The Score is reporting Jerry Hairston Jr. has a torn tendon in his elbow. That probably means the rest of the season for him and would open the door for a Corey Patterson return. I think I'd actually like to see Murton/Burnitz/Lawton as the outfield instead of Patterson being brought back if he hasn't changed anything since his send down to the minors.

The Al Minor League tour winds down this month. I've got four games left, one each watching the Barons play Pawtucket, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo.

Pawtucket...let me know if Pedroia looks like the real deal (despite my undying faith that he is).

Will do. I will say that just one game is not the greatest scouting report.

the cubs are going to sweep the mets.

 

i'll be at shea tomorrow night for day 1 of the massacre. there are 0 available relief pitchers. this should be fun.

With a 4-for-4 night, Miguel Cabrera is sitting at .355 for the season, only three points behind Derrek Lee. Andruw Jones hit homer #33 and Carlos Lee now has 90 RBIs. I don't think any of us thought that Lee had a realistic shot at the Triple Crown, but another great night for Cabrera could knock Lee out of the leadership for the only category he's still leading.

To the surprise of no one, the Yankees have reportedly been in contact with the agents of Takatsu and Sele.

Cabrera has been on fire. The Cardinals announcers brought up an interesting stat on last night's broadcast...

 

Since Miguel Cabrera's MLB debut, he has the most RBIs of ANYONE in baseball not named Albert Pujols, and Pujols has only got him by 18.

 

HR, 2B and 2 singles last night. It's just been great to watch. He's really picked up the slack since Delgado got injured.

The Indians sent Jason DuBois to Buffalo.

Nomar returns tonight, but with Hairston out, Jose Macias is playing center. Great! To hell with Matt Murton. He is only one of the best young hitters on the team. I hate Dusty Baker.

Oh, and to make room for the three returns tonight, Hairston was placed on the DL, Mitre was optioned back to AAA Iowa, and Remlinger was finally DFA. Only the Cubs would have a lefty specialist who can't get lefties out.

Ah, Gary Sheffield, amusing baseball fans everywhere by not keeping his foot out of his mouth. From Rotoworld:

 

Gary Sheffield insinuated that Derek Jeter and A-Rod are not the leaders of the Yankees.

 

He never mentions them by name in an explosive story set to run on Monday, and he doesn't say many nice things about his team. ''I ain't going to say who it is (leaders), but I know who it is. I know who the team feeds off. I know who the opposing team comes in knowing they have to defend to stop the Yankees.'' He also accused the media of portraying the two superstars ''in a positive light and everyone else is garbage.'' He also said some things about family, that are sure to fire George Steinbrenner up. ''It's not a family-oriented team. In L.A., wives can fly on the plane; with the Yankees they can't,'' the former Dodger said. ''With other teams, the wives always have functions to bring them together. Not here.'' He also said he doesn't have to ''speak to anyone in the organization to still do my job.''' After this, he probably doesn't have to worry about that.

Gee, I just wonder WHO he thinks is the leader of the team? I'm sure the Yankees are more concerned about the players' wives instead of winning a division title.

I honestly don't see what the big fuss is about Sheffield's comments.

 

Eude Brito has been called up to Philly and Matt Kata was sent to Scranton.

2-3 with a 2 run HR and IBB for Cabrera tonight. Game's still not over, so he may improve on that. He's in some kind of zone.

 

Was only .003 behind D-Lee to start the day. I think he might have overtaken him after today.

so i was wrong, the cubs won't sweep the mets, but Maddux vs. Seo tomorrow, and Maddux owns the Mets.

 

However, i just got back from shea stadium and that was a wonderful game. Despite giving up 5 earned, Glavine pitched 8 strong and finally gave that bullpen a rest. they were running on fumes.

Jose Macias is in the starting lineup again. Honestly, I doubt the Cubs have a shot at the WC at this point, but if Jose Macias is going to be a part of the starting lineup from now on, this team is done.

number 7 showing showing the cub fans how electrifying he is

I'm embarrassed to be a Cubs fan right now. This meltdown is maddening. The one-six hitters have no hits. Think about that. Hopefully this downfall will have some positives when it comes to setting up the team next season.

Dismantle the team. Seriously. I knew they had no shot of sweeping, but them being on the bubble of being swept tomorrow is insane. Four hits today, none of them from the one through six hitters. And so glad we threw down $8 million for Nomar and his .151 batting average and no homers. Especially since he's apparently now so fragile that he's goign to get the catcher treatment and sit day games after night games.

 

Perhaps the most frustrating thing is that no matter how bad things get, Dusty's going to be back next season. After all, if we had had everyone healthy, we'd be going to the World Series! Almost as frustrating is how even though they're not going to make the postseason, Perez and Macias are still going to get regular playing time, while rookies like Murton and Cedeno rot on the bench. At least get them in there and let them get some MLB games under their belt so they can serve a use later. But nooooooo, veterans experience and all that shit. How can anyone get to vet status if they never play? Fuck.

#2: Todd Walker = .343 OBP (0.08 BB/AB)

#3: Derek Lee = .457 OBP (0.14 BB/AB)

#4: Aramis Ramirez = .367 OBP (0.08 BB/AB)

#5: Jeromy Burnitz = .332 OBP (0.10 BB/AB)

#6: Neifi Perez = .291 OBP (0.03 BB/AB)

#7: Jose Macias = .308 OBP (0.03 BB/AB)

#8: Henry Blanco = .260 OBP (0.05 BB/AB)

 

....Ewwww. I'd experiment with sliding Burnitz into the #2 slot (He's Mark Bellhorn with a lower BB rate), Ramirez in the #3, Lee and Walker in the #4 and #5. If Nomar plays, slide him into the #2 and put Walker in at #6. Make it Nomar/Ramirez/Lee/Burnitz/Walker then.

 

It amazes me that you guys will keep Dusty Baker after this season. Damn does this team need more OBP and more guys who aren't afraid to walk. It'd help you guys score runs a lot more, at the very least. Of course with Dusty, fathom that evil thought of getting on base. Stick the veterans in there over the guy who gets on base at a .500 clip and has a 0.19 BB/AB rate (Murton).

they can't be swept, their pitching advantage over the mets tomorrow is monumental

We will find a way.

Our Curse is Worse shirt

t-shirts for Chicago Baseball Fans Our Curse is Worse!

www.ourcurseisworse.com

Saw that in the ads at the bottom of the page. Who the fuck would wear that? Self-loathing Cubs fans?

 

And I'm glad the Sox aren't going back to the Metrodome this year, because something happens there that reverts them into Little Leaguers.

they can't be swept, their pitching advantage over the mets tomorrow is monumental

No it isn't.

It sorta is, but whatever.

 

Anyway, the last couple innings in this Braves/Cards game has been great. Lots of strategy going on between LaRussa and Cox.

 

And so the Braves were up 3-1, but the Cards loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth. Seaboll popped out, which brought up Eckstein. The Braves announcers noted how the outfielders could play in because it wasn't likely he'd hit it over anyone's head. Two pitches later, Eckstein dumps a Reistsma pitch into the leftfield stands to win the game 5-3. Unbelivable. Really says something about this team when their leadoff hitter, not at all known for power, can hit a grandslam to win the game, while teams like the Cubs struggle to get one run in similar situations.

 

Another thing I noticed was how excited everyone on the Cards' bench was when they loaded the bases. Regardless of the situation, the Cubs' bench never seems all that into it. Just seems like LaRussa's got his team more amped for any game than Baker.