Mid-Season Report

Firstly, hell of an All-Star Game. Too bad it decided home field for the World Series. I heard Selig explaining the reasoning behind this on ESPN's Mike and Mike radio show, but I don't give a rat's ass. It can be worked out. I would rather have the equally inane every other year scenario that they used to use than to have the All-Star Game be the determining factor. The players don't like it, Bud. You can gloss over that fact all you want, but it speaks volumes.

Now, as for mid-season grades on the Cubs, I'm not going to do any. I was, but it turns out that (1) I'm lazy; (2) I have crap loads of work to do and (3) I don't really feel like it needs doing.

What I have to say about the Cubs first half is that things worked out despite things not working out. There were some gaffes, some injuries and some moves, but, by and large, the Cubs looked like a strong contender while cruising into the break tied for the best record in baseball. You really can't argue with that. They accomplished what they needed to and are poised to make a good run toward the playoffs. Hendry added an ace to the staff, Big Z is looking good again, Dempster made a successful switch to starter, Wood made a successful switch to closer and most of the if's turned out to be solid contributors to complete team success.

Now, the things we are watching out for are Harden's health, Soriano's return, Fukudome's tiredness, Edmonds' legs, Dempster's fatigue level and Wood's arm.

However, the most pressing thing on my mind is the team's failure to look as good away from Wrigley as they should. This team just hasn't performed up to a "league's best record" type of team when they are on the road. They have to fix this. Dempster will break through eventually, Harden will help, as will Soriano's return , but it's not really any particular letdown that is causing this. The whole club plays a little listlessly on the road. I love the way they look at Wrigley, but they have to translate that to some big away wins. Especially now that the All-Star Game has dictated where a potential Cub World Series will play out.

Back at ya, Brewers!

The wily Cub GM, Jim Hendry, responds to the CC Sabathia news with a star pitcher acquisition of his own.

Not a response, as the Cubs have obviously had this in the works, but the game is really on now. The Cards have to be shaking their heads after their two NL Central rivals significantly improve their pitching staffs with early strikes on the trade market.

The Cubs sent Murton, Eric Patterson, Gallagher and minor league catcher Josh Donaldson to Oakland. In return, Chicago got ace pitcher Rich Harden and young reliever Chad Gaudin.

Harden brings a 5-1 record and gaudy 2.34 ERA in 13 starts (the only loss to the White Sox). The edge is that Harden went on the DL earlier this year for the 6th time in 4 seasons. However, he has gone 4-1 in 11 starts since his DL stint. So far this season, Harden had amassed 92 strikeouts and only 31 walks in 77 innings, which is better than his 2.25 career strikeout to walk ratio. Harden has a 3.42 ERA for his career (entirely with the A's) but has appeared in only 29 games in the last three seasons and 51 in the last four.

The knock on Harden is obviously the durability and he's usually going to be about a six inning pitcher. However, those six innings are going to be stellar and I think the upside is so high that you have to live with the injury risk. He's had problems with the rotator and the elbow in the past and seems to be more prone to breaking down in the back half of the season. Hopefully, with the good staff the Cubs have, he will have opportunity to rest and stay fresh. Obviously, he is also moving from a pitcher's park to Wrigley, which can go any way depending on the weather, but I would never call a pitcher's park. At the very least, we replace the perpetual Prior fretting with new Cub Fan Woe.

Gaudin is a 25-year-old right hander with a live arm. He began the season in the starting rotation, going 3-2 with a 3.75 ERA in six starts. Gaudin moved to the pen on May 9 and has gone 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in 20 appearances. Gaudin came in with Tampa in 2003, pitching 40 innings and not going more than 64 innings in a season until last year's 199.3. He'll help out the Cub pen.

The real joy in this transaction is that the Cubs got Harden and Gaudin without having to break the bank. The reality is that neither Murton nor Patterson were going to see any significant time with the big league club unless something was drastically wrong. That would remain the case for the foreseeable future. Gallagher is a talent, but certainly not on Harden's level (at this point). He was the gem for Oakland in this deal and could turn out to be a good to great pitcher in the future. The Cubs are not working for the future, though. Josh Donaldson was listed as the Cubs' seventh best prospect and showed potential (.346 in 49 games last year for Class A Boise), but hopefully Soto will be manning that slot for a while in Chicago.

Harden's injury concerns obviously brought his trade value down a little, but I see huge upside from this move. With a healthy rotation of Big Z, Harden, Dempster, Lilly and probably Marshall (maybe this is Marquis' ticket out of town?), the Cubs are in the upper echelon of NL staffs and have taken one step closer to a post-season berth.

Wrigley....On the Rocks

Word is out that Wrigley Field will be the site for an outdoor hockey game between the beloved Blackhawks and the evil Red Wings on next New Year's Day.

Way cool. Literally. Bring some of those hand heaters and giant coat.

You're Up, Hendry

Milwaukee apparently is the winner in the CC Sabathia bake-off. Word is that the deal is in the final phase, with a physical and some t-crossing the only thing left before CC joins the Brew Crew. MLBtraderumors.com is naming 4 players as the Brewers' bargaining chips.

Cubs fans can't feel too comfortable with that development.

We shall see what the Cubs counter with. Hopefully it won't be the rumored Greg Maddux return to Wrigley. I love Mad Dog, but I seriously doubt that move does a thing for the Cubs. Maddux today is no better than anyone else in the back of the Cubs rotation. Other names mentioned have been Aaron Cook, AJ Burnett and Gil Meche. None of those guys are striking fear in any batters, but they all have some potential. Certainly not the world beater that fans are looking for.

Finally, an easy win

Marshall was on his game and the bats came alive to produce a 7-1 victory, with the heart of the order producing. Marshall got his first victory of the season, going 6 innings and giving up just one run on a solo HR. The top six hitters in the order went a combined 13 for 29, with all but Soto getting multiple hits (Soto's lone hit was a HR). Ramirez had 3 RBIs (including 2 sac flies) and he and Lee each had a 2-out RBI. Cotts, Marmol and Howry each pitched 1 scoreless inning, with the only hit given up by Cotts, to close out the game in St. Louis. The win gives the Cubs a 3-3 record against the Cards this year (all in St. Louis) and puts them 3.5 games ahead of St. Louis and Milwuakee.

A franchise-record seven All-Stars from the Cubs: Soriano, Soto, Fukudome voted in and Dempster, Big Z, Wood and Ramirez also getting added to the roster. With Piniella on the bench, the Cubs have ample opportunity to impact the outcome of the game, which inexplicably still determines home field for the World Series. That still chaps me. Whoever thought that was a good idea can go F themselves.

F This

These games are getting hard to watch. This was enough to make me start drinking....if I wasn't already there, that is.

Fucking travesty. I can't even write about the last few games.

That's Better

Nothing like a trip to San Fran to help right the ship. The Giants are the proud owners of the worst home record in baseball (14-25). Adding to that, the G-Men sent Barry Zito to the mound who is now 0-8 at home. Perhaps he should take some of his own advice from the TV show on FitTV, Insider Training: Pitching with Barry Zito. Yes, I did watch that some late night. I have no idea why. Just the knowledge of how rocky it's been of late compared with how relaxed and on top of his world he seemed for that show seemed extra special and must see tv.

DeRosa managed to notch 6 RBIs with 2 homers (including a granny). Lilly pitched eight scoreless innings and grabbed his fourth straight victory. Good way to shake off some of the willies from the recent bad string.

Let's hope it continues tonight. I really would like to see the team widen the lead in the Central before facing St Louis, who won't go away.