Open Thread: Cubs vs. Diamondbacks, Monday 7/31, 7:05 CT

Greg Maddux for a younger Neifi Perez or an older Ronny Cedeno.

That, my friends, is absolutely pigheadedly stupid. I don't care if Izturis is the best fielder in baseball history. In a few weeks, you'll all be ripping him like you rip Ronny or Neifi.

In the minor news of the day, the Cubs sent Todd Walker to San Diego today for a 19-year-old fireballer named Jose Ceda. Given Walker's age and the fact that it's been known that Jim Hendry wanted to trade him since last October, that's not a bad return.

No corresponding roster move to replace him has yet been announced.

Incidentally, Colossus was right and I was wrong about Maddux being dealt.

Today's Starting Pitchers

M. Prior Cubs vs. B. Webb D'backs 0-4 W-L 11-4 6.60 ERA 2.64 27 SO 121 18 BB 28 11 HR 5 vs. Ari -- vs. Cubs

This'll give you a real good idea of just how much time Mark Prior has missed. This is his fifth major league season, and tonight will be only the second time he has ever faced the Diamondbacks. The first was July 29, 2005, a game Prior got a no-decision in, but the Cubs won when two starters who had been rested that day (Michael Barrett and Aramis Ramirez) had back-to-back RBI singles in the last of the 9th.

Brandon Webb has never lost to the Cubs (3-0 in five career starts and a 1.88 ERA), and is having his best season in the major leagues, leading the NL (and 2nd in the majors) in ERA.

Time to change all that. The Cubs are going to attempt to view the Diamondbacks wearing red-and-white uniforms, caps and shoes tonight.

Discuss amongst yourselves.