner with Hendry
Cubs' GM Opens up About Disappointing Season
Jim Hendry raised some eyebrows when he said the Cubs were a few moves away from contending next year. Vine Line magazine asked the GM to explain. "Will we go into the offseason the favorites to win the division next year? No. But the Reds weren't the favorites this year; the Padres weren't the favorites. It's baseball," Hendry says. He also said that hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo's work will really bear fruit next year, and that "with three or four guys who are number two or three types, you can win a lot of games." We'll see.

Vine Line: There's work to be done

The Truth Hurts
Brenly Bailed on Skipper Gig Because Team Will Suck
The cynics probably think Cubs' announcer Bob Brenly pulled his name from consideration for the Cubs' job because he didn't have a chance of getting it. And that might be true. But he also dropped some ugly truth in his decision, saying he doesn't want to lead a crapsville team. "If you're that guy who takes the Cubs to the Promised Land, your ticket is punched for the rest of your life," he said. "But I think it may take a while for that ticket to get punched." Ouch.

ESPN Chicago: Bob Brenly: Ryne Sandberg looks ready
Bleacher Nation: Bob Brenly explains why he pulled himself out of the running...

Last night's loss was only the team's fourth road defeat out of 18 games since Mike Quade took over... Whoa: The great hope for the Cubs farm system rocks a mullet!... Jeff Samardzija says he's happy with the way things went this season. Hmmm...

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