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Castro and Parker Shine in Rising Stars Showcase

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:05:00 PST

Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Game
AFL West 8 - AFL East 7
WP - Michael Dunn (1-0) LP - Drew Storen (0-1, BS 1) Save - Craig Kimbrel (1)

The MLB season may have come to an end Wednesday but some of the leagues brightest young stars have been participating in the AFL since October 13. The MLB Network aired the first of two games the channel is going to carry from Arizona this fall on Saturday night.

The annual Arizona Fall League Rising Stars game took place on Saturday night in Surprise, Arizona ... the Spring Training home of the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers. The AFL East Stars jumped out to a seven-run lead in the first inning off of Braves' prospect Mike Minor. Starlin Castro singled and scored in the seven-run inning as the AFL East team set a record for the most runs scored in a single inning.

The AFL West team continued to chip away. They scored two runs in the first and four more in the third led by two Reds' prospects, Chris Heisey and Yonder Alonso. The game remained 7-6 until the bottom of the eighth.

Lance Zawadzki (Padres) led off the inning with a single off of Drew Storen and scored on a two-run homer off the bat of Matt McBride (Indians). The East squad put the tying run on second with two outs in the ninth but Craig Kimbrel (Braves) struck out Chase d'Arnaud (Pirates) looking on a 3-2 pitch to end the game.

Weekend Update ... Talkin' Cubs Rumors

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:27:43 PST

The first two days of the off-season have seen quite a bit of movement across the league ... except for on the North Side of Chicago. The Cubs completed their organizational meetings on Friday in Arizona and other than Reed Johnson and Rich Harden declaring free agency, not much out of the Cubs' camp. Which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Jim Hendry has little payroll flexibility and will likely rely on making trades to improve (or fix) the big league team for next season. It is only the first Saturday in November and the Cubs have a lot of big contracts with no-trade clauses attached to them. Hendry has a lot of work to do ... and Ted Lilly having his shoulder scoped last Tuesday should have changed the direction and/or plans the Cubs had for the winter at the beginning of the week.

With the GM meetings getting underway on Monday in Chicago, here is the latest from the mill ... and a little news too.

Rambling with Five Months to go until Opening Day

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:00:00 PST

As Harry used to say, hello again everybody. For a multitude of reasons, I have been away from the CCO for almost three months. I apologize for missing the last few CCO Radio installments of the season and for not being around to share my witty, intelligent and groundbreaking thoughts with you. Some of you might use other adjectives to describe me, but for the sake of avoiding an argument, lets just go with what I said. Plus, you know I am right.

Harden and Johnson File for Free Agency

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:33:37 PST

According to a report on Cubs.com, Rich Harden and Reed Johnson were among the 79 players to file for free agency on Thursday. The Cubs have exclusive negotiating rights until November 20 to work out new contracts with all of their potential free agents ... Reed Johnson, Rich Harden, John Grabow, Kevin Gregg and Chad Fox.

Will Lilly's Surgery Affect the Cubs' Off-Season?

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:45:00 PST

Congratulations to the New York Yankees on their 27th World Series Championship. The 2009 season ended exactly one month after the Cubs campaign came to an end ... Warm up the oven, it's time for the Hot Stove Season.

The 15-day free-agent filing period begins on Thursday ... teams have exclusive negotiating rights for the next 15 days in order to try and re-sign their would-be free agents. The Cubs are expected to re-sign John Grabow to a contract at some point over the next two weeks and a day ... but Rich Harden, Kevin Gregg, Reed Johnson and Chad Fox are expected to reach the open market. Johnson might return while Harden, Gregg and Fox will likely have another team in 2010 ... and beyond.

Will the surgery on Ted Lilly's shoulder change Jim Hendry's approach this winter? Will the Cubs offer arbitration to Rich Harden and/or try to re-sign him? Or will they begin the season with a rotation full of question marks?

Left Shoulder Surgery for Ted Lilly

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:33:16 PST

According to a report from Paul Sullivan of the Tribune, Ted Lilly "underwent left shoulder arthroscopy and debridement on Tuesday". The Cubs announced Lilly had the surgery on Wednesday and said the southpaw "will be ready to return sometime in April."

A Little News ... and A Few Cubs' Rumors

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:45:00 PST

The Cubs' organizational meetings are in full swing in Mesa. Tom Ricketts reportedly addressed his baseball staff for the first time and will meet with Mesa officials on Wednesday to discuss possible sites for the Cubs new facilities.

A majority of the news (and rumors) around the Cubs is focused on Milton Bradley. The Cubs were rumored to be interested in a move that would have sent Bradley to the Rays for Pat Burrell and Akinori Iwamura ... but the Rays traded Iwamura on Tuesday to the Pirates for Jesse Chavez.

Here is the latest from the mill, including a tidbit from Bruce Levine that the Cubs have discussed centerfielder Rick Ankiel ...

Let the Cubs Organizational Meetings Begin

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:30:00 PST

The Cubs' organizational meetings begin Tuesday in Mesa, Arizona and run through Friday with more than ninety members of the Cubs' organization converging on Fitch Park ... from scouts to minor league coaches and coordinators to Oneri Fleita to Jim Hendry to Lou Piniella and his coaching staff. Tom Ricketts and Crane Kenney will also be in attendance and are expected to meet with Mesa City officials as well as Governor Jan Brewer while they are in Arizona about the organization's future in the area.

With baseball's off-season officially being delayed at least a couple of more days with the Phillies forcing Game Six of the Series back in New York on Wednesday, here is the latest from the mill ... including more on "Movin' Milton" that may include Akinori Iwamura.

Cubs Talking Contract with John Grabow

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:24:48 PST

According to a report from Bruce Levine, the Cubs are trying to lock-up John Grabow to a multi-year contract before the lefty reliever hits free agency. The Cubs and Grabow's agent, Paul Kinzer, are discussing a two-year deal worth between $6.5 million and $7.5 million ... that could include incentives based on games finished. Grabow would like a third-year vesting option added to the deal.

Back to Work for the Cubs

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:00:00 PST

While the Phillies and Yankees continue to battle it out to see which team wears the ring (Yankees up three games to one), the Chicago Cubs will get to work on the 2010 campaign this week.

The Cubs' brass will hold their annual organization meetings in Mesa, the first with Tom Ricketts in attendance. With the GM meetings just around the corner (November 9-11 in Chicago), the Cubs will discuss their plan of attack for getting the team back in the post-season next year.

The next three and a half months figure to be anything but boring on the North Side and as Bruce Miles put it, the first of a long series of farfetched rumors centered around Milton Bradley have already hit the mill ...

A Tip of the Cap

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:17:44 PST

As many of you know by now, Jim Kneisley (JimK) passed away on Thursday, October 29. Jim was just 72 years old. Jim touched many of our lives here on a daily basis in his unique way, often putting a smile on my face seemingly when I needed it the most.

We've lost one of the Faithful and an ardent Cubs' fan. I did not have the pleasure of knowing Jim personally, but it's clear that he left an amazing impression on many of us through this site. Through Jim's writing, we learned that he accomplished many things through the years and was ultimately devoted to his wife and family. It seems to me that the world lost great man.

I ask everyone to celebrate Jim by laughing a lot and making those lives you touch better like Jim always seemed to do. As for me, one last tip of the cap to you my friend, thank you.

Weekend Update ... Bradley to Toronto Denied

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PDT

With the Ricketts Family finally taking control of the Chicago Cubs last week, "Movin' Milton" gained a lot of momentum on Saturday. As first reported by Bruce Levine last Tuesday, the Cubs and Toronto have had discussions about possible trades ... and according to Levine two of the names that have been discussed are Milton Bradley and Vernon Wells.

A report on Saturday morning from the Toronto Sun indicated the Milton Bradley-for-Vernon Wells rumors "has legs" according to a source they spoke with inside the Cubs organization. The Cubs vehemently denied the report in the Toronto Sun according to Bruce Levine.

The Cubs organizational meetings get underway this week in Mesa with the GM Meetings in Chicago scheduled for November 9 - 11. The next several weeks and months figure to be filled with Milton Bradley rumors.

Here's the latest from the mill on the first day of November ...

Will The Cubs Give Bradley Another Chance?

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:30:00 PDT

Ryan Dempster told the Chicago Tribune the players would give Milton Bradley another chance. The Cubs are not going to "give Bradley away for nothing and pay the majority of the $21 million left on his contract" according to the Tribune.

The Ricketts Family is the Owner of the Chicago Cubs

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:54:31 PDT

Friday was a big day for the Chicago Cubs ... The Ricketts Family is now in charge.

The Ricketts Family met the Chicago Media and fan base for the first time as owners of the Chicago Cubs on Friday morning. Mr. Ricketts began the press conference by saying, "After three long years, we are very excited to say today the Ricketts Family is the owner of the Chicago Cubs." Tom Ricketts, the Cubs' Chairman of the Board, introduced the rest of the family (Pete, Laura and Todd) and acknowledged his parents in attendance.

"We're going to win the World Series by striving every day in every way to be the best franchise in baseball. We're going to invest in the best facilities in baseball, world-class facilities where every player wants to play and every coach wants to coach. We're going to hire the best personnel and we're going to hold them to the highest standards of excellence and accountability."

One of Mr. Ricketts strongest statements of the morning press conference, "We are here for the long term and we are here to win."

Time to Meet the Cubs New Boss

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 PDT

Tom Ricketts and his family will be formally introduced Friday during a press conference at Wrigley Field that begins at 11:00am C.S.T. WGN TV, Comcast SportsNet and CLTV will carry the press conference live as Mr. Ricketts addresses the media for the first time as the Chairman of the Board of the Chicago National League Ball Club.

Updated - 10:18am C.S.T. - With Information from NPR

Cubs Rumors on the Table

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:05:00 PDT

While the Phillies and Yankees battled in game one of the Fall Classic, the rumor mill continued to pickup speed for the Chicago Cubs. Jim Hendry and his staff will receive direction from Tom Ricketts next week in Mesa during the organizational meetings ... Mr. Ricketts is expected to reveal some of "his long-term and short-term plans" for his team during Friday's press conference.

The new owner of the Cubs is expected to be hands-on and many feel once Mr. Ricketts gives Hendry his payroll number, 'Trader Jim' will have to get to work and be a little creative in order to get the Cubs back in the post season next year.

Here's the latest, including a rumored deal for Milton Bradley that has been on the table for three weeks.

Day One of the Ricketts Regime

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:05:00 PDT

It took two years, six months and twenty-five days but the Chicago Cubs finally have an owner and today is the Ricketts Family first full day at the helm. Tuesday officially ended Tribune Co.'s 28-year run as the owner of the Chicago National League Ball Club ... on June 16, 1981 Tribune Co. purchased the Cubs from the Wrigley Family for $20.5 million.

Tom Ricketts will be formally introduced at a press conference Friday at Wrigley Field. WGN TV and CLTV will air the press conference, which begins at 11:00am C.T.

Not to long after the announcement, the rumor mill and other news began surfacing ... here is the latest a week before the Cubs' organizational meetings get underway in Mesa.

From the Wire...Ricketts Officially Takes Over Cubs

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:11:48 PDT

According to reports from the Chicago Tribune, the Ricketts Family officially took over control of the Chicago Cubs Tuesday morning. As expected, the final hurdle in the bankruptcy case passed through on Monday.

Tom Ricketts is expected to be formally announced during a press conference on Friday at Wrigley Field.

Updated 8:05pm C.T. - With Statement from Tom Ricketts

Another Look at Starlin Castro

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:30:00 PDT

Starlin Castro has attracted a lot of attention in recent weeks. His play in the Arizona Fall League coupled with his 2009 campaign has moved the 19-year old shortstop up the Cubs' prospect list. A report from Cubs.com made the statement, "Starlin Castro is ready for the big leagues."

Weekend Update ... The Countdown to Ricketts

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 23:05:00 PDT

The week ahead will be a very exciting time for the Chicago National League Ball Club. Reports on Friday indicated the Ricketts Family would take control of the organization by the end of next week. Bruce Levine reported Saturday morning Tom Ricketts would assume control on Tuesday ... after the final hurdle of the bankruptcy filing takes place on Monday.

Tom Ricketts will be officially announced as the new owner of the Cubs during a press conference at Wrigley Field on Friday, October 30.

Here's the rest of the weekend update, including notes of Jim Hendry's time on Talkin' Baseball ...

From the Wire ... Scales Outrighted to Triple-A

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:05:00 PDT

According to the Cubs.com transactions wire, the Cubs outrighted Bobby Scales to Triple-A Iowa on Friday ... with the move the Cubs' 40-man roster was reduced to 38 players.

Scales made his big league debut in 2009 and played in 51 games.

Jaramillo and Hendry on the Cubs

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:15:00 PDT

Rudy Jaramillo and Jim Hendry joined Dave Kaplan for the first hour of Sports Central Thursday night. While the Angels and Yankees battled it out to see who faces the Phillies in the Series, the Cubs' new hitting coach and general manager talked Chicago Cubs Baseball.

Bradley Drawing Interest

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:30:00 PDT

According to a report from Ken Rosenthal, "multiple teams" have contacted the Cubs about Milton Bradley with one of Rosenthal's sources indicating, "You would be shocked at the level of interest."

Starlin Castro ... A Future Star?

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:05:00 PDT

The CCO will have more in the coming days about Cubs' prospect Starlin Castro. He is getting rave reviews in the Arizona Fall League after a very good 2009 season. Keith Law from ESPN.com had this to say about Starlin Castro:

"Starlin Castro is a future star. He won't turn 20 until March but was one of the best and most impressive hitters I saw in Arizona." Law went on to say, "At shortstop, he has good lateral range, especially to his right, and a 65-70 arm on the 20-80 scale."

From the Wire ... Cubs Hire Rudy Jaramillo

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:37:55 PDT

According to reports on Tuesday night from Bruce Levine and Dave Kaplan, the Cubs will announce on Wednesday they have signed Rudy Jaramillo to be the team's new hitting coach.

The deal is believed to be a three-year contract worth $2.42 million.

Updated 7:30pm C.T. - The Cubs officially announced the hiring of Rudy Jaramillo on Wednesday afternoon.

Jaramillo Talking Contract with the Cubs

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:26:41 PDT

According to a report from Bruce Levine, the Cubs and hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo "have begun discussions on a contract that would possibly make him the highest paid coach in Major League Baseball." Levine's sources indicated the Rangers' former hitting coach "may get upwards of $750,000 or more in a multi-year deal" either with the Cubs or another Major League Club. The Astros, Mets. Giants and Indians are believed to be interested in hiring Rudy Jaramillo.

Jaramillo a Matter of Time for the Cubs?

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:03:43 PDT

According to multiple reports it appears Jim Hendry's first off-season free agent target is former Rangers' hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo. Jaramillo is regarded throughout the game as the best in the business and he could become the next hitting coach of the Chicago Cubs within the next two weeks.

Rudy Jaramillo is under contract until October 31 but the Cubs have been given permission to talk to him. Bruce Levine, during his Saturday morning show on ESPN 1000, indicated he "would be shocked if the Cubs do not sign Rudy Jaramillo to a multi-year deal in the next few weeks."

Here's the rest on Rudy Jaramillo ... and a couple of other news, notes and rumors.

The CCO Suggestion Box for the Ricketts Family

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:05:00 PDT

Got something to say? It's time to tell the Ricketts Family what you think ...

With Tom Ricketts on the verge of taking over the Chicago National League Ball Club, what would you like to see the new owners of the Cubs do once they take over the team? From the players to the front office to Wrigley Field to scouting and even the guest conductors of the seventh inning stretch, every topic is open for discussion. But as always with the CCO, there is a catch ...

Cubs Interested in Rudy Jaramillo?

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:05:00 PDT

Updated - 7:18pm C.T. - According to Jon Heyman from SI.com, the Cubs have contacted Rudy Jaramillo and "it is believed he's likely to take the gig".

As first mentioned by the Sun-Times on October 6, Rudy Jaramillo is on the Cubs' radar. Jaramillo announced he would not return to the Texas Rangers for his 16th season on Wednesday and several reports linked him to the Chicago Cubs soon after he announced his decision.

XM Radio's Mike Ferrin reported the Cubs and Rays would try to land Rudy Jaramillo, who is "widely considered the best hitting coach in the game."

A Big Opening Day for Starlin Castro

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:15:00 PDT

The Mesa Solar Sox beat the Phoenix Desert Dogs 10-6 on Opening Day in the Arizona Fall League Tuesday. Starlin Castro, one of the Cubs' top prospects, drove in three and scored a run in the win. Castro was the Solar Sox designated hitter and finished the game 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored. Castro delivered a two-out, two-run single in the top of the fourth and singled home his third run in the sixth.

Several of the Cubs top prospects are participating in the AFL. Here's a complete list ... as well as the box score and recap from Opening Day in Arizona.

Sale of Cubs to the Ricketts Family Approved by Bankruptcy Court

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:29:47 PDT

According to multiple reports, the bankruptcy judge in Delaware "ruled that Tribune Co. and the Chicago Cubs can proceed with the team's $845 million sale to the Ricketts Family" on Tuesday.

According to a report from Dave Kaplan, the sale could close late next week with the Ricketts Family finally taking control of the organization. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Ricketts Family is looking "forward to getting to work on leading the team to a championship."

A Little Game of Catch(up)

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:05:00 PDT

The sale of the Chicago Cubs to the Ricketts Family has taken two steps forward in a short time and could be finalized before the end of the month ... that by far is the most important bits of information to come out of the offices at Clark and Addison over the past week. And the off-season is about to kick into high gear ...

Jim Hendry is set to meet with "some of the top scouts" in the organization this week in Arizona to prepare for the off-season. The team's organizational meetings are not until the first week in November and by that time the Ricketts Family is expected to have full control of the organization. At that time Jim Hendry will know what his budget will be for the 2010 season ... some think the Cubs' payroll will increase slightly from the near $140 million spent on the second place club in 2009. Tom Ricketts is expected to attend the organizational meetings in Mesa.

A report in the Daily Herald after the final day of the season indicated it could be a long winter for Jim Hendry "with the 2010 Chicago Cubs not being fully set until Spring Training."

With the ALCS and the NLCS ready to begin at the end of the week, it's time to catch up from the last week with some old news, some old rumors ... but some new ones as well.

Cubs File for Bankruptcy Protection

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:26:20 PDT

As expected, the Chicago Cubs filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday morning according to a report from the Associated Press.

MLB Owners Unanimously Approve Sale of Cubs to Ricketts Family

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:31:36 PDT

According to multiple reports on Tuesday afternoon, Major League Baseball approved the sale of the Chicago National League Ball Club, Inc. to the Ricketts Family via a conference call on Tuesday morning. All 29 owners approved the sale of the team to the group led by Tom Ricketts.

"A bankruptcy court still has to give final approval to the deal. And then a final financial closing must take place."

According to the report from ESPN Chicago, the Ricketts Family could take day-to-day control by the end of the month. Dave Kaplan reported during Sports Central Tuesday night that he is hearing October 29 or October 30.

Time for the Stretch

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:30:00 PDT

Let me hear ya! A one ... a two ... a three ... The nearly nine-month journey that began in Mesa back in February has come to an end. There is no reason for me to rehash what went wrong for the 2009 Chicago Cubs ... you know what happened. You lived through every pitch of every inning just like I did. With that said, I truly believe that one person is not responsible for this past year, it was a team effort, or lack there of, from the players on the field, to the coaches, to the front office, it was a group effort.

The Chicago Cubs have a very important off-season ahead of them and the CCO will be along for the ride. From every Hot Stove rumor to the official announcement that the Ricketts Family is the new owner of the organization, the CCO will have daily updates and news as soon as it happens. But for now, we are going to take a break ...

Piniella's Staff Will Return in 2010 ... Sans Von Joshua

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:07:34 PDT

Not too long after the final out of the 2009 season, Jim Hendry announced to the media all of Lou Piniella's coaching staff will return next season, with the exception of Von Joshua according to a report on WGN Radio. The Cubs offered Von Joshua his previous position of hitting coach for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs.

According to a report from the Tribune, Ryne Sandberg or Dave Keller could fill the opening but Jim Hendry did not mention any candidates.

It's All Over - Cubs 2 Diamondbacks 5

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:33:47 PDT

Game One Hundred Sixty-One - Cubs 2 Diamondbacks 5
WP - Doug Davis (9-14) LP - Ryan Dempster (11-9) Save - Juan Gutierrez (9)

Lou Piniella's crew finished the season with a loss to the Diamondbacks and completed the 2009 campaign with an 83-78 record in 161 games.

Doug Davis dominated the Cubs' offense once again. The veteran southpaw's two best starts of the year came at the Cubs' expense. The Cubs managed only two runs on Sunday afternoon ... both off the bat of Sam Fuld.

After 78 career games, Sam Fuld drove in his first big league run with the first Major League homer of his career. Fuld hit a 2-2 pitch from Davis into the bleachers in right in the fifth and broke up the shutout. Fuld then cut the D'Backs' lead to 5-2 with a ground out to first in the seventh that plated Reed Johnson.

Reed Johnson, in possibly his final game as a Chicago Cub, finished the day 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

Ryan Dempster reached his 200-inning mark for the year with a five-inning performance. Dempster did not have his best stuff, gave up two two-out RBI singles in the third then a three-run homer to Chris Young in the fourth. Dempster surrendered five runs on six hits in five innings with a walk and 10 strikeouts. Dempster joined rare company in the fifth by recording four strikeouts in a single inning.

Derrek Lee received a standing ovation after he flied out in the eighth in his last at bat of the year. Lee was 1-for-3 on the afternoon.

Geovany Soto struck out swinging to finish the game ... and put a fitting end to the season.

The Chicago Cubs should have a very busy and interesting off-season. As Lou Piniella said, "We've got a winter to re-group and come to Spring Training next year ready to work."

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Diamondbacks - 10/04/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 08:30:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Sixty-One: Cubs (83-77) vs. Diamondbacks (69-92)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 188
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Ryan Dempster (11-8, 3.51/1.30) vs. Doug Davis (8-14, 4.19/1.53)

For the final time this year ... Chicago Cubs Baseball is on the Air! The Cubs play their final game of the season this afternoon against Doug Davis and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Today also concludes a long stretch of games ... the Cubs played ball in 56 of the seasons final 59 days.

Ryan Dempster will shoot for his 12th win of the year. Dempster should top the 200-inning mark for the second consecutive year (195 in 30 starts). If Dempster is able to pick up the win this afternoon he would join Ted Lilly (12-9) and Randy Wells (12-10) for tops on the staff.

Today is a rematch of the game in Arizona on April 29. Doug Davis beat Ryan Dempster in the finale of the three-game series, 10-0.

For the last time this season it all starts with Ryan Dempster and winning a ballgame ...

With Reed ... Wells Succeeds - Cubs 5 Diamondbacks 0

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:03:08 PDT

Game One Hundred Sixty - Cubs 5 Diamondbacks 0
WP - Randy Wells (12-10) LP - Daniel Cabrera (0-6) Save - None

Randy Wells finished his rookie campaign with one of his better starts of the year on Saturday afternoon. Wells struck out a career-high 10 batters and allowed only three hits in seven shutout innings. Wells gave up a leadoff double to Stephen Drew in the first inning then sat down the next 14 batters he faced until a two-out single in the fifth by Eric Byrnes. Wells picked up his 12th win of the year in 27 starts.

Esmailin Caridad pitched a perfect eighth and Carlos Marmol struck out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth to preserve the shutout. A day after the Diamondbacks put a 12-spot on the board against Cubs' pitching they were shutout in the last Saturday afternoon game at Wrigley Field this season.

Reed Johnson (1-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored and two RBI) broke up the scoreless game with his second triple of the season in the fourth inning. Johnson scored on a double down the left field line by Geovany Soto ... the Cubs' third consecutive extra base hit of the inning.

Geovany Soto (2-for-2 with a double, two walks and two RBI) drove in Aramis Ramirez with an infield single in the sixth. Tyler Colvin then delivered his first career RBI at Wrigley Field with a single to center off of Stephen Drew's glove ... Reed Johnson scored the Cubs fifth and final run.

The Cubs offense equaled their run total from the three consecutive losses on Saturday.

Saturday afternoon was all about Randy Wells ending his season on a high note ... and the Cubs' rookie right-hander did not disappoint.

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Diamondbacks - 10/03/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 08:40:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Sixty-One: Cubs (82-77) vs. Diamondbacks (69-91)
Game Time - 12:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 187
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Randy Wells (11-10, 3.18/1.31) vs. Daniel Cabrera (0-5, 6.07/2.04)

Only two games remaining on the 2009 schedule ... Weather permitting the big question is, will the Cubs show up to play this afternoon? The Cubs have not shown up to the park since Ryan Dempster pitched a complete game shutout on Tuesday night against the Pirates. The Cubs have been outplayed in all aspects of the game by two 90-loss teams. This is not the way to finish a disappointing season.

Derrek Lee is expected back in the lineup this afternoon ... Lee has missed the last two games due to personal reasons.

According to a report from the Daily Herald, most of Lou Piniella's coaching staff is expected back next season, including Larry Rothschild. The official announcement could come as early as Monday.

Today it all begins with Randy Wells and just playing baseball ...

Limping Toward the Finish Line - Cubs 3 Diamondbacks 12

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:20:11 PDT

Game One Hundred Fifty-Nine - Cubs 3 Diamondbacks 12
WP - Billy Buckner (4-6) LP - Tom Gorzelanny (7-3) Save - None

Since being officially eliminated on Tuesday night from post-season play, Lou Piniella's crew has mailed in their remaining games. After being shutout on Wednesday, scoring just two runs in the nightcap (being blanked before the rains came on Thursday) and scoring a grand total of three runs on Friday, the Cubs have managed five runs in three official games.

The Arizona Diamondbacks stuck it to the Chicago Cubs once again ... and it appears no matter how bad the D'Backs may be struggling, facing the Cubs always brings out the best in them. The D'Backs beat a southpaw starter for just the 17th time all season (16-30 against lefty starters entering play on Friday) and scored 12 runs against Cubs' pitching ... the Diamondbacks offense averaged four runs per game in September.

Chris Young, Eric Byrnes and Rusty Ryal had huge days. Chris Young was a perfect 4-for-4 with a walk and a home run. Young scored four of Arizona's twelve runs ... before Friday Young was hitting only .206.

Eric Byrnes hit two home runs, drove in five runs and finished the game 4-for-5. Byrnes hit just six longballs all season.

Rusty Ryal drove in four runs, three on a bases clearing double in the fourth inning. Ryal left for the park on Friday morning with five RBI in 29 games this season.

While both teams are playing out the schedule, one showed up on Friday afternoon and one simply did not.

Tom Gorzelanny picked a bad time to have his worst outing as a Cub ... never want to end the season on a negative note. Gorzelanny made it through three innings and gave up seven runs on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

Justin Berg and John Grabow, both figure into the Cubs' plans for next season, put together good outings on Friday but Jeff Stevens, David Patton and Aaron Heilman allowed the Diamondbacks to tack on. Berg and Grabow gave up a combined three hits and two strikeouts in three innings while Stevens, Patton and Heilman surrendered the other five runs on six hits in three innings.

Micah Hoffpauir drove in the Cubs' first run in the seventh inning. The Cubs scored all three of their runs in the seventh with RBI from Hoffpauir, Aramis Ramirez and Jake Fox.

The Cubs' offense allowed Billy Buckner to toss six innings of shutout ball.

The Chicago Cubs season has two games remaining ... it would be nice to see them finish on a positive, winning note, unlike the way they have played since Wednesday.

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Diamondbacks - 10/02/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:30:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Sixty: Cubs (82-76) vs. Diamondbacks (68-91)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Tom Gorzelanny (7-2, 4.70/1.23) vs. Billy Buckner (3-6, 6.59/1.59)

Weather permitting ... the Chicago Cubs will begin their final series of the season this afternoon against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

When these two teams met in Arizona back at the end of April the Cubs were a game over .500 (9-8) and the D'Backs owned a 7-11 record. Arizona took two of three from the Cubs at Chase Field just nine days before the Cubs would lose Aramis Ramirez for nearly two months. But that was then ... and with three games left in the 2009 campaign, both clubs are playing out the schedule.

If they can get the game in, it all starts with Tom Gorzelanny and finishing the season with three wins ...

Cubs-Pirates Game Cancelled

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:42:40 PDT

After a two hour and thirty-two minute rain delay, Thursday night's game between the Cubs and Pirates was cancelled due to inclement weather.

With the Cubs down 3-0 in the top of the fourth, Ryan Doumit stepped to the plate to begin the inning. Jeff Samardzija got ahead in the count 1-2 then the rains came. Two pitches later, the game was halted with a 2-2 count on Ryan Doumit.

The Pirates jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning after a RBI single by Garrett Jones plated Andy LaRoche ... who had doubled with one out. Lastings Milledge followed with a wind-blown homer to left, a two-run shot that gave the Pirates a 3-0 lead.

The Cubs put runners on base in the first three innings but hit into inning ending double plays in the second and third.

For the second season in a row the Cubs will play a 161-game schedule.

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Pirates - 10/01/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:15:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Fifty-Nine: Cubs (82-76) vs. Pirates (61-97)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 185
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Jeff Samardzija (1-3, 7.53/1.76) vs. Paul Maholm (8-9, 4.44/1.44)

Updated - 10:29pm C.T. - The Cubs-Pirates Game was cancelled due to rain after a 2 1/2 hour delay.

Weather permitting ... After being swept in the day-night doubleheader on Wednesday, the Cubs return to the field tonight in need of a win to earn a split of the four-game series against the Pirates. The Cubs are 10-4 this season against the Bucs after two embarrassing performances on Wednesday. Since the fourth inning on Tuesday night, the Cubs' offense has scored only two runs and has been outplayed by the last place Pirates.

While the Cubs may be 'just playing out the string', they showed a lot of effort and pride on the recently completed road trip and seemed to carry that into the opener on Tuesday. Anything but a winning homestand to finish the season would be a bad way to finish a disappointing year.

Tom Gorzelanny was scheduled to start tonight against the Pirates but was pushed to Friday for the opener against the Diamondbacks. Jeff Samardzija will make his last start and appearance of the season ... and could get a lift with the return of Aramis Ramirez to the lineup.

Lou Piniella indicated Wednesday night that Ramirez would be back in the lineup on Thursday ... reports earlier in the day indicated Ramirez's season could be over.

Tonight it all starts with Jeff Samardzija and winning a ballgame ...

Doumit! Cubs Zwept by Z Bucs - Cubs 2 Pirates 8

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:38:15 PDT

Game One Hundred Fifty-Eight - Cubs 2 Pirates 8
WP - Jeff Karstens (4-5) LP - Carlos Zambrano (9-7) Save - None

The Chicago Cubs are just going through the motions at this point. After dropping game one 4-0 and managing only four hits on Wednesday afternoon, the Cubs scored only two runs in the second game and the Pirates swept the Cubs in the day-night doubleheader.

Entering play on Wednesday the Pirates had lost 17 of their last 18 road games. The Bucs swept the Cubs and posted back-to-back wins on the road for the first time since June 10 and 11 in Atlanta.

Charlie Morton and Jeff Karstens beat Ted Lilly and Carlos Zambrano on Wednesday.

Carlos Zambrano did not finish his season on a positive note. Zambrano struggled with his command and lasted only six innings. Big Z gave up four runs on six hits with four walks and six strikeouts. Zambrano threw only 98 pitches in his complete game gem against the Giants ... on Wednesday night he reached pitch number 98 with two outs in the fifth. Zambrano threw 117 against the Pirates, 75 for strikes.

This is the first season since 2002 (4-8) that Carlos Zambrano did not posted double digit wins.

Ryan Doumit wore out Cubs' pitching in game two. Doumit finished the game 4-for-4 with a walk, a double, a home run, three runs scored and four RBI. Doumit broke a 1-1 tie in the third with a two-run double off of Carlos Zambrano that proved to be the game winner.

The Pirates scored eight runs on 12 hits against Cubs' pitching on Wednesday night. Justin Berg took over for Zambrano in the seventh but left after a grounder off the bat of Garrett Jones hit him in the right calf. John Grabow replaced Berg and the Pirates put the game away against their former teammate. Grabow gave up three runs (two earned and one inherited) in one of his worst outings as a Cub.

Ryan Doumit capped his night with a home run in the ninth off of Carlos Marmol ... just the second home run served up by Marmol this season.

Mike Fontenot and Ryan Theriot drove in the Cubs' runs on Wednesday night. Fontenot tied the game with a single in the second and Theriot drove in Carlos Zambrano on a safety squeeze in the third.

After posting their 82nd win of the year and officially being eliminated on Tuesday night, the Cubs just appeared uninterested in a long day of baseball on Wednesday ...

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Pirates - 09/30/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:00:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Fifty-Eight: Cubs (82-75) vs. Pirates (60-97)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet Plus - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Carlos Zambrano (9-6, 3.69/1.37) vs. Jeff Karstens (3-5, 5.45/1.49)

Final from Game One - Cubs 0 Pirates 4

Ted Lilly took the loss in game one after the Cubs' offense was silenced by Charlie Morton. The Cubs managed only four hits, three by Ryan Theriot, and Morton picked up the first complete game shutout of his career ... will have full recap up later tonight. Wednesday afternoon was the fifth time this season Ted Lilly was on the wrong end of a shutout.

Carlos Zambrano will face Jeff Karstens in game two. No word yet whether Derrek Lee will be in the lineup or not. Koyie Hill will be behind the plate in game two.

Tonight it all starts with Carlos Zambrano, for the last time this season, and just winning a ballgame ...

Morton Returns the Shutout - Cubs 0 Pirates 4

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:35:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Fifty-Seven - Cubs 0 Pirates 4
WP - Charlie Morton (5-9) LP - Ted Lilly (12-9) Save - None

The Pirates beat the Cubs for only the third time this season behind the first complete game shutout of Charlie Morton's career. The Cubs' offense managed only four hits in nine innings against the young right-hander. Ryan Theriot recorded three of the Cubs' four hits and two of those did not leave the infield. The Cubs were extremely aggressive against Morton. They walked only three times and Morton hit a pair of batters. The Cubs put two runners on base only twice in game one of the day-night double header.

The Cubs offense allowed Charlie Morton to have a career day. They simply did not make him work. Morton threw just 119 pitches and beat the Cubs for the first time in his career.

Ted Lilly made his first start since September 12. Lilly was incredibly rusty in the first inning and uncharacteristically walked two batters in the opening inning ... Lilly had walked 10 batters all year at Wrigley Field before Wednesday afternoon.

The Pirates scored all four of their runs in the first after Lastings Milledge took out Ryan Theriot on a good hard baseball slide at second base to break up an inning ending double play. Milledge up ended Theriot with a slide that was very close to being interference. The call was correct, the Cubs took exception and the Pirates scored three more runs before Ted Lilly was able to settle down.

Lilly ended up allowing four runs, all earned, on five hits in seven innings with two walks and eight strikeouts.

Wednesday afternoon was Ted Lilly's final start of the year. 'The Bulldog' ended up with a 12-9 record with five of those losses coming in games the Cubs were shutout.

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Pirates - 09/30/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:30:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Fifty-Seven: Cubs (82-74) vs. Pirates (59-97)
Game Time - 1:00pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Ted Lilly (12-8, 3.02/1.06) vs. Charlie Morton (4-9, 5.01/1.53)

Somewhere Ernie Banks is smiling ... LET'S PLAY TWO! The Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates have a full day of baseball ahead of them with a day-night doubleheader that begins at 1:00pm C.T.

Game One is the make-up from the delayed rainout back on August 16. After three hours the game was finally called and the Cubs headed west on the trip that would end their season. Rich Harden was scheduled to face Ross Ohlendorf in the finale of the three-game series on a Sunday afternoon seven weeks ago.

The Cubs could be without Aramis Ramirez for the rest of the season. The Cubs have discussed shutting Ramirez down but the slugger wants to play. Cold weather on Tuesday night to go along with the sore shoulder were the reasons given for Ramirez being out of the lineup.

Kevin Gregg is the latest Cub to be officially shutdown for the year. An MRI on Monday revealed cracked cartilage in his rib cage. Gregg wanted to pitch and the Cubs said no. Gregg blamed the amount of innings early in the season for his problems in August. He admitted he told Lou Piniella he would take the ball despite the fact he knew he was not 100%.

Today it all starts with Ted Lilly, for the last time this season, and just winning a ballgame ...

Dempster Goes the Distance - Cubs 6 Pirates 0

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:34:18 PDT

Game One Hundred Fifty-Six - Cubs 6 Pirates 0
WP - Ryan Dempster (11-8) LP - Kevin Hart (4-9) Save - None

With Tuesday night's win behind Ryan Dempster, the Chicago Cubs posted their third consecutive winning season for the first time since stringing together six straight winning seasons from 1967 - 1972.

After totaling only one complete game as a staff through the first 153 games of the year, Ryan Dempster tossed the Cubs second complete game shutout in the last four games.

Ryan Dempster completed his first game since June 11, 2008 against the Braves and registered his first complete game shutout as a Chicago Cub ... the third of his big league career. Dempster was incredibly sharp on Tuesday night. He allowed just five hits and two walks with six strikeouts on 120 pitches, 81 for strikes. The Pirates put two runners on base at the same time just once against Dempster on Tuesday night.

The Cubs offense jumped out early against Kevin Hart. They scored three runs in the first inning and tacked on three more in the fourth. The Pirates' defense committed three errors, which led to three unearned runs. Kevin Hart continued to struggle in a Pirates' uniform. He walked four batters in four innings and is 1-8 since being dealt to the Bucs.

Derrek Lee drove in two more on Tuesday night before leaving the game after six innings. Lee fouled a ball of his foot during an at bat in the sixth. He eventually walked and stayed in the game but was lifted in the top of the seventh. Lou Piniella joked about the injury in his post-game press conference saying his sore foot took his mind of his neck for a minute. Lee added to his career high RBI total with a two-run single in the fourth. Lee has driven in 111 runs on the year with six games left on the schedule.

Micah Hoffpauir drove in the first run of the game with a fielder's choice ground out to first that Kevin Hart turned into an error ... and added another RBI in the fourth. Jeff Baker doubled in two runs in the Cubs three-run first inning.

The Cubs defense put together a solid game. Derrek Lee started an inning ending double play from his knees in the fourth. Micah Hoffpauir turned in a diving catch in foul territory in the eighth ... and Sam Fuld continued to make plays in center look very routine.

The Cubs won for the 82nd time on the year and improved to 7-3 in their last 10 on a night they were officially eliminated from the NL Wild Card race ...

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Pirates - 09/29/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:30:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Fifty-Six: Cubs (81-74) vs. Pirates (59-96)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 187
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Ryan Dempster (10-8, 3.68/1.33) vs. Kevin Hart (4-8, 5.38/1.70)

Updated - 6:05pm C.T. - Kevin Gregg Done for Season

According to a report from ESPN Chicago, Kevin Gregg will not pitch again for the Chicago Cubs this season. Gregg is a free agent at the end of the year and many do not think Gregg will be re-signed by the Cubs.

The Chicago Cubs begin their final homestand of the season tonight with the first of four against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs have just seven games remaining before packing it in for the winter ... then the work will begin for the Cubs' front office.

The Cubs are one win away from posting their third consecutive winning season. Not the way most figured the Cubs would finish the season but a goal still that must be accomplished.

Lou Piniella's crew is 9-2 against the Pirates this year but Pittsburgh is coming off a very successful series against the Dodgers. The Bucs took three of four from Los Angeles at PNC and are looking to finish the year on a positive note.

Derrek Lee is expected back in the starting lineup after missing the final three games of the Giants' series. Kevin Gregg passed his tests on Sunday and is expected to be available out of the pen for the remainder of the season. Gregg's time with the Cubs is reportedly coming to end ... he is not expected to be re-signed this winter.

Tonight is all starts with Ryan Dempster and just winning a ballgame ...

CCO Radio...Say Good Night Gracie

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:05:00 PDT

The last CCO Radio Show of the 2009 season ... The CCO Radio returns on the Cubs final off day of the season. The Cubs put together a solid road trip (6-4 record after dropping the first two) and open their last homestand of the year on Tuesday with the first of four against the Pirates.

Need your Cubs fix? LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD on the CCO Radio. What moves do you think the Cubs should make in the off-season? Call the CCO Radio and state your case. Want your voice and opinion to be heard? Call the CCO Radio tonight and discuss everything Cubs with the CCO.

A quick show reminder...The CCO Radio will air live tonight at 7:00pm C.T. on Blog Talk Radio. To listen to the 60-minute call-in show live, click on this link and go to Blog Talk Radio. The podcast of the show will be available around 9:00pm C.T. and can be accessed through the player on the right side of the CCO or through Blog Talk Radio.

Preparing for the Cubs Off-Season with Rumors

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:10:00 PDT

While the Cubs spend their final off day in Chicago preparing for the final seven games of the regular season, the rumor mill is already churning.

Many feel the Cubs will make more trades this off-season than free agent signings. With close to $116 million committed to ten players for 2010, it makes sense that Jim Hendry would have to focus on acquiring pieces via the trade route. It is doubtful once the Ricketts Family takes control of the organization that Jim Hendry will be able to open up their checkbook to atttempt to repair the damage he did a year ago.

Reports over the weekend indicated the Ricketts Family could take control of the team before the end of October, which is two or three weeks earlier than first thought. Dave Kaplan said his sources mentioned an October 26 date while Bruce Levine is hearing eleven days earlier ... October 15.

Here is the latest from the mill, including more on 'Moving Milton' and a Zambrano for Peavy deal?

No Cain Do - Cubs 1 Giants 5

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:16:37 PDT

Game One Hundred Fifty-Five - Cubs 1 Giants 5
WP - Matt Cain (14-7) LP - Randy Wells (11-10) Save - Brian Wilson (37)

After an excellent start to the four-game series against the Giants, the Cubs could not complete the sweep on Sunday afternoon behind Randy Wells. The Cubs' offense managed three hits against Matt Cain in eight dominant innings ... and one of the three was a double by Randy Wells. The Cubs showed little to no patience against Matt Cain. They swung at too many first pitches, worked only three three-ball counts, walked twice, both in the eighth inning and stuck out eight times against Matt Cain.

Matt Cain set a new career high with his 14th win on Sunday and improved to 5-2 in his career against the Cubs.

The Cubs lone run came with two outs in the ninth inning. Jeff Baker doubled to left on a 2-2 pitch from Sergio Romo. Bobby Scales followed with his second triple of the year on a 3-2 pitch from Romo. Baker scored and Bruce Bochy went to his pen.

Koyie Hill walked against Jeremy Affeldt and put runners on first and third with two outs. Brian Wilson struck out pinch-hitter Reed Johnson to end the game.

For the first time on the road trip, the Cubs' pitching staff allowed more than three runs in a single game on Sunday afternoon.

Randy Wells struggled with his command early on, gave up single runs in the first two innings then lost the game in the sixth. Wells settled down after the second but the rookie right-hander appears out of gas ... the Cubs should really think about shutting him down for the last week of the season. Wells gave up five runs on 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings with two walks and a strikeout.

Sean Marshall allowed an inherited runner to score, the Giants' fifth and final run of the game. Jeff Stevens and Justin Berg combined for 2 1/3 innings of scoreless ball to finish the game.

Eli Whiteside had one of his best games of the season. The Giants' catcher drove in two of his team's five runs with a pair of doubles in four trips to the plate. The weak-hitting Whiteside had driven in eight runs on the year before Sunday and both doubles were his first two-baggers of the season.

With the loss, the Cubs finished the 10-game trip with a 6-4 record (and a 37-44 road mark in 81 games this year) and are on the brink of officially being eliminated in the NL Wild Card.

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Giants - 09/27/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 10:00:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Fifty-Five: Cubs (81-73) vs. Giants (82-73)
Game Time - 3:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 175
Location - AT & T Park, San Francisco

Randy Wells (11-9, 3.00/1.27) vs. Matt Cain (13-7, 2.99/1.20)

The road portion of the Cubs' 2009 schedule comes to an end this afternoon. One of the reasons for the Cubs playing out the string is their struggle away from Wrigley Field. While the Cubs are 14 games over .500 (44-30) with seven left to play at the Friendly Confines, on the road Lou Piniella's crew has posted a 37-43 record ... and the best they can hope for is to finish the year five games under the breakeven point.

Saturday's win gave the Cubs a 4-1 record in the season series against the Giants. And for the Cubs to pull off a rare four-game sweep on the road they will have to beat one of the best young pitchers in the National League.

Derrek Lee is expected to be held out of the lineup once again this afternoon. Lee aggravated his sore neck stealing second base in the ninth inning on Thursday night ... then was tapped on the top of the head by Angel Guzman congratulating Lee for scoring on Jeff Baker's go ahead two run homer. Reports on Saturday night indicated Lee could return on Tuesday when the Cubs open their final homestand of the year.

Kevin Gregg's season could be in jeopardy ... as well as his Cubs' career. Gregg is a free agent at the end of the year and reportedly the Cubs will not try and re-sign the much-maligned reliever. Gregg is dealing with inflammation in his rib cage. Gregg is expected to throw today and how he feels after his session will determine if Gregg will be available for the final seven games of the season.

Today it all starts with Randy Wells and just winning a ballgame.

Rolling Toward the End - Cubs 6 Giants 2

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:11:19 PDT

Game One Hundred Fifty-Four - Cubs 6 Giants 2
WP - Tom Gorzelanny (7-2) LP - Barry Zito (10-13) Save - None

As the cliché goes ... too little too late. Lou Piniella's crew waited too long to play the way most expected they would throughout the season. The Cubs have won six of their last seven games, all on the road and Saturday's win guaranteed them a winning road trip. The Cubs are 6-3 since last Friday in St. Louis with all three losses being one-run defeats.

Tom Gorzelanny put together another solid start. Gorzelanny gave up just one run on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts in five innings. The one run allowed by the southpaw was a gift courtesy of miscommunication by the Cubs defense. So Taguchi and Ryan Theriot let a fly ball of the bat of Juan Uribe in the third to fall in for the Giants' lone run until the eighth inning.

Esmailin Caridad was excellent once again out of the Cubs' pen. Caridad gave up one hit and struck out three in two scoreless innings. John Grabow gave up the Giants' second run ... a solo home run to left by Juan Uribe in the eighth.

After the Cubs tacked on in the top of the inning, Carlos Marmol still pitched the ninth in a non-save situation. Marmol retired the Giants in order on eleven pitches, eight for strikes.

The Cubs' offense did their job against Barry Zito and made the veteran lefty work. Zito was chased after only four innings of work after the Cubs plated four runs on six hits with five walks ... two intentional.

Jake Fox drove in the first two runs of the game with a bloop single to right in the third. Fox finished the game 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI ... numbers 42 and 43 on the year.

Aramis Ramirez hit his 15th longball of the year in the fourth. Ramirez launched a 1-0 pitch from Barry Zito over the wall in left. In a season full of injuries for the Cubs' third baseman, Ramirez has driven in 64 runs in 79 games. While RBI are truly a team stat, players must come through with runners on base and in limited time, Ramirez has done his job.

So Taguchi doubled and scored a run in three trips to the plate on Saturday. Taguchi followed Ryan Theriot's leadoff single in the third with a double down the left field line. Geovany Soto added two RBI. Soto drove in the Cubs' third run of the game.

Saturday was victory number 81 in a season full of disappointment and drama ... the worst the Chicago Cubs can finish the year at this point is as a .500 team.

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Giants - 09/26/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 10:30:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Fifty-Four: Cubs (80-73) vs. Giants (82-72)
Game Time - 3:10pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: FOX Saturday Baseball - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 189
Location - AT & T Park, San Francisco

Tom Gorzelanny (6-2, 5.08/1.18) vs. Barry Zito (10-12, 3.99/1.34)

Twenty years ago today (September 26, 1989), The Boys of Zimmer won the National League Eastern Division Crown by defeating the Montreal Expos. Greg Maddux picked up the win with Mitch Williams (The Wild Thing) notching the save. Dwight Smith drove in Ryne Sandberg for the game winner in the 3-2 Cubs victory.

The Chicago Cubs will play their penultimate road game of the season this afternoon ... just one more left after today before the Cubs head home for their final seven games of the season.

Derrek Lee could be back in the starting lineup this afternoon. Lee missed Friday night due to a sore neck. Lee was expected to receive treatment during the game. Lou Piniella indicated in his pre-game show Lee should be back against the southpaw Barry Zito.

Lou Piniella said Aramis Ramirez would return to the lineup this afternoon. With the cool temperatures Friday night, the Cubs scratched Ramirez after he was in the original lineup. The Cubs cited a sore shoulder as the reason for Jeff Baker taking over at the hot corner.

The Cubs will miss their 'old pal' this series. Edgar Renteria was shutdown for the season on Friday. Renteria will have surgery to remove bone chips in his right elbow.

Tom Gorzelanny will step in for Ted Lilly once again this afternoon. Lilly is expected to start one of the two games of the doubleheader on Tuesday against the Pirates ... in what should be his last appearance of the year.

Today it all starts with Tom Gorzelanny and just winning a ballgame.

Z Complete Game Shutout for Zambrano - Cubs 3 Giants 0

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:56:39 PDT

Game One Hundred Fifty-Three - Cubs 3 Giants 0
WP - Carlos Zambrano (9-6) LP - Tim Lincecum (14-7) Save - None

Friday night was all about Carlos Zambrano. In a game that took only one hour and 56 minutes to complete, not only did Zambrano toss the Cubs first nine-inning complete game of the year he drove in two of the Cubs' three runs. Carlos Zambrano out pitched Tim Lincecum and handed the Giants' ace his second home loss of the season (9-2).

Big Z found a rhythm early against the offensively challenged San Francisco Giants. Zambrano gave up only two hits, one walk and struck out eight. Zambrano faced just three over the minimum and threw 98 pitches in nine innings, 67 for strikes. Zambrano picked up his ninth career complete game and his fourth complete game shutout ... his first since the no-hitter on September 14, 2008.

Carlos Zambrano joined Sean Marshall as the only two pitchers to toss a complete game for the Cubs this season. Marshall picked up the complete game win in a rain-shortened, five-inning victory over the Pirates on May 26.

Friday night was, with a doubt, the best outing of the year by Carlos Zambrano.

The game was scoreless until the sixth inning. Kosuke Fukudome doubled to right on a 2-1 pitch from Tim Lincecum. Ryan Theriot drove in the game's first run with a single to center just to the right of the second base bag.

The Cubs' second run scored just an inning later. Bobby Scales led off with a single to right center and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sam Fuld (3-for-4 with a run scored off of Lincecum and Randy Johnson) reached on a one-out single to left. Scales held at third but scored on a fielder's choice ground out by Carlos Zambrano. Big Z hit a grounder to the hole at short. Fuld made a good slide at second and Zambrano beat out Velez's throw to first. Scales scored and gave Zambrano a little breathing room.

The Cubs' old nemesis, Randy Johnson, took the hill in the ninth. With the Cubs up 2-0 and Big Z in full control, Sam Fuld ripped a two-out single into right. Zambrano followed with a double to left center. John Bowker took a bad angle, the ball got past him and rolled to the wall. Fuld scored easily on Big Z's double.

The two RBI on Friday night for Zambrano ran his season total to eleven.

A lineup without Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee beat one of the best in the game in his home park. The Cubs have won five of their last six and need two more victories in their final nine games to secure a winning season. It is too bad Lou Piniella's crew waited a month too long to start playing good baseball this season ...

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Giants - 09/25/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:30:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Fifty-Three: Cubs (79-73) vs. Giants (82-71)
Game Time - 9:15pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - AT & T Park, San Francisco

Carlos Zambrano (8-6, 3.91/1.43) vs. Tim Lincecum (14-6, 2.47/1.06)

Lou Piniella's crew will face one of the best in the game tonight in Tim Lincecum. The last time the Cubs faced Lincecum, Piniella ran up the white flag before the game's first pitch. The Cubs' skipper started his B-Team on a Thursday afternoon at Wrigley back on May 5. Piniella shouldn't make the same mistake again tonight.

Derrek Lee's status for tonight is uncertain. Lee aggravated his sore neck stealing second base in the ninth inning on Thursday. Micah Hoffpauir replaced Lee in the field in the bottom of the inning.

Tonight it all starts with Carlos Zambrano and just winning a ballgame.

Harden Shutdown ... Future with Cubs Uncertain

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:00:00 PDT

According to multiple reports Thursday night, Rich Harden's 2009 season has come to an end. The Cubs shutdown Harden for the year after it appeared he would only miss two of his final three starts. Harden finished with a 9-9 record in 26 starts with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. In 141 innings Harden struck out 171 batters and walked 67.

It was reportedly a mutual decision to end Rich Harden's season.

Down to the Last Strike - Cubs 3 Giants 2

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:36:25 PDT

Game One Hundred Fifty-Two - Cubs 3 Giants 2
WP - Aaron Heilman (4-4) LP - Brian Wilson (5-6, BS 7) Save - Carlos Marmol (15)

The Chicago Cubs were on the brink of officially being eliminated late Thursday night in San Francisco. Brad Penny had out dueled Ryan Dempster for eight innings and the Cubs only run scored on a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Jeff Baker in the fourth inning.

With the Giants up 2-1, Derrek Lee led off the ninth with a walk against Giants' closer Brian Wilson. Micah Hoffpauir and Mike Fontenot both swung at the first pitch and popped out to the left side of the infield. Jeff Baker stepped to the plate representing the Cubs last chance of the night.

Derrek Lee stole second base on the first pitch to Jeff Baker ... Lee's first stolen base and attempt of the entire season. Baker swung and missed at Wilson's next offering then laid off two sliders to run the count to 2-2 with the tying run on second.

Jeff Baker launched Brian Wilson's fifth pitch of the at bat over the wall in left and gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead ... his fourth home run of the year.

Carlos Marmol made it a little interesting in the ninth. After striking out Juan Uribe to start the inning, Randy Winn reached on an infield single. Marmol walked Travis Ishikawa.

With two on and one out, Carlos Marmol struck out Aaron Rowand on three pitches for the second out. Fred Lewis pinch-hit for Brian Wilson and struck out swinging to end the game. Marmol picked up his 15th save of the year, his 12th in a row and is a perfect 11-for-11 in save opportunities since being named the Cubs' closer.

Derrek Lee left the game in the bottom of the ninth. Lee's status was not made available during the game. Lee up-ended Giants' second baseman Eugenio Velez sliding into second in the ninth. Velez was shaken up on the play but remained in the game. Lee ran for himself but Micah Hoffpauir took over at first in the bottom of the inning.

The Giants lost for only the second time all season when leading after eight innings.

Ryan Dempster pitched another very good ballgame. Dempster allowed only two runs on seven hits in seven innings with a walk and six strikeouts. The weak-hitting John Bowker drove in both runs against Dempster, with a little help from the Cubs' defense. Bowker's first double of the year tied the game at one in the fourth and his second homer of the season gave the Giants a 2-1 lead in the seventh.

Brad Penny silenced the Cubs' offense once again ... but the final score is all that matters at this point of the year. The Cubs need just three more wins with 10 left to play to secure their third winning season in a row.

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Giants - 09/24/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:30:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Fifty-Two: Cubs (78-73) vs. Giants (82-70)
Game Time - 9:15pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 186
Location - AT & T Park, San Francisco

Ryan Dempster (10-8, 3.72/1.34) vs. Brad Penny (10-9, 5.35/1.45)

The Cubs open their final road series of the year tonight with the first of four in San Francisco. The Cubs enter play tonight five games over .500 with 11 games remaining on the schedule. While the Giants are fighting for the NL Wild Card (four games back of the Rockies, tied with the Braves), the Cubs are one game (either a Cubs loss or a Cardinals win) from being eliminated in the central and just four games from elimination in the wild card race. Lou Piniella's crew needs four more wins to secure a winning season for the third year in a row.

Ron Santo did not make the trip West to San Francisco. Dave Otto will be in the booth with Pat Hughes ... Santo will rejoin the Cubs on Tuesday for the final seven games of the year.

Tonight it all starts with Ryan Dempster and just playing baseball ....

CCO Radio...Talkin' Cubs By the Bay

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:45:00 PDT

Only two shows remaining during the baseball season ... The CCO Radio returns before the Cubs begin their final road series of the year in San Francisco.

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD on the CCO Radio. What moves should the Cubs make in the off-season to improve the team? Call the CCO Radio. Want your voice and opinion to be heard? Call the CCO Radio tonight and discuss everything Cubs with the CCO.

Looking Back at '84: Cubs Win! Cubs Win!

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:00:00 PDT

On Monday, September 24, 1984 the Chicago Cubs accomplished a feat the organization had not done in 39 years ... they won a pennant. Rick Sutcliffe allowed only two hits, faced 28 batters in nine innings and the Cubs defeated the Pirates in Pittsburgh, 4-1.

Rick Sutcliffe struck out Joe Orsulak for the final out ... Jody Davis pumped his fist and the celebration began.

The Chicago Cubs won the National League Eastern Division crown for the first time and advanced to baseball's postseason after a magical summer on the North Side of Chicago.

The Shark Bitten by the Longball - Cubs 2 Brewers 3

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:26:57 PDT

Game One Hundred Fifty-One - Cubs 2 Brewers 3
WP - Chris Narveson (2-0) LP - Jeff Samardzija (1-3) Save - Trevor Hoffman (35)

The Cubs season with the Brewers ended the way it began ... with a loss. In between the Cubs posted a 10-5 record against Milwaukee, the fourth straight year the Cubs won the season series against the Brewers (10-7).

Jeff Samardzija showed a lot of improvement from his last big league start against the Phillies. Samardzija appeared a lot more confident and in control than in previous outings this season. The Shark pitched into the sixth inning and allowed just five hits but two were home runs that accounted for all three of the Brewers runs.

Prince Fielder gave the Brewers a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning with a two-run shot to left center ... his 42nd home of the year. Jody Gerut added to the Brewers lead with his ninth round tripper of the season, an upper deck shot to start the sixth.

The Cubs first run came off Jeff Samardzija's first career hit. Samardzija ripped Chris Narveson's first pitch of the sixth inning over the wall in right center for a home run. Jeff Samardzija became the first Cub since Hee-Seop Choi on September 8, 2002 to record a home run for his first big league hit.

Bobby Scales drove in the Cubs' second run with a pinch-hit double in the seventh that plated Jeff Baker. Scales improved to 7-for-11 as a pinch-hitter this season with two doubles, a triple, two home runs and five RBI.

The Cubs bullpen was very effective on Wednesday night. Sean Marshall, Justin Berg, Jeff Stevens and John Grabow shutdown the Brewers' high powered offense ... no runs, no hits and no walks over the final three innings.

Chris Narveson dominated the Cubs' lineup for 5 2/3 innings. The southpaw was incredibly sharp and hit his spots all night long ... Jason Kendall barely had to move his glove. Narveson struck out 10 batters, seven looking, and allowed just one run on four hits without a walk. The Cubs tried to wait him out but he was on top of his game.

The Cubs and Brewers are playing out the string and will not face each other in a meaningful game until the home opener at Wrigley next April. Lou Piniella at one point played an all-rookie outfield and he used both Justin Berg and Jeff Stevens out of the pen. Berg was very sharp, other than committing a balk. He struck out both batters he faced in the sixth ... Casey McGehee and Mike Cameron.

With the loss, the Cubs slipped to 3-3 on their current 10-game road trip with four left to play in San Francisco ...

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Brewers - 09/23/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:30:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Fifty-One: Cubs (78-72) vs. Brewers (74-77)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 188
Location - Miller Park, Milwaukee

Jeff Samardzija (1-2, 7.89/1.85) vs. Chris Narveson (1-0, 4.22/1.41)

It's getaway day for the Chicago Cubs. After tonight's game they depart for San Francisco to begin their final road series of the season. Lou Piniella's crew has won three in a row and will shoot for the series sweep of the Brewers behind Jeff Samardzija.

After reports early in the week suggested Ted Lilly would be skipped due to tendonitis in his left shoulder and Jeff Samardzija would make his start against the Brewers. The Cubs indicated on Tuesday they are just giving Lilly a break and nothing is wrong with either his shoulder or his knee.

Reed Johnson is expected to get the start tonight in centerfield. And So Taguchi as well as Jake Fox could start in an all right-handed outfield for Lou Piniella tonight against the southpaw Chris Narveson.

Angel Guzman was shutdown for the season on Tuesday when a MRI revealed inflammation in his right triceps area ... the same injury that sent Guzman to the DL earlier in the season.

The Cubs are 10-6 against Milwaukee this season, with one game remaining on the schedule. Tonight it all begins with Jeff Samardzija and just winning a ballgame.

A Wells Played Win by the Cubs - Cubs 7 Brewers 2

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:58:31 PDT

Game One Hundred Fifty - Cubs 7 Brewers 2
WP - Randy Wells (11-9) LP - Dave Bush (5-8) Save - None

For the second straight night the Cubs put a crooked number on the board in the first inning at Miller Park ... with run scoring hits by Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez. The Cubs scored three runs in the opening inning and scored all seven of their runs in the first four innings of the game.

After being handled at Wrigley last week by Dave Bush, the Cubs' offense knocked Bush out of the game in the second inning on Tuesday night. The Cubs scored six runs, five earned, on four hits with four walks against Bush in just 1 1/3 innings of work.

Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez did a majority of the damage early on before a wild pitch and an error by Jason Kendall with Lee at the plate scored two of the Cubs' three runs in the second inning.

Derrek Lee set a new career high in runs batted in on Tuesday night. Lee drove in the game's first run with a ground rule double and added his 35th homer of the year in the fourth, a solo shot to right center. Derrek Lee's 109 RBI, with 12 games remaining on the schedule, tops his previous high of 107 in 2005.

Derrek Lee finished the game 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, a walk, two runs scored and two RBI ... in the first two games of the series, Lee is 6-for-8 with three doubles, two home runs, two walks and six RBI.

Aramis Ramirez gave the Cubs a 3-0 lead in the first with a two-run RBI single off of Dave Bush. Ramirez has driven in 63 runs in just 77 games this season.

Tyler Colvin played a big part in Tuesday night's win. Colvin was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored at the plate, but his defense in center was a bigger key. Colvin showed a lot of range throughout the night and robbed Ryan Braun of a three-run homer in the ninth with a leaping catch at the wall. Colvin timed his leap perfectly and turned a three-run shot into a sacrifice fly and the second out of the inning. Colvin caught the final three outs of the ballgame.

Randy Wells picked up his 11th win in his 25th start of the year with a solid performance against the Brewers. Wells was not as sharp as he's been this season but showed a lot of improvement from his previous two outings. Wells gave up only one run, a solo home run by Prince Fielder in the second, on seven hits with five strikeouts. The biggest reason for the improvement, Wells did not walk a single batter on Tuesday night ... his only 'freebie' came in the sixth when he hit Jason Kendall on a 0-1 pitch with two outs.

Sean Marshall and Esmailin Caridad pitched scoreless innings of relief. John Grabow surrendered the Brewers second and final run of the night in the ninth. Casey McGehee doubled to start the inning. After a deep fly to center advanced McGehee to third, he scored on the 'sacrifice fly to center' by Ryan Braun.

The Cubs improved to 10-6 on the year against the Brewers and are four wins away from securing their third winning season in a row ...

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Brewers - 09/22/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:55:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Fifty: Cubs (77-72) vs. Brewers (74-76)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 188
Location - Miller Park, Milwaukee

Randy Wells (10-9, 3.06/1.28) vs. Dave Bush (5-7, 5.88/1.38)

Monday's victory over the Brewers guaranteed Lou Piniella's crew a winning record against Milwaukee this season. With two games remaining, the Cubs have won nine of the first 15.

Tonight will be a rematch of the finale of the four-game series at Wrigley last week. Dave Bush earned his first career win on the North Side after Jody Gerut hit a grand slam off of Randy Wells in the fourth inning.

Jeff Samardzija will start the finale on Wednesday night in Milwaukee instead of Ted Lilly. Lilly is dealing with a little tendonitis in his left shoulder but should make his scheduled start in San Francisco. Rich Harden could return to the mound as well at some point during the four-game series against the Giants.

Alfonso Soriano rejoined the Cubs on Monday to begin his rehab from knee surgery. Soriano will remain with his teammates through the remainder of the road trip that concludes on Sunday in San Francisco.

Tonight it all starts with Randy Wells and just winning a ballgame.

Mike Cameron on the Cubs Radar?

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:05:00 PDT

Buried in a report from the Tribune on Monday night centered on the possibility of the Player's Union filing a grievance over the suspension of Milton Bradley, was a blurb about the Cubs' possible interest this winter in Mike Cameron.

Lee and Ramirez Drive In a Win - Cubs 10 Brewers 2

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:43:52 PDT

Game One Hundred Forty-Nine - Cubs 10 Brewers 2
WP - Tom Gorzelanny (6-2) LP - Braden Looper (13-7) Save - None

According to several reports, the Cubs were very relaxed for one of the few times this season and came out swinging against Braden Looper. The Cubs scored four runs in the first inning highlighted by a two-run single by Derrek Lee and a sacrifice fly RBI in the first big league at bat by Tyler Colvin.

The Cubs scored at least one run in five of the nine innings and put the game away in the second inning. Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez hit back-to-back homers off of Braden Looper in the three-run second. Derrek Lee finished the game 3-for-4 with a walk, his 34th home run of the year, a double and four RBI. Lee tied his career high in runs batted in with 107 set in 2005. Lee and Ramirez were a combined 6-for-8 with two home runs, five runs scored and six RBI.

Tyler Colvin made his Major League debut on Monday night in Milwaukee. Colvin played center, showed patience at the plate and recorded both his first hit and first RBI. Colvin was 1-for-3 with a walk.

Tom Gorzelanny threw the ball well after the offense gave him a four-run cushion in the top of the first. Gorzelanny allowed two runs in his five innings of work, two solo home runs by Mike Cameron, walked a batter and tied a career-high with nine strikeouts. Gorzelanny struck out nine Arizona Diamondbacks on August 7, 2007.

Aaron Heilman was not sharp in his two scoreless innings of work. The Cubs' defense turned inning ending double plays behind Heilman in the sixth and seventh innings.

Justin Berg pitched the final two innings and allowed just two hits and no walks.

With Monday night's victory, the Cubs improved to five games over .500 for the year and need just five more wins to post their third consecutive winning season.

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Brewers - 09/21/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:25:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Forty-Nine: Cubs (76-72) vs. Brewers (74-75)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WCIU - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 187
Location - Miller Park, Milwaukee

Tom Gorzelanny (5-2, 5.29/1.15) vs. Braden Looper (13-6, 4.89/1.46)

Updated 4:48pm C.T. - Tyler Colvin Called up from Double-A Tennessee and Reed Johnson Activated from the 15-day DL.

Tyler Colvin is in Monday's starting lineup.

Updated - 5:49pm C.T. - Thomas Diamond designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Tyler Colvin.

The Cubs will make their last trip of the year to Milwaukee after the two teams split a four-game series at Wrigley Field last week. The Cubs have won eight of the first 14 games of the season against the Brewers ... and the next three days will have an impact on where the Cubs finish in the division. The Brewers have won five straight that includes the final two against the Cubs and a sweep of the Astros.

The Cubs enter this series with Milwaukee just three games up in the loss column with 14 games remaining on their schedule.

Tyler Colvin is expected to join the team tonight and should make his Major League debut. The Sun-Times reported Colvin will be in the starting lineup for the final two weeks of the season. Colvin had a good year in Double-A playing for Ryne Sandberg. The lefty hit .300 with a .324 OBP and a .524 slugging percentage (an .859 OPS) in 84 games for the Smokies with 14 home runs, 13 doubles and seven triples.

Tom Gorzelanny will make at least two of Rich Harden's last three starts of the year. After Harden struggled in his last outing, the Cubs said he would be skipped tonight and possibly his turn in the rotation when the Cubs are in San Francisco.

Tonight is all starts with Tom Gorzelanny and just winning a ballgame ...

Bradley Suspended for Remainder of Season ... Colvin to Join Cubs

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 01:05:00 PDT

According to multiple reports from St. Louis on Sunday, the Cubs suspended Milton Bradley for the remainder of the 2009 campaign. Jim Hendry cited the comments Milton Bradley made to Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald on Saturday as the final straw and reason for the suspension.

From Cubs.com:

"There have been a lot of issues that we've lived with during the year," Hendry said Sunday, "but the last few days became too much for me to tolerate, to be honest with you. I'm not going to let our great fans become an excuse, I'm not going to tolerate not answering questions from the media respectfully. Whether you feel like talking or not, it's part of our jobs. I'm not going to allow disrespect to other people in that locker room and uniformed personnel." Hendry reacted after reading Bradley's comments, in which he said the Cubs were "not a positive environment."

"The only real negativity here is his own production," Hendry said.

Several of Bradley's teammates came to the support of their GM. Ryan Dempster said it was unfortunate and he brought it on himself. Aramis Ramirez added Jim Hendry made the right call and Derrek Lee said Bradley should apologize for his actions according to a report in the Tribune.

Tyler Colvin will be called up from Double-A Tennessee and added to the Cubs' 40-man roster on Monday. Lou Piniella said during his pre-game show Sunday night that Tyler Colvin would be brought up and he is looking forward to getting him into the lineup. The Sun-Times reported Colvin will receive playing time and is expected to be in the starting lineup for the final two weeks of the season.

Three Hundred and Ninety-Zeven Wonderful Feet - Cubs 6 Cardinals 3

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:31:14 PDT

Game One Hundred Forty-Eight - Cubs 6 Cardinals 3 - 11 innings
WP - Esmailin Caridad (1-0) LP - Mitchell Boggs (2-3) Save - Carlos Marmol (14)

It took eleven innings and three hours and fifty-three minutes but the Cubs were able to salvage the last game of the season against the Cardinals. The Cubs won for just the second time all year (2-7) in St. Louis and finished the season series with a 6-10 record against the Redbirds ... the first time since 2004 the Cubs lost the season series against the Cardinals.

There is never a dull moment between the Cubs and Cardinals. After Matt Holliday interfered with Ryan Theriot on the would-be inning ending double play in the bottom of the ninth prolonged the game, Jake Fox hit his 11th home run of the year in the top of the 11th off of Mitchell Boggs that gave the Cubs a 5-3 lead. Fox did not start the game and came in as a pinch-hitter in the top of the ninth for Kevin Gregg.

The two-run shot by Fox ended up four rows deep in the stands in left center ... Fox's 40th and 41st RBI of the season.

The Cubs third run in the 11th came on a wild pitch by Brad Thompson after Mitchell Boggs had walked the bases loaded with So Taguchi at the plate.

Esmailin Caridad earned his first big league victory after he replaced Aaron Heilman in the ninth inning. With the winning run on second in Skip Schumaker, Heilman intentionally walked Albert Pujols before turning the game over to Caridad. The Cubs' rookie right-hander hit Matt Holliday on a 1-2 pitch to load the bases with one out. Caridad induced a grounder to second off the bat of Ryan Ludwick on a 1-0 pitch. Andres Blanco flipped to Theriot but the throw was offline to Derrek Lee. Lee tried to tag Ludwick but could not and the game appeared over. The Cardinals celebrated as Schumaker crossed home plate and they even set off the fireworks ... but second base umpire, Marty Foster waived off the celebration.

Marty Foster ruled Holliday was out of the basepath, replays showed it was the correct call, and the veteran umpire ruled interference and Ludwick was out at first.

Esmailin Caridad retired the Cardinals in order in the bottom of the tenth to pick up his first win. Carlos Marmol pitched a perfect 11th innings for his 14th save.

Carlos Zambrano put together a very good outing. Zambrano allowed two runs on five hits in six innings. Zambrano matched Adam Wainwright pitch for pitch and was inline for his ninth win of the year.

Kevin Gregg blew his seventh save of the season in the eighth inning. Gregg walked Matt Holliday to start the eighth, uncorked a wild pitch then gave up a two-out single to Yadier Molina.

The Cubs improved to four games over .500 with a rare win in St. Louis and snapped a four-game losing streak on the day they suspended Milton Bradley for the remainder of the year ...

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Cardinals - 09/20/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:15:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Forty-Eight: Cubs (75-72) vs. Cardinals (87-62)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: ESPN Sunday Night Baseball - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 188
Location - Busch Stadium, St. Louis

Carlos Zambrano (8-6, 3.94/1.43) vs. Adam Wainwright (18-8, 2.59/1.21)

Updated - 4:31pm C.T. - Milton Bradley Suspended for Remainder of Year for Comments Made to the Media

Jim Hendry Suspended Milton Bradley Milton Bradley was suspended and is not with the team in St. Louis. According to the Tribune, "The last few days became too much for me to tolerate," Hendry said.

One year ago today Kerry Wood retired Aaron Miles on a fly out to Jim Edmonds. The Cubs beat the Cardinals 5-4 behind Ted Lilly and won their second straight division title ...

The Cubs will try to avoid another five-game losing streak behind Carlos Zambrano tonight ... and it will be a tall task with Adam Wainwright taking the hill for the Cardinals.

St. Louis reduced their magic number to four games Saturday afternoon with another walk-off win against the Cubs. Lou Piniella's crew is 5-10 against the Redbirds this season. The Cubs have won only one victory in the first eight games in St. Louis this year (1-7).

Tonight will be the first time the Cubs have been on Sunday Night Baseball since July 12 ... the last game of first half and the second game of the day-night doubleheader. Adam Wainwright beat Randy Wells in the nightcap with Sean Marshall patrolling left field for a short time.

The Cubs enter play tonight just three games above the .500 mark with eight difficult games ahead of them on their last trip of the year. The Cubs must find a way to finish the year with a winning record.

Milton Bradley could return to the starting lineup. Bradley was in the original starting nine on Saturday before he made himself unavailable ... and sparked more controversy.

While Bradley contemplates whether he will play or not, it appears Angel Guzman's season could be over. Guzman is dealing with a sore forearm. He tried to throw but stopped and was shutdown.

Tonight is all starts with Carlos Zambrano and just winning a ballgame ...

Bradley Not Enjoying Chicago

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:54:44 PDT

Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald caught up with Milton Bradley on Saturday and his interview with Bradley is very interesting to say the least. Bradley scratched himself from the lineup once again, but did not want to talk about his knee. He did have this to say ...

From the Daily Herald ...

"... The only time he became expansive at all was when he was asked if he had enjoyed his first season in Chicago."

"Not really," he said. "It's just not a positive environment. I need a stable, healthy, enjoyable environment. There's too many people everywhere in your face with a microphone asking the same questions repeatedly. Everything is just bashing you. You got out there and you play harder than anybody on the field and never get credit for it. It's just negativity."

"And you understand why they haven't won in 100 years here, because it's negative. It's what it is."

Cardinals Stick It to the Cubs ... Again - Cubs 1 Cardinals 2

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:17:20 PDT

Game One Hundred Forty-Seven - Cubs 1 Cardinals 2
WP - Ryan Franklin (4-3, BS 5) LP - Carlos Marmol (2-4) Save - None

For the second game in a row the Cardinals won the game in the ninth inning off a Cubs' reliever, on Saturday it was Carlos Marmol's turn. After the Cubs could not scratch out a run in eight innings against Chris Carpenter, they tied the game at one in the ninth off of Ryan Franklin.

Micah Hoffpauir, a late substitute for Milton Bradley, put together a 3-for-4 afternoon at the plate and led off the ninth with a single. Sam Fuld pinch ran and advanced to third on a single to right center by Geovany Soto. Jeff Baker hit a 2-2 pitch from Ryan Franklin into right and tied the game at one. Bobby Scales grounded into the Cubs' fourth double play of the afternoon to end the inning.

Ryan Ludwick started the ninth inning rally with a single to center. Mark DeRosa attempted to sacrifice him to second but bunted the ball back to Marmol. Ludwick was forced at second but Ryan Theriot's throw to first was high ... and DeRosa was safe.

On a 0-2 pitch to Yadier Molina, Tony LaRussa called for the hit and run. His catcher hit the ball into left in the space vacated by Theriot. DeRosa advanced to third with one out.

Brendan Ryan gave the Cardinals the win with a single to left on a 1-2 pitch. DeRosa scored and cut the Cardinals magic number to four games.

The Cardinals shortstop drove in both runs for the Redbirds on Saturday afternoon. Brendan Ryan hit his third home run of the year in the fifth inning, a solo shot to left with a little help from Bobby Scales.

The veteran minor league infielder tried to make a leaping catch near the wall in left center on the fly ball hit by Brendan Ryan. The ball went into Scales' glove then bounced out and over the wall to give the Cardinals a one-run lead.

Ryan Dempster pitched his best game of the year. Dempster threw eight innings of one-run ball, allowed eight hits, one walk and struck out six. Dempster did not make any mistakes on the afternoon as the Cubs wasted another great outing by one of their starters. While Dempster was credited with one earned run, Brendan Ryan's assisted home run is a catch that a Major League outfielder must be able to complete.

The Cubs lost for the seventh time this season in St. Louis (1-7) and of their last 12 losses in St. Louis ten have been decided by two runs or less ...

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Cardinals - 09/19/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 10:30:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Forty-Seven: Cubs (75-71) vs. Cardinals (86-62)
Game Time - 3:10pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: FOX Saturday Baseball - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 184
Location - Busch Stadium, St. Louis

Ryan Dempster (10-8, 3.84/1.35) vs. Chris Carpenter (16-4, 2.45/1.00)

The Cardinals magic number was reduced to six after Matt Holliday finished off the Cubs on Friday night ... and it will not get any easier for the Cubs this afternoon with Chris Carpenter taking the hill. It will be up to Ryan Dempster to keep his team in the game and the Redbirds off the scoreboard while the offense tries to figure out the Cardinals' ace.

Milton Bradley could be back in the lineup this afternoon ... or maybe not. Bradley took batting practice on Friday but was held out of the game due to knee inflammation.

Sam Fuld was back on the field Friday night as a defensive replacement after several reports indicated Fuld could miss the remainder of the season. Fuld made a couple of nice catches but is still having trouble swinging the bat.

Today it all starts with Ryan Dempster and just playing ball ...

Holliday Walks Off the Cubs - Cubs 2 Cardinals 3

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 22:05:48 PDT

Game One Hundred Forty-Six - Cubs 2 Cardinals 3
WP - Ryan Franklin (3-3) LP - Aaron Heilman (3-4) Save - None

After jumping out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, the Cubs lost the opening game in St. Louis on the fifth pitch of the bottom of the ninth inning. Ryan Theriot reached on a two-out single in the top of the ninth but was picked off first with Kosuke Fukudome at the plate with a 2-0 count to end the inning. Aaron Heilman took the mound to start the bottom of the ninth ...

Matt Holliday looked at a low strike from Heilman to start the at bat. Heilman then missed with his next three pitches. On a 3-1 pitch from Aaron Heilman, Matt Holliday cut the Cardinals' magic number to six games. Holliday lined Heilman's offering over the wall in right to end the game ... Holliday's 13th home run in 50 games since being traded from Oakland to St. Louis.

The Cardinals mid-season acquisitions were the difference on Friday night. Ted Lilly pitched a gem but it was Mark DeRosa that drove in the Cardinals' first run and scored the tying run in the fifth inning.

With the Cubs up 2-0, Ryan Ludwick led off the fifth with the Cardinals' second hit of the game, a single to left. Mark DeRosa followed with a triple down the left field line on a 1-0 pitch. Bobby Scales misplayed the ball that ricocheted off the sidewall. Lilly retired Yadier Molina but Brendan Ryan hit a 1-2 pitch into left that plated DeRosa with the Cardinals' second run.

Ted Lilly did everything he could to start the Cubs' 10-game trip out on a positive note. Lilly retired the first nine batters he faced. Julio Lugo led off the fourth with the Cardinals first hit, one of just five allowed by Lilly in 7 2/3 innings. Lilly hit a batter but did not issue a single free pass and struck out six. The Cubs offense simply did not support Lilly once again ... a repeating theme of the 2009 season.

The Cubs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning with three straight doubles off of John Smoltz. Kosuke Fukudome, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez each recorded doubles with Lee knocking in his 103rd run of the year. Lee is just four away from his career high of 107 RBI set in 2005.

Kevin Gregg retired the only batter he faced, Albert Pujols in the eighth on a groundout to short but once again this season it was the Cubs lack of offense that was the biggest reason for the loss. They had chances early on against Smoltz before they started swinging at everything the Cardinals threw near the plate.

The offense managed only one hit and one walk in the final three innings while striking out 10 times on the night.

With the loss the Cubs are four games over .500 for the year with a very tough nine game stretch ahead of them. It is a must for Lou Piniella's crew to finish the year with a winning record ....

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Cardinals - 09/18/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:45:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Forty-Six: Cubs (75-70) vs. Cardinals (85-62)
Game Time - 7:15pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 188
Location - Busch Stadium, St. Louis

Ted Lilly (12-8, 3.05/1.08) vs. John Smoltz (3-6, 6.53/1.42)

The Chicago Cubs begin their final road trip of the 2009 series tonight with the first of three against the soon-to-be NL Central Champs. The Cubs three-city, 10-game trip concludes in San Francisco next Sunday ... with a three-game stop in Milwaukee mixed in.

The Cardinals magic number for winning the division is down to eight games. The Cardinals have lost five of their last six but with the Cubs losing back-to-back games to the Brewers, the Cubs will enter play tonight nine games back of the Redbirds. So no matter what happens this weekend in St. Louis, Albert Pujols and company will not be able to return the favor from a year ago and clinch against the Cubs.

Lou Piniella's crew is just 5-8 against the Cardinals this year ... 1-5 in St. Louis.

It appears Mark DeRosa will finally face Ted Lilly tonight. DeRosa missed Lilly when the Indians played the Cubs at Wrigley in the June and the former teammates joked about DeRosa 'ducking' Lilly. Mark DeRosa put on a hitting clinic against Ted Lilly at HoHoKam last March ... and some thought Lilly was 'serving it up' to DeRosa in turn setting him up for later in the season.

After the archrivals completed their four-game series in Chicago to close out the first half of the year many thought this series would be for the division crown ... but the two teams have gone in opposite directions since splitting the series two months ago.

Chris Carpenter was pushed back a day and Kyle Lohse will miss the series. Carpenter will start Saturday against Ryan Dempster with Adam Wainwright facing Carlos Zambrano in the finale on Sunday night.

Tonight it all begins with Ted Lilly, playing for pride and finishing the season with a winning record ...

Milwaukee Grand Slams the Cubs Window Shut - Cubs 4 Brewers 7

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:18:28 PDT

Game One Hundred Forty-Five - Cubs 4 Brewers 7
WP - Dave Bush (5-7) LP - Randy Wells (10-9) Save - Trevor Hoffman (33)

For those that thought the Cubs still had a chance at post-season play, Thursday's loss should have erased all hope. The Cubs completed their penultimate homestand of the year with back-to-back losses to the Brewers ... and finished with a 4-3 record in the last seven games.

What had been the strength of the 2009 version of the Chicago Cubs, the starting staff, had a rough final three games and appear out of gas.

Randy Wells had one of his worst outings of the year. Wells walked a season-high five batters (one intentional) in four innings and three of them scored. Wells needs to be shutdown for the remainder of the year because this team is going no where past October 4 ... but home.

Randy Wells struggled from his first pitch of the ballgame. Wells walked the first two batters he faced before giving up a single to Ryan Braun to load the bases. After striking out Prince Fielder, Mike Cameron hit a sacrifice fly to left center that gave the Brewers a one-run lead. Wells retired Mat Gamel to end the first ... but the handwriting was on the wall.

The Cubs took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first. Five of the first six Cubs' reached base against Dave Bush. The Cubs tied the game at one when Derrek Lee grounded into a 5-4-3 double play that allowed Ryan Theriot to score.

Jeff Baker delivered a two-out RBI single to right that plated Jake Fox with the go ahead run.

Randy Wells settled down until the fourth inning. Wells retired the first two batters he faced in the fourth before walking Alcides Escobar. Dave Bush followed with a single and Wells walked Felipe Lopez to load the bases.

Former Cub-for-a-minute, Jody Gerut stepped in and ripped a 2-2 pitch into the bleachers in right. Gerut's grand slam gave the Brewers a 5-2 lead and proved to be the game winner.

Micah Hoffpauir delivered a pinch-hit two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the fourth that cut the Brewers lead to 5-4. The Cubs offense could not get any closer and they allowed the Brewers' pen to retire the last nine batters in order to end the game.

Milton Bradley took himself out of the game following a leadoff single to start the sixth. Reports during the game indicated Bradley left with knee inflammation.

Mike Rivera put the game away in the seventh off of Esmailin Caridad. Rivera delivered a two-out, two-run double that gave the Brewers a 7-4 lead. Six of the seven runs the Brewers scored against the Cubs on Thursday afternoon were on two-out hits.

The Milwaukee Brewers won for only the third time this season at Wrigley (3-5) and Dave Bush posted his second career win against the Cubs ... his first at the Friendly Confines. With the loss, the Cubs find themselves just five games over .500 with 17 left to play ...

CCO Radio...Talkin' Cubs Before a Weekend in St. Louis

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:00:00 PDT

Only three shows remaining during the baseball season ... The CCO Radio returns following the finale of the four-game series against the Brewers. Jody Gerut's grand slam off of Randy Wells led to the Cubs 7-4 loss on Thursday afternoon. The Cubs finished the homestand with a 4-3 record after dopping the last two to the Brewers.

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD on the CCO Radio. What moves should the Cubs make in the off-season to improve the team? Call the CCO Radio. Want your voice and opinion to be heard? Call the CCO Radio tonight and discuss everything Cubs with the CCO.

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Brewers - 09/17/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:15:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Forty-Five: Cubs (75-69) vs. Brewers (70-75)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Randy Wells (10-8, 2.96/1.25) vs. Dave Bush (4-7, 5.85/1.37)

Today is the last game of the homestand for Lou Piniella's crew. The Cubs are 4-2 in the first six and a win today would more than finish the homestand on a positive note ... also, with four remaining on the schedule against the Brewers, a victory this afternoon would ensure a winning record against Milwaukee for the year (the Cubs have won eight of the first 13 meetings between the two teams this season).

Randy Wells made his first career big league start against the Brewers back on May 8 and will face them for the second time this season. But the Cubs will need for Kosuke Fukudome and Milton Bradley to deliver at the plate in order to win the series. Fukudome is in a 0-for-23 slump while Bradley is 0-for his last 15. Look for Lou Piniella to shake up the lineup once again. Milton Bradley has been very effective hitting second and rather lost in any other place in the lineup.

Today it all begins with Randy Wells and not mailing in the remainder of the season ...

Cubs Thrown for Another Looper - Cubs 5 Brewers 9

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:06:53 PDT

Game One Hundred Forty-Four - Cubs 5 Brewers 9
WP - Braden Looper (13-6) LP - Rich Harden (9-9) Save - None

The end of Rich Harden's season is starting to look like the way it began, very inconsistent and ineffective. Rich Harden was hit very hard in his three innings of work and if the wind had not been blowing in the score could have been a lot worse. Harden gave up five runs, two earned, on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts on 71 pitches, 41 for strikes. Harden's three innings of work on Wednesday night was his second shortest outing in a Cubs' uniform.

Alcides Escobar finished the night 4-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and three RBI ... all three on two-out hits. Escobar drove in the first run of the game on a two-out double down the left field line. Braden Looper drove in the Brewers' second run with a bloop single to center ... it was that kind of night for Rich Harden.

The Cubs committed two more errors that led to more unearned runs. Aramis Ramirez's tenth error of the year in third led to all three runs Harden allowed to be unearned.

David Patton, instead of Tom Gorzelanny or Sean Marshall, replaced Harden and could not keep the Brewers off the scoreboard. Patton gave up four runs on four hits with two walks and a strikeout in an inning and a third of work. Two of the four runs credited to Patton came on a single by Corey Hart off of Justin Berg.

The Brewers scored all nine of their runs in the first five innings against Harden, David Patton and Justin Berg.

Tom Gorzelanny finally entered the game in the sixth and threw two innings of shutout ball. Gorzelanny and Sean Marshall gave the Cubs' offense a chance with four shutout innings but the hole was too deep for the Cubs to dig out of on Wednesday night.

Kosuke Fukudome, who is in a 0-for-23 slump, drove in the Cubs' first run in the third inning on a sacrifice fly that plated Aaron Miles. Derrek Lee picked up his 102nd RBI of the year with a single to center in the third that cut the Brewers lead to 5-2.

With the Cubs down 9-2 in the fifth, Derrek Lee walked to start the inning and scored on Aramis Ramirez's 13th homer of the season. Ramirez cut the deficit to 9-4 with two more RBI. Ramirez has driven in 58 runs in an injury-shortened season.

The Cubs last run was scored on a fielder's choice ground out off the bat of Bobby Scales later in the fifth.

Braden Looper continued his domination over the Cubs and earned his 13th win of the year ... a new career-high.

Aramis Ramirez made two tremendous defensive plays in the later innings that helped keep the Brewers off the board. Jake Fox took a double away from Ryan Braun in the eighth, his first outfield assist ... and Andres Blanco was stellar in the field once again.

The Cubs lost to the Brewers for only the second time this season at Wrigley Field ...

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Brewers - 09/16/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:05:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Forty-Four: Cubs (75-68) vs. Brewers (69-75)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WCIU - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 186
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Rich Harden (9-8, 4.04/1.31) vs. Braden Looper (12-6, 4.77/1.43)

Updated - 4:03pm C.T. - Cubs called up So Taguchi on Wednesday afternoon and added him to the 40-man roster.

Rich Harden will try to become the Cubs' fourth double-digit winner on the season tonight in his 26th start (Ted Lilly, 12 - Randy Wells, 10 - Ryan Dempster, 10). Harden has struggled against the Brewers this season and tonight will be a big test for the soon-to-be-free-agent.

Sam Fuld is listed as day-to-day after an MRI on Tuesday revealed just a bruise on his right hand. The Tribune reported Tuesday night that if Fuld is not back soon the Cubs could call up either Tyler Colvin or James Adduci. Neither Colvin nor Adduci is on the Cubs 40-man roster ... which currently stands at 39 players.

Tonight it all begins with Rich Harden and not mailing in the remainder of the season ...

From the Wire ... Cubs Call-up Taguchi

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:28:19 PDT

According to a report from ESPN Chicago, the Cubs called up So Taguchi from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday. The move required the Cubs to add So Taguchi to the team's 40-man roster. With the addition of Taguchi, the Cubs 40-man roster currently stands at 40 players.

Lotz and Lotz of Patience - Cubs 13 Brewers 7

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:24:14 PDT

Game One Hundred Forty-Three - Cubs 13 Brewers 7
WP - Aaron Heilman (3-3) LP - Yovani Gallardo (12-12) Save - None

For one of the few times this year the Cubs patience at the plate led to a win. The Cubs walked a season-high 12 times and the Brewers pitching staff hit three batters ... including Aramis Ramirez in the sixth with the bases loaded that forced in the eventual winning run. The Cubs pounded out 11 hits to go along with the 15 free base runners.

Derrek Lee walked four times and drove in three runs with a single and a double in his other two trips to the plate. Lee's three RBI on Tuesday night ran his season total to 101 ... the second time in his career Lee has topped the century mark in RBI (107 in 2005).

Ryan Theriot walked in each of his last four at bats. Theriot drove in a run and scored three of the Cubs' 13 runs.

Geovany Soto is finally coming alive at the plate. Soto tied the game at five with his 11th homer of the year in the bottom of the fifth and came through with a big two-out, two-run single in the sixth that gave the Cubs a three-run lead. Soto has driven in 12 runs in his last six games.

The Cubs scored their last eight runs on just four hits and plated at least one run in each of the last five innings.

The Cubs offense jumped out to a 4-0 lead after four innings against Yovani Gallardo. Ryan Theriot knocked in the game's first run with a two-out single in the second. Of Theriot's career-high 52 RBI this season, 27 have come on two-out hits.

Carlos Zambrano drove in the Cubs' second run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Derrek Lee followed three batters later with a two-out, two run double that gave Zambrano a comfortable lead.

Zambrano started the game very strong. He tied a season-high with eight strikeouts in the first three innings ... and even contributed at the plate. Zambrano finished with nine strikeouts, a new season high, but Zambrano allowed a long two-out single by Yovani Gallardo in the fifth to get the best of him.

Big Z lost it after the Gallardo single. He allowed seven straight Brewers to reach, threw 40 pitches and gave up five runs ... again, all with two outs. Zambrano went from putting together one of his best outings of the season to finishing with one of his worst. The Cubs' Opening Day starter allowed five runs on six hits in five innings with four walks and nine strikeouts. Zambrano threw 103 pitches and was bailed out by his offense.

Aaron Heilman pitched a perfect sixth inning and qualified for the win.

The Cubs' pen shutdown the Brewers offense until the ninth inning. Jeff Samardzija gave up the final two runs of the game.

The Cubs improved to seven games over .500 for the first time since August 9 and have won seven of their last eight games ...

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Brewers - 09/15/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:30:30 PDT

Game One Hundred Forty-Three: Cubs (74-68) vs. Brewers (69-74)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 186
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Carlos Zambrano (8-6, 3.77/1.41) vs. Yovani Gallardo (12-11, 3.59/1.29)

Updated - 4:41pm C.T. - Alfonso Soriano Placed on the 15-day DL following surgery on his left knee Tuesday morning. The DL move is retroactive to September 4. According to a report from the Sun-Times, Soriano's surgery went well.

Updated - 4:41pm C.T. - Sam Fuld had a MRI on his right hand Tuesday. Fuld injured his hand making a diving catch in the fifth inning on Monday night.

After being shutdown, for the most part, on Monday night by Jeff Suppan, it will not get any easier for the Cubs' offense tonight. The Cubs will face one of the best young right-handers in the game in Yovani Gallardo. In order for the Cubs to win their third game in a row it will likely take a Ryan-Dempster-like performance from Carlos Zambrano.

According to multiple reports, Alfonso Soriano was expected to have season-ending knee surgery Tuesday morning. Soriano is expected to rehab for around six weeks. Soriano will also have his eyes tested and the Cubs are trying to get him to change to a lighter bat. Soriano currently swings a 36-ounce bat and many are trying to get him to switch to a lighter 34-ounce bat. According to Bruce Levine, "so far this season, he had resisted doing that."

Kyler Burke and Casey Coleman were named the Cubs Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year on Monday. Burke was acquired in the deal that sent Michael Barrett to the Padres in 2007. Burke finished the season with a .303/.405/.505/.911 line with 43 doubles, three triples and 15 home runs in 132 games for the Peoria Chiefs. The 21-year old left-handed outfielder led the Cubs' system with 14 outfield assists.

Casey Coleman is one of the reasons the Tennessee Smokies advanced to the Southern League Championship Series this season. Coleman was 14-6 with a 3.68 ERA in 27 starts and walked only 58 batters in 149 innings.

Tonight it all starts with Carlos Zambrano and not mailing in the remainder of the season.

Cubs Talking Extension with Grabow

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:05:00 PDT

According to a report from Bruce Levine, the Cubs have begun talking with John Grabow about a two-year extension. Grabow will become a free agent at the end of the season.

The Cubs see John Grabow as the primary left-handed setup man to Carlos Marmol next year. Lou Piniella indicated on Monday that Carlos Marmol would be the team's closer next season.

The Dempster Dumps the Brewers - Cubs 2 Brewers 0

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:24:11 PDT

Game One Hundred Forty-Two - Cubs 2 Brewers 0
WP - Ryan Dempster (10-8) LP - Jeff Suppan (6-10) Save - Carlos Marmol (13)

The Chicago Cubs improved to six games over .500 for the first time since August 10 behind a dominating performance by Ryan Dempster. Dempster put together one of his better outings of the season and the Cubs defense stepped up when the Brewers put the ball in play.

Ryan Dempster allowed just four hits in eight shutout innings, walked one, hit Ryan Braun and struck out four on 108 pitches. Sam Fuld made a game changing catch in the fifth inning that kept Jason Kendall from tying the game at one. Kendall recorded the Brewers' first hit, a two-out bloop single to center. Kendall stole second on a delayed steal and took third on a throwing error by Geovany Soto. Frank Catalanotto followed with what appeared to be at least a single to right center. Fuld covered a lot of ground and made an incredible diving catch to preserve the lead.

The Cubs defense turned a rare 6-5-3 double play in the seventh. After Casey McGehee led off the inning with the Brewers' third hit, a single to center, Prince Fielder hit a grounder up the middle to Ryan Theriot. With the Cubs in the shift, Theriot threw to Aramis Ramirez covering second but his throw was off line to Derrek Lee. Lee came off the bag and tagged Fielder to complete the double play.

The Brewers put two on with two out in the eighth ... with Ryan Dempster running out of steam. Felipe Lopez lined a 1-2 pitch to third, a leaping Aramis Ramirez knocked the ball down and threw out Lopez at first to end the inning.

Carlos Marmol picked up his 13th save of the year and is a perfect 9-for-9 in save opportunities since being named the team's closer.

The Cubs offense was mesmerized once again by Jeff Suppan. The veteran junker-baller allowed just one run on three hits in seven innings with four walks and two strikeouts. But one of the three hits was Derrek Lee's 33rd homer of the year ... a solo shot to right center in the fourth.

Mike Fontenot pinch-hit for Ryan Dempster to start the eighth and doubled off the left field wall. Ryan Theriot sacrificed Fontenot to third and Kosuke Fukudome hit a sacrifice fly to center on a 0-2 pitch from David Weathers.

Ryan Dempster earned his tenth win of the year and improved to 11-3 in his career against Milwaukee. Monday night was the Cubs' fifth shutout of the season, their first since a 2-0 win against the Astros on September 2. Dempster has combined on two of the Cubs' five shutouts (7-0 win over the Dodgers on May 30).

The Cubs have won six of their last seven games and Monday night was all about Ryan Dempster. Dempster completed eight innings of work for the first time all season, Monday night was Dempster's 27th start of the year.

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Brewers - 09/14/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:30:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Forty-Two: Cubs (73-68) vs. Brewers (69-73)
Game Time - 7:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 184
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Ryan Dempster (9-8, 4.03/1.38) vs. Jeff Suppan (6-9, 5.05/1.73)

On the one-year anniversary of Carlos Zambrano's no hitter against the Houston Astros in Milwaukee, the Cubs open up the final home series of the year against the Brewers. The Cubs are 6-4 on the season versus Milwaukee with seven games left to play (four in Wrigley this week, three at Miller Park next week September 21-23). Neither team is where they thought they would be at this point of the season and both NL Central rivals are playing for pride right now.

Alfonso Soriano could have his knee scoped at some point this week. Reports have suggested Soriano could have season-ending surgery on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

Angel Guzman was not available against the Reds and might not be again until the end of the four-game series against the Brewers. Guzman is suffering from a muscle strain under his right arm for the second time this season. The first landed him on the DL ...

Tonight it all starts with Ryan Dempster and not mailing in the remainder of the season ...

Will Bradley and Zambrano End up on the Block?

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:05:00 PDT

According to a report from Bruce Levine Sunday afternoon, "the team will most likely explore deals for outfielder Milton Bradley and starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano" this off-season.

Bob Nightengale from USA Today mentioned on ESPN 1000 Friday night that he could see the Cubs trading Milton Bradley to the Texas Rangers this winter, with the Cubs eating half of his remaining contract.

So are Milton Bradley and Carlos Zambrano's days on the North Side numbered?

The Bench, The Bulldog ... and a Cubs Win - Cubs 5 Reds 2

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:50:02 PDT

Game One Hundred Forty-One - Cubs 5 Reds 2
WP - Ted Lilly (12-8) LP - Homer Bailey (5-5) Save - None

Lou Piniella's crew beat the Cincinnati Reds for the tenth time this season Sunday afternoon behind more shutout ball from Ted Lilly. Lilly allowed six base hits, four for extra bases but did not allow the Reds to score a single run during his six innings of work. Lilly walked a pair and struck out seven and won his team-leading 12th game of the year.

Kevin Gregg and Esmailin Caridad each threw a scoreless inning of relief. John Grabow allowed the Reds to break-up the shutout in the ninth. With two on and two out, Drew Stubbs singled up the middle and drove in the Reds only two runs of the game.

Koyie Hill (1-for-3 with a walk, a run and a RBI) and Andres Blanco (3-for-4 with two RBI) drove in the first three runs of the game ... both hits came in the fourth after the Cubs loaded the bases with no outs. Koyie Hill singled to right on a 0-2 pitch that plated Derrek Lee with the game's first run. Andres Blanco, filling in for Ryan Theriot at short, singled to right center another 0-2 pitch from Homer Bailey. Both Aramis Ramirez and Micah Hoffpauir scored and gave the Cubs a 3-0 lead.

Derrek Lee (3-for-4 with a home run, a RBI and two runs scored) hit his team-leading 32nd homer of the year in the seventh that gave the Cubs a much-needed insurance run. Bobby Scales gave the Cubs a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the eighth with a RBI fielder's choice that plated Koyie Hill.

Sunday's win gave the Cubs a 10-5 record against Cincinnati for the season and improved the Cubs record to five games over .500 for the year ...

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Reds - 09/13/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 08:45:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Forty-One: Cubs (72-68) vs. Reds (64-78)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 187
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Ted Lilly (11-8, 3.17/1.07) vs. Homer Bailey (5-4, 5.60/1.54)

The Cubs will try to rebound from Saturday's sloppy loss in the series and season finale against the Reds this afternoon. The Cubs are 9-5 against Dusty Baker's team, a win today would give them ten on the year versus the Reds for the first time since 2006 ...

The 2009 season ends three weeks from today for the Chicago Cubs. While they are playing for pride at this point, their third consecutive winning season under Lou Piniella is a must at this point. If the Cubs can stay above .500 for the remainder of the year it will be the first time the Cubs have posted three winning seasons in a row since Ron Santo, Ernie Banks and company accomplished the feat under Leo Durocher (1967 - 1972).

Where is Jake Fox? The question has been asked a lot of late with Bobby Scales and Micah Hoffpauir getting the playing time while Alfonso Soriano contemplates when or if he will have surgery on his left knee. Lou Piniella told Bruce Miles the Cubs have been facing a lot of righties of late and the Cubs have a lot of left-handed batters on the team. Piniella told Miles he would get Fox "in there before long."

As everyday passes it appears Reed Johnson will not return to the field this season ... and he could have played his last game with the Cubs. Johnson is a free agent at the end of the year.

It all begins with Ted Lilly today and not mailing in the remainder of the season ...

Cubs Give Another One Away - Cubs 5 Reds 7

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:13:31 PDT

Game One Hundred Forty - Cubs 5 Reds 7
WP - Arthur Rhodes (1-1) LP - Carlos Marmol (2-3) Save - Francisco Cordero (34)

The Cubs' four-game winning streak came to an end Saturday afternoon after an ugly start, a great comeback and a 'wild' ninth inning for Carlos Marmol. Between the Cubs three errors in the third inning, horrible defense behind Randy Wells and both walks in the ninth scoring against Carlos Marmol, the Reds did not win the game ... the Cubs gave another one away.

The Reds jumped out to a 5-0 lead after four innings against Randy Wells. The Reds scored two runs in the third, both unearned, due to three infield errors ... one each by Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Ryan Theriot. The Reds tacked on three more against Wells in the fourth before he was lifted with two outs after walking Scott Rolen and forcing in the Reds' fifth run. The Cubs defense let down Wells in the fourth as well and while there was not an error handed out, poor plays by Ryan Theriot and Derrek Lee led to the short outing by Wells.

The Cubs finally recorded their second hit of the game in the sixth inning and scored three runs against Johnny Cueto before Dusty Baker lifted him. Aramis Ramirez drove in the Cubs first run of the game with his 55th RBI of the year (tied for second on the team in only 67 games). The big hit in the sixth, the first of two run scoring doubles by Geovany Soto.

Geovany Soto tied the game at five with his second double of the game in the seventh. Soto delivered a clutch two-out hit and if not for a perfect relay by Paul Janish, Aramis Ramirez would have scored the go ahead run. Mike Quade sent Ramirez with two outs after Derrek Lee scored to tie the game. Drew Stubbs made a perfect throw to Janish who cut down Ramirez at the plate on a close play to end the inning.

Carlos Marmol has been perfect in save opportunities (8-for-8) after being named the Cubs' closer. Marmol took the mound in the ninth with the game tied at five and gave up a single to center by Brandon Phillips on a 1-2 pitch. Scott Rolen grounded into a 6-3 double play, then 'Wild Marmol' made another appearance.

Jonny Gomes walked after two close pitches with two outs and the bases empty. Kevin Barker hit for Arthur Rhodes and walked to put two on with two outs. Dusty Baker went to his bench again, this time for the .176 hitting Drew Sutton. Sutton lined a double down the right field line on a 1-1 pitch, Gomes and Barker scored the go ahead runs. Marmol then hit his 12th batter of the year (one off the big league lead for all pitchers) before striking out Drew Stubbs looking to end the inning.

Saturday's game was yet another reflection of the entire Cubs' season ...

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Reds - 09/12/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 08:30:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Forty: Cubs (72-67) vs. Reds (63-78)
Game Time - 12:05pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 175
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Randy Wells (10-8, 2.84/1.22) vs. Johnny Cueto (9-10, 4.39/1.33)

Can Lou Piniella's crew tie their longest winning streak of the year? The Cubs have posted five victories in a row twice this season (May 10 - May 16 and July 22 - July 27). Not only would a win today equal their longest stretch of the season, a victory would give them double-digit wins over the Reds for the first time since 2006 (9-4 in the first 13 match-ups of 2009).

Alfonso Soriano will get a second opinion on his left knee before have surgery to repair the injury that has hampered him most of the year. Soriano's season is reportedly over but for some reason he feels the need for a second opinion on what should be a routine knee scope. According to multiple reports over the last week, Soriano's days as the Cubs leadoff hitter are over.

Quick note ... Friday was the first day since July 30 in which the Cubs won a game and the Cardinals lost a game, on July 30 the Cubs owned a half game lead in the Central Division.

Today it all begins with Randy Wells and not mailing in the remainder of the season.

The Big RBI Machine - Cubs 6 Reds 4

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:17:12 PDT

Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine - Cubs 6 Reds 4
WP - Jeff Stevens (1-0) LP - Justin Lehr (4-2) Save - Carlos Marmol (12)

The Chicago Cubs won their fourth game in a row and improved to five games above .500 behind a perfect day at the plate by Aramis Ramirez. Ramirez went 3-for-3 on Friday afternoon with a stolen base, two runs scored, and three RBI ... all with two outs. Ramirez scored the first run of the game and for good measure stole his first bag of the season in the fifth inning. In 66 games this year Ramirez has driven in 54 runs, third on the team behind Derrek Lee (96) and Alfonso Soriano (55).

Aramis Ramirez gave the Cubs a 3-1 lead with a two-out single to left in the third that plated Milton Bradley and Derrek Lee. After Jonny Gomes tied the game at four with his 19th longball of the year in the top of the fifth, Ramirez drove in Kosuke Fukudome with another two-out single to left in the bottom of the fifth ... the eventual game winner.

Geovany Soto gave the Cubs a 4-1 lead in the fourth inning with his tenth home run of the year, a solo shot off of Justin Lehr ... his first since August 10. Bobby Scales drove in an important tack on run in the eighth that gave the Cubs a 6-4 lead. Scales' pinch-hit double plated Aramis Ramirez with the game's final run.

Rich Harden more than struggled with his command and was done by the fourth inning. While the Reds managed only one run on two hits off Harden, he walked five and struck out six on 103 pitches, 59 for strikes.

Rich Harden threw 40 pitches in an incredibly long first inning. Harden walked three in the opening frame, the Reds stole three bases but Harden escaped without giving up a single run. Harden struck out Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips before issuing a two-out walk to Scott Rolen that loaded the bases. Harden ran the count to 3-2 on Jonny Gomes before the Reds' left fielder popped out to Jeff Baker in shallow right to end the inning.

Jeff Stevens picked up his first big league win after being in the right place at the right time. Stevens took the mound in the fifth and gave up back-to-back singles to Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips to start the inning. After Scott Rolen flied out to center, Jonny Gomes launched a 1-2 pitch from Stevens into the bleachers in left. Gomes' three-run shot tied the game at four. The Cubs took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning and Stevens became the pitcher of record.

Aaron Heilman put together one of his better outings of the season. Heilman retired all six of the batters he faced in the sixth and seventh innings and struck out the side in the seventh ... Joey Votto swinging, Brandon Phillips looking and Scott Rolen swinging. Heilman threw 34 pitches, 22 for strikes.

Esmailin Caridad pitched a perfect eighth and Carlos Marmol notched his 12th save of the year.

Lou Piniella's crew improved to 9-4 on the year against the Cincinnati Reds ...

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Reds - 09/11/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 07:45:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Thirty-Nine: Cubs (71-67) vs. Reds (63-77)
Game Time - 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage - TV: WGN TV - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - Wrigley Field, Chicago

Rich Harden (9-8, 4.10/1.30) vs. Justin Lehr (4-1, 4.43/1.46)

Eight years ago today our world changed ... the CCO asks all of our readers to take a moment of silence for those that lost their lives in the events of September 11, 2001.

The Cubs return to the field today and open their penultimate homestand of the season. Lou Piniella's crew has three against the Reds before welcoming the Brewers in for a four-game series starting on Monday night.

The Cubs will face a much-different Reds team than the one they faced in early August in the Queen City. Injuries have forced Dusty Baker to play a lot of their young talent. The Reds were playing very good ball until running into the Colorado Rockies. The Reds posted seven wins in a row before getting swept in the four-game series in Colorado.

The Reds are looking to finish the season strong. Rumors have suggested Dusty Baker's job could depend on how the Reds play for the remainder of the year.

Today is a rematch of the game back on August 5 in Cincinnati. Justin Lehr shutout the Cubs and Rich Harden ... and started the Cubs tailspin. Going into that game the Cubs had a chance to complete the sweep of the Reds and take sole possession of first place in the National League Central.

The Cubs have won eight of the first 12 against the Reds this season.

Milton Bradley is expected back in the lineup today. Bradley left after the first inning on Tuesday with tightness in his legs and was held out in the finale on Wednesday. Sam Fuld and Andres Blanco are also expected to be fully healthy after missing time due to various injuries on the road trip.

Today it all begins with Rich Harden and not mailing in the remainder of the season ...

Professional Sports Amount to Half a Loaf Much of the Time

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:05:00 PDT

One of our regular readers and contributors to the site, Jim Kneisley, sent me an email recently with a view of the current state of professional sports teams and their players. For fans of professional sports, this could be a thought-provoking topic ...

Playing Out Z Ztring - Cubs 8 Pirates 5

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:22:07 PDT

Game One Hundred Thirty-Eight - Cubs 8 Pirates 5
WP - Carlos Zambrano (8-6) LP - Kevin Hart (4-6) Save - Carlos Marmol (11)

Even when the Cubs win a game there is drama ... and that was the case on Wednesday afternoon in Pittsburgh. The Cubs completed the three-game sweep of the Pirates and Carlos Zambrano earned his first victory since July, but ...

Carlos Zambrano struggled with his command early on, walked one batter in each of the first three innings, and allowed seven runners to reach in the first four innings. The Pirates cut the Cubs lead to 3-2 in the fourth on a two-run double by Andrew McCutchen. Zambrano then found a groove and settled down in his final two innings of work. Zambrano did his job and kept the Pirates off the board while his offense tacked on.

Zambrano took the mound to start the bottom of the seventh, completed his warm up tosses then was lifted in favor of John Grabow. Big Z allowed two runs on five hits with three walks and eight strikeouts on 98 pitches, 62 for strikes. Zambrano took exception to leaving after six innings and did not want to give Lou Piniella the ball. They exchanged words and continued the discussion in the dugout.

John Grabow completed a perfect inning of relief against his former team.

The final score was much closer than it needed to be. Kevin Gregg served up his Major League leading (for a reliever) thirteenth homer in the eighth. Former Cub, Ronny Cedeno cut the Cubs' lead to 8-5 with his tenth home run of the year, a three-run shot over the wall in left. Gregg could not find the strike zone with the Cubs up by six runs. Gregg walked a pair before serving up the longball to Ronny Cedeno and creating a save opportunity for Carlos Marmol. Marmol retired the Pirates in order in the ninth and earned his eleventh save of the season.

The Cubs offense was extremely patient against former Cub, Kevin Hart. Hart struggled with his command and walked six batters in five innings. The Cubs managed four runs on six hits against Hart then put the game away in the seventh and eighth.

Kosuke Fukudome and Ryan Theriot were a combined 4-for-9 with two walks, two runs scored and a RBI. Fukudome scored the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly by Jeff Baker.

Micah Hoffpauir hit his tenth dinger of the year in the fifth inning off Kevin Hart. Hoffpauir drove in two runs, scored three times and reached in four of his five trips to the plate (2-for-2 with two walks, a sacrifice fly, a double, a home run, two RBI and three runs scored). Koyie Hill put together another good game at the dish. Hill delivered a big two-out, two-run single in the eighth.

The Cubs finished the six-game road trip with a 4-2 record and improved to four games over .500 for the season ...

CCO Radio...Talkin' Cubs Following Three with the Bucs

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:45:00 PDT

The CCO Radio returns following the final three games of the year in Pittsburgh ... and the Cubs 8-5 win on Wednesday afternoon. The Cubs completed the sweep in the Steel City behind Carlos Zambrano.

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD on the CCO Radio. What moves should the Cubs make in the off-season to improve the team? Call the CCO Radio. Want your voice and opinion to be heard? Call the CCO Radio tonight and discuss everything Cubs with the CCO.

Talkin' Cubs Live - Cubs vs. Pirates - 09/09/09

neil@chicagocubsonline.com (Chicago Cubs Online) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 07:00:00 PDT

Game One Hundred Thirty-Eight: Cubs (70-67) vs. Pirates (54-83)
Game Time - 11:35am C.T.
Coverage - TV: Comcast SportsNet - Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 183
Location - PNC Park, Pittsburgh

Carlos Zambrano (7-6, 3.80/1.41) vs. Kevin Hart (4-5, 4.67/1.62)

Hopefully the Cubs will have plenty of coffee before taking the field in the finale of the series and the road trip this morning. The Cubs will go for the series sweep against the Pirates behind Carlos Zambrano. But in order to finish the road trip with a 4-2 record, they will have to beat a very familiar face.

Kevin Hart will make his first start against his former team today. Hart was dealt to the Pirates before the deadline along with Jose Ascanio and Josh Harrison for Tom Gorzelanny and John Grabow.

Reed Johnson's season could be over. According to a report in the Tribune, Johnson's broken foot is not healing the way the Cubs expected and he is not able to run on it. With only 25 games remaining Reed Johnson, a free agent at the end of the year, could have played his last game as a Cub.

Milton Bradley is expected to miss today's game after leaving in the bottom of the first inning on Tuesday night with tightness in his legs. Bradley will reportedly be back in time for the opener of the Reds series on Friday afternoon. Alfonso Soriano could be back in the starting lineup at that time as well. There are conflicting reports on Soriano's status. One from the Tribune mentioned Soriano could have his knee scoped as early as next week and miss the rest of the season while others have indicated he could return at some point during the upcoming homestand ... Stay Tuned.

Just a quick reminder, the CCO Radio will air tonight at 7:00pm C.T. with a special guest host.

Today it all begins with Carlos Zambrano and not mailing in the remainder of the season ...