Kuzul

It’s the $184 million question.

Well, for the Twins, it’s more like the $184 million gamble.

It is too early to panic in the Twin Cities, but it’s pretty close to that. With the Twins All-Star batting champ catcher Joe Mauer on the 15-day DL looking thin and not so MVP-ish, everyone in the state of Minnesota is starting to ask themselves the question only a brave few have raised before about their golden child: Should Joe Mauer stop catching?

When this question was raised after the St. Paul native inked his monster contract, the largest the Twins have ever handed out, those who raised it were crucified.

But the question is becoming more and more valid as the years pass. He’s just in the second year of a deal that will keep “Baby Jesus” in a Twins uniform until the 2018 season, but Twins fans are sobering up from the hangover of securing their hometown hero in Minnesota.

The blasphemous idea that Mauer switch positions is finally starting to seem rational to not only Twins fans, but those inside the organization.

After all, he is a $184 million investment and to have him get gassed on year three or four would be disastrous.

The reason for this is not only because the critics of the deal (of which there are plenty) would rub everyone’s face in it, but the Twins would be stuck in a massive finical hole.

The Twins have had problems keeping star players in Minnesota before and the contract they gave Mauer will definitely hinder their chances of retaining players under contract now.

Players like Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel and Jim Thome are free agents after this year and with the Twins needing to look ahead at resigning Justin Morneau after 2013 and dealing with Fransisco Liriano after this season, the roster may look drastically different next year.

This is the first trickle effect of the Mauer deal, but the second is a floodgate.

It’s no secret catchers decline fast in the majors and Mauer is starting to show he is no different. Many fans are naively assuming that Mauer has yet to hit his prime, but the fact of the matter is he may have done this in his batting championship season.

Mauer is in his seventh year as a catcher in the major leagues and he has recently been plagued by a string of injuries which have aged him as a catcher.

Just this offseason, he had arthroscopic knee surgery and his recent illness has caused his knees to become sore, hence his trip to the DL.

With seven years remaining on his deal and his knees beginning to go, the answer to all the questions may be to simply move Mauer from catcher to another position.

This can work for and against the Twins.

In the pros category, Minnesota can solve their finical problem if they switch Mauer. They already have Drew Butera, who albeit doesn’t posses Mauer’s defensive prowess but is a favorite among pitchers.

Last season, there was a string of games near the end of the year where pitchers such as Carl Pavano that actually requested Butera over Mauer.

Mauer could fill a hole his contract will create in the outfield or perhaps (and most likely) dig in at third base depending on how sold Minnesota is on Danny Valencia.

If all else fails, Mauer could fill the DH spot should they not be able to re-sign Kubel or if Thome decides to call it a career. This also may allow the Twins to keep Denard Span and possibly Delmon Young instead of trading one of them away this year.

But these same scenarios can hurt the Twins as much as it can help them. Worst case is the Twins keep Mauer at catcher and his knees deteriorate to the point where his hitting begins to suffer. This would spoil the entire point of the monster contract.

The Twins would then retool their outfield and start from stretch as they did when they got rid of Torii Hunter. Kubel, Thome and Cuddyer would then all leave via free agency and either Denard Span, Delmon Young or both are traded to free up money and fill in positional areas made vacant by all the moves.

By the time the prospects they receive or the players they call up are ready to be starring players, Mauer will be near the end of his contract and the pitching rotation will be in turmoil.

This is all, of course, worst case scenario, but it’s not an unreal possibility. It’s becoming more and more evident that Mauer needs to move and it’s one of many things the Twins will need to deal with in the next few years.

The counter to all the negative scenarios is Ivan Rodriguez has lasted over 20 years behind the plate and he hasn’t moved positions.

It’s not speculation anymore and Mauer needs to move—his knees are blatant evident of that. But if and when he does is an entirely different story.

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One of the many questions entering the 2011 season for the Twins was “Will Joe Nathan be ready?”

Twins faithful got their answer and that answer is apparently no.

The ball club announced that last seasons trade deadline acquisition Matt Capps will take over the closer role while Nathan tries to fully regain his composure. Nathan had two blown save opportunities on Thursday and then again on Saturday which prompted the move.

“Until I start getting that back, and I know I will at some time, I don’t want to put this team at any risk and cost them ballgames right now,” Nathan said. “I just thought it was the right thing to do for the ballclub and myself. Give myself a chance to get out there and still pitch on a consistent basis. Obviously that’s what I need to do. Getting away from where every pitch could cost us a game.”

Capps picked up the save in a 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays Sunday, his first save as the Twins’ official closer.

The Twins are dealing with a double-edged sword of sorts here. On the one hand, they will get consistent work out of Capps, whom they traded catching prospect Wilson Ramos to the Nationals for. But on the other hand, you want Nathan to be your man at the end as the Twins bullpen can’t take too much more weakening.

Prior to the switch, Capps was the Twins’ setup man and Nathan was the closer. Now Capps is the man and the Twins will cycle through setup men.

Nathan’s recent woes are not really much of a surprise. It was naive to think he would come back from Tommy John surgery and be 100 percent. Nathan missed all of the 2010 season due to the surgery and many doubted he would ever come back given his age and the severity of the surgery.

But Nathan passed all spring training tests and made his triumphant return during the Twins’ first series of the year in Toronto.

After that Nathan’s ERA would skyrocket to 8.44 in six games despite saving his previous three chances prior to Thursday. Even before the surgery, Nathan has shown signs of trouble in the ninth. He’s still one of the better closers in the league, but he still doesn’t provide a rock solid confidence when he enters the game.

Nathan will now have time to work on his stuff before he makes his second return. He spoke with manager Ron Gardenhire and pitching coach Rick Anderson about possibly taking a hiatus from closing after he allowed two runs in a third of an inning Saturday.

Nathan is just one of many depleted Twins as stars Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer are both struggling with illnesses. Mauer is on the 15-day DL and Morneau sat out Sunday’s win in Tampa. Nathan hopes he’ll be back sooner, and better than ever.

“We’re definitely close, it’s not like I’m miles away,” Nathan said. “I don’t think this is too far off.”

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This time, it’s not Manny being Manny. The former Red Sox, Dodger and Indian is calling it quits after the Rays slow start.

Major League Baseball made the announcement today.

The move isn’t all that surprising, considering his age and his recent lack of productivity, but it’s still sad to see a character like Manny go.

He began his in 1993, playing for the Cleveland Indians, a team he stayed with until 2000, when he made the famous switch to the Boston Red Sox, where he made his name.

Manny had 546 career homers and 12 All-Star appearances.

The move for Manny to retire may be motivated by him being contacted by MLB about a possible drug conduct violation. If Ramirez violated the policy, it would be the second time he has done so.

Whether or not that had anything to do with Ramirez retiring will be determined in the coming days, but as we all know, Manny isn’t going to do something he doesn’t want to and serving out another suspension is on his list of things he’s not interested in doing.

Manny was showing signs of slowing last year when he was traded to the Chicago White Sox and it took nearly all the offseason for him to get picked up.

It wasn’t until 2000 when Manny became a household name when he signed a 8-year, $160 million contract with the Boston Red Sox. He immediately hit .408 in April for the Sox and was a contributor to their World Series Championship Run.

His biggest year as a Red Sox came in 2004 when Manny hit .308, 43 home runs and 130 RBI. It’s also when Manny started being Manny.

He is as famous for skipping out on spring training and All-Star games as he is for pounding the ball. Late in his career he was criticized for not giving 100 percent and only playing half the game mentally.

The Red Sox shipped Manny out to LA in a trade during the 2008 season. Manny attempted to revive his career, but a contract dispute over the 2009 offseason and a failed steroid drug test led to a suspension for Manny. The Dodgers dumped him off on the White Sox in the middle of the 2010 season.

Manny was ineffective as a member of the White Sox and was let go at the end of the 2010 season. It took him until nearly the start of spring training to sign with the Tampa Bay Rays, and played only a week of games in the 2011 season before Manny called it a career. 

He has had a very slow start with the hard luck Rays so far, being virtually invisible, as has his former Boston teammate Johnny Damon.

Regardless of the reasons why, Manny Ramirez retiring is the end of an era in baseball. 

And that era is the era of Manny.

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This time, it’s not Manny being Manny.

The former Red Sox, Dodger and Indian is calling it quits after the Rays slow start. Major League Baseball made the announcement today.

The move isn’t all that surprising considering his age and his recent lack of productivity, but it’s still sad to see a character like Manny go.

He began his career in 1993, playing for the Cleveland Indians, a team he stayed with until 2000. Then he made the famous switch to the Boston Red Sox, where he made his name.

Manny had 546 career homers and 12 All-Star appearances.

The move for Manny to retire may be motivated by him being contacted by MLB about a possible drug conduct violation. If Ramirez violated the policy, it would be the second time he has done so.

Whether or not that had anything to do with Ramirez retiring will be determined in the coming days. As we all know, Manny isn’t going to do something he doesn’t want to and serving out another suspension is on his list of things he’s not interested in doing.

After being drafted 13th overall in 1991 by the Cleveland Indians, Ramirez made his Major League debut on September 2, 1993 against the Minnesota Twins, going 3-4. He played with the Indians until 2000, hitting 236 home runs and 804 RBI in 967 games. He won Rookie of the Year and the Silver Slugger award during his time with the Indians.

It wasn’t until 2000 when Manny became a household name when he signed a 8-year, $160 million contract with the Boston Red Sox. He immediately hit .408 in April for the Sox and was a contributor to their World Series Championship Run.

His biggest year as a Red Sox came in 2004 when Manny hit .308, 43 home runs and 130 RBI. It’s also when Manny started being Manny.

He is as famous for skipping out on spring training and All-Star games as he is for pounding the ball. Late in his career he was criticized for not giving 100 percent and only playing half the game mentally.

The Red Sox shipped Manny out to LA in a trade during the 2008 season. Manny attempted to revive his career, but a contract dispute over the 2009 offseason and a failed steroid drug test led to a suspension for Manny. The Dodgers dumped him off on the White Sox in the middle of the 2010 season.

Manny was ineffective as a member of the White Sox and was let go at the end of the 2010 season. It took him until nearly the start of spring training to sign with the Tampa Bay Rays, and played only a week of games in the 2011 season before Manny called it a career. 

He has had a very slow start with the hard-luck Rays so far, being virtually invisible, as has his former Boston teammate Johnny Damon.

Regardless of the reasons why, Manny Ramirez retiring is the end of an era in baseball. 

And that era is the “Era of Manny”.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Cubs pulled off two miraculous comebacks in the first two games against the Diamondbacks.

That wasn’t the case in Wednesday’s matchup.

As amazing as the comebacks for the Cubbies were, they were still fighting from behind.

In all three games of this series, and pretty much this season so far, the Cubs dug themselves a hole that they then had to climb out of. It skewers the comebacks and creates an illusion.

It creates the illusion that the Cubs are a great “come-from-behind” team when, in reality, they’re the same old Cubs.

Starter Ryan Dempster went seven innings, but gave up five runs in the process. He gave Arizona the lead first and then gave them the lead back in the fifth when the D-Backs had a three run inning.

“I made a lot of good pitches today,” Dempster said.

“For the most part, I like the way I was throwing the ball.”

“Dumpster” Dempster struck out six and walked no one, which is impressive. But it was the five runs (four earned) he gave up that was vomit-inducing.

All of his numbers should have pointed to a win: His strikeouts, no walks, and the fact that he threw 23 first pitch strikes to the 30 batters he faced. Dempster falls to 0-2, and his ERA is now an uncomfortably high 6.59.

The bright spot of the Cubs’ day—aside from Stacey King “singing” his version of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”—was the fact that the bats stayed alive for another straight day.

Alfonso Soriano was the particularly vivid shining spot, hitting yet another home run in the seventh inning. It was a solo shot, and it was quickly canceled out by a Miguel Montero solo shot, but it didn’t change the fact that Soriano has shown signs of life.

He’s hitting .273 with three home runs and five RBIs.

But in his last seven, another aging Cub (whom many people predict is on his last leg), Aramis Ramirez, also homered Wednesday.

Ramirez’s homer was a two run shot that, at the time, tied the game. Marlon Byrd, who has developed into a fan favorite, scored on the shot. Byrd is another Cubs hitter who is showing signs of life, as he’s hitting .308 with just one RBI—but he’s also scored four times.

Byrd returned to the lineup after missing Tuesday’s game with a stiff back.  

The loss drops the Cubs back to .500, which is one of history’s age old battles.

It seems that three things are certain in life: the sun will rise, we all will die, and the Cubs will forever battle the .500 line.

They will attempt to avoid slipping under that line as they travel to Milwaukee to face off against the Brewers after Thursday’s day off to travel.

Next Three Up:

Fri. –  at MIL (Zambrano, 0-0 vs. Wolf, 0-1)

Sat. – at MIL (Garza, 0-0 vs. Narveson, 0-0)

Sun. – at MIL (Coleman, 0-0 vs. Gallardo, 0-0)

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The Cubs pulled off two miraculous comebacks in the first two games against the Diamondbacks.

That wasn’t the case in Wednesday’s matchup.

As amazing as the comebacks for the Cubbies were, they were still fighting from behind. In all three games of this series, and pretty much this season so far, the Cubs will dig themselves a hole they have to climb out of.

It skewers the comebacks and creates an illusion; it creates the illusion that the Cubs are this come-from-behind team, when in reality they’re the same old Cubs.

Starter Ryan Dempster went seven innings, but gave up five runs in the process. He gave Arizona the lead first and then gave them the lead back in the fifth when the D-Backs had a three run inning.

“I made a lot of good pitches today,” Dempster said. “For the most part, I like the way I was throwing the ball.”

“Dumpster” Dempster struck out six and walked no one, which is impressive, but it was the five runs (four earned) he gave up that was vomit-inducing. All of his numbers should have pointed to a win.

His strikeouts, no walks and the fact he threw 23 first pitch strikes to the 30 batters he faced. Dempster falls to 0-2 and his ERA is now an uncomfortably high 6.59.

The bright spot of the Cubs day, besides Stacey King ‘singing’ his version of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame,” was the fact the bats stayed alive for another straight day.

Alfonso Soriano was the particularly vivid shining spot, hitting yet another home run in the seventh inning. It was a solo shot and it was quickly canceled out by a Miguel Montero solo shot, but it didn’t change the fact Soriano has shown signs of life.

He’s hitting .273 with three home runs and five RBI.

Another ageing Cub who many people predict is on his last leg, Aramis Ramirez, also homered Wednesday. Ramirez’s homer was a two run shot that at the time, tied the game.

Marlon Byrd, who has developed into a fan favorite, scored on the shot. Byrd is another Cubs hitter who is showing signs of life as he’s hitting .308 with just one RBI, but he’s scored four times.

Byrd returned to the lineup after missing Tuesday’s game with a stiff back.

The loss drops the Cubs back to .500, which is one of human history’s age old battles.

It seems that three things are certain in life: The sun will rise, we all will die and the Cubs will forever battle the .500 line.

They will attempt to avoid slipping under that line as they travel to Milwaukee to face off against the Brewers after a day off Thursday to travel.  

Next 3 Up:

Friday – @MIL (Zambrano, 0-0 vs. Wolf, 0-1)

Saturday – @MIL (Garza, 0-0 vs. Narveson, 0-0)

Sunday @MIL (Coleman, 0-0 vs. Gallardo, 0-0)

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The Minnesota Twins erased a four-run deficit in the eighth to beat the New York Yankees for the first time this season, with a final score of 5-4 in extra innings. 

It was the second straight night the Twins mounted a late comeback, only this time it worked: they tied the Yankees’ four-run lead in the eighth inning to bail out Brian Duensing.

The Twins batted eight and had four runs in an eighth inning rally that damaged the Bombers’ lead. The Twins picked up their first run on a bases loaded walk to Joe Mauer, which scored Danny Valencia. The real damage was done the very next batter, when Delmon Young gashed the Yankees’ defense with a bases-clearing double to right.

The Yankees would never match the lead, as the Twins dragged them into extras where Joe Mauer batted in Denard Span for the go-ahead run in the top half of the tenth.

The pitching again was very vomit-inducing to watch. Brian Duensing got sliced up and served to the Yankees’ batters who got all their runs off of home runs.

Duensing lasted seven full innings and Matt Capps finished the final two innings of regulation, with Joe Nathan finishing the game facing just three batters.

But just as the Yankees exploited the Twins’ weakness in starting pitching, the Twins turned the tables and exploited a weakness of the Yankees: their bullpen.

C.C. Sabathia went seven full scoreless innings before talking a seat with what he thought was a sure win. That is, until Rafael Soriano came in and went only two thirds of an inning.

But it was in that two-thids of an inning that the damage was done. Mariano Rivera was untouchable as usual, but as soon as Boone Logan entered the game, the Twins took full advantage.

The Twins will take the win, and the fact they fought back and overpowered the Yankees does, in a way, numb the effects of the starting pitching, but it doesn’t erase the performance.

The Twins still allowed four runs, all on home runs and all from their starter Duensing. The bright spot of his night was fanning seven batters, including the aging Jorge Posada twice. Also, the fact he went seven full, the first time a Twins pitcher has done so all season.

Minnesota sends Carl Pavano to the mound tomorrow to duke it out against Freddy Garcia, and the Tuesday night win gives an incredible confidence booster. But the Twins usually average about a win a year against the Bombers, and to have that already under their belt is nice, but to get another would be an amazing high for this team.

Catch tomorrow’s game, as the ESPN Wednesday Night Baseball Game of the Week.

Next Three Up:

Wed. – @NYY (Pavano, 0-1 vs Garcia, 0-0)

Thu.  – @NYY (Liriano, 0-1 vs. Burnett, 1-0)

Fri. – vs OAK (Blackburn, 1-0 vs Anderson, 0-0)

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What’s up with the Cubs?

They’re actually on a hot streak and they now are in a position to realistically sweep the Diamondbacks at Wrigley.

Again, it looked as though the Cubbies were going to fumble the game away late, they were able to contain themselves and bag their second straight win.

The Cubs success started, and almost ended, with the quality start Andrew Cashner was putting in until he left midway through the fifth with tightness in his right shoulder.

He appeared to be fine afterwards, but the Cubs are erring on the side of caution regarding his arm.

Then in the seventh, the Cubs almost handed the game to Arizona.

As soon as Cashner left after going 5 1/3 innings, reliever Jeff Samardzija gave up two runs in the top of the seventh when Gerardo Parra singled to right, scoring Chris Young and Juan Miranda.

The very next batter, Willie Bloomquist, singled to center off of the newly inserted Marcos Mateo, which scored Ryan Roberts and Parra.

This tied the game at 4-4, but it was the bats of the Cubs that bailed the pitching out in the bottom half of the third with overall general production from the entire order.

Only three batters that went to the plate for Chicago went hitless: Aramis Rameriez, Koyie Hill and Reed Johnson.

Diamondbacks starter Barry Enright walked Kosuke Fukudome in the second, and Darwin Barney scored on a throwing error by catcher Miguel Montero. The Cubs picked up another run in the second when Starlin Castro doubled to center scoring Koyie Hill, but Fukudome was thrown out at home attempting to push across a third run.

Had the Cubs not bounced back in the seventh, that play would have been crucial.

Chicago saw a third homerun in as many days, but this time in the third it was Tyler Colvin homering to right, not Alfonso Soriano who had hit the two previous.

The homerun was a two run shot that scored Marlon Byrd.

At this point, it was 4-1 and everything was looking up for the Cubs with the lone Arizona run coming on a solo homer from Ryan Roberts.

Carlos Marmol got the day off and it was Sean Marshall picking up his first save of the year.

Marshall did make it interesting as he allowed a run in the bottom of the ninth when Xavier Nady grounded out to Marshall, scoring Roberts who was on third. 

The longest relief appearance came from James Russell who calmed stormy waters when he came in relieving Mateo in the sixth.

The win puts the Cubs above .500 at 3-2 as they head into a sweep opportunity tomorrow against the Diamondbacks.

Chicago now sits just a game out of first place and a half game behind the Pirates in second, who play the Cardinals tonight. 

Given the Cubs track record, this might be as close as they come to first all season as a Pittsburgh loss puts them in a second place tie. But the momentum of the new season, and new manager and a general new feel to this Cubs team is seeming to work so far. 

But as Cubs fans everywhere now, just take it one game at a time.

Next 3 Up:

Wed. – vs. ARI (Dempster, 0-1 vs Glagarra, 0-0)

Thu. – @MIL (Zambrano, 0-0 vs Wolf, 0-1)

Fri. – @MIL (Garza, 0-0 vs Narveson,0-0)

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The curse of the Yankees continues.

The Minnesota Twins began a four game death march in Yankee Stadium Monday by getting handed their third loss of the season. Yankees pitcher Ivan Nova went three scoreless innings before Jim Thome doubled to center scoring Justin Morneau and Delmon Young. Nova gave up a third run in the fifth when the Twins new import Tsuyoshi Niskioka also doubled to deep centerfield scoring Alexi Casilla.

That was as close as the Twins would come to the Bombers who sent out their own personal Cerberus as Rafael Soriano, Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera shut down the Twins each pitching a scoreless inning. 

The Twins pitching wasn’t so lucky.

It was another poor start by Scott Baker, the Twins Brad Radke 2.0. Baker gave up two big two run home runs to Alex Rodriguez (his 615th) in the first which scored Mark Teixeria, and one to Jorge Posada in the very next inning which scored Nick Swisher.

Of the Twins first four starters, only Nick Blackburn has turned in a winning performance, and even that was border line.

The utter collapse of the staff can be attributed to a sheer lack of control. The Twins gave up the fewest walks in the league last year but have already allowed 20. Baker only threw 13 first pitch strikes and he himself had four walks to cancel out his four strikeouts.

The only bright spot in the pitching game was actually the relief pitching. Kevin Slowey and Dusty Hughes both put in scoreless innings earning a strikeout each. Both pitchers are building confidence as relievers are proving to be reliable options for the Twins to lean on when the starting pitching crumbles. To Scott Baker’s credit, at least he made it through six full innings. 

The bats tried to wake up and rescue the Twins and they almost did but the Yankees Cerberus thwarted any comeback attempt.

“We got behind early, but we battled and just couldn’t come up with one more run,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Their back end of the bullpen is pretty good.”

Denard Span and Joe Mauer, who is off to another bust season, both went 0-4. Span had almost half the Twins hits coming into the game Monday. Although it is still way to early to call in the verdict on Mauer, his poor start is not settling at all.

The Twins play three more in New York before traveling back to their home turf for the home opener series against the A’s and then Royals. Tonight they face C.C. Sabathia, which won’t make rebounding from Monday’s loss easy.

Next Three Up:

Tues.—@NYY (Duensing, 0-0 vs. Sabathia, 0-0)

Wed.—@NYY (Pavano, 0-1 vs. Garcia, 0-0)

Thur.—@NYY (Liriano, 0-1 vs. Burnett, 1-0) 

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Well the game went a lot better than yesterday. 

Th Chicago Cubs sobered up from their late collapse against the Pirates on Sunday to bad a bounce back win in their series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Cubs starter Randy Wells smoothed out a shaky start to go six full innings and fanning as many batters. He gave up a sole run which came on a lead off homer by Willie Bloomquist which made it appear as though the Cubbies were in for another long day.

After the lead off homerun, Wells went on to only allow five more hits and he walked just four.

Relief pitcher Kerry Wood saw action again, and it was him this time that almost blew the game for Chicago. Woods loaded the bases in the top half of the eighth, but escaped with no runs allowed. Carlos Marmol, the Cubs disgustingly good young closer picked up his second save of the year pitched a four batter ninth.

Another bright spot for the Cubs was the fact the bats came alive with RBIs by Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Pena and Geovany Soto.

The brightest spot, and the biggest sigh of relief, was the fact the Alfonso Soriano stayed hot for a second consecutive day, hitting his second homerun in as many days. Soriano blasted a third inning pitch by D-Backs starter Joe Saunders to left field which tied the game at the time it was hit.

The Cubs would take the lad the next inning when Carlos Pena hit a sacrifice fly to left scoring Marlon Byrd.

Chicago never looked back.

They picked up two more runs in the eight on RBI hits by Soto and Soriano respectively which sealed the deal for the Cubs. Marmol came on in the ninth and polished off the win.

The Cubs needed the win to regain a confidence that can be easily fazed. They now own a 2-2 record and sit just a half game behind the Pirates for second place in the Central and a mere game and a half behind the Reds who are undefeated in first.

The Cubs may have regained some confidence, but how long it will last is a completely different question. Any sign of trouble will take the fight out of this tam as it always does. But if they get a few more wins under their belt and aren’t constantly fighting with being .500 the Cubs may be able to do some damage.

But as always, the Cubs just need to take it one game at a time.

Next Three Up:

Tues.  – vs. ARI (Cashner, 0-0 vs Enright, 0-0)

Wed. – vs. ARI (Dempster, 0-1 vs Galarraga, 0-0)

Thur. – @  MIL (Zambrano, 0-0, vs Wolf, 0-1)

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