There's an update on the upcoming sale of the Cubs in today's Tribune business section. Nothing we didn't already know, and I am glad to see Don Levin's name still on the list of potential buyers.
I've been posting Baseball Prospectus' playoff odds on the left sidebar all year. Now there's a site called Cool Standings which has expanded on this concept. They project the Cubs, as of today, to finish at (approximately) 95-67 and in first place. That'd require going 43-31 the rest of the year -- absolutely doable as far as I'm concerned.
Time to get going on those 43 wins, today.
Bruce Miles handicaps the Sabathia Sweepstakes.
Rick Morrissey, with whom I frequently disagree, hits the nail on the head today: Alfonso Soriano shouldn't play till he's ready, and should focus on the Cubs, not the All-Star Game.
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It's real simple. Sean Marshall hasn't pitched well against the Cardinals in his career -- 1-1, 4.91. He has to do so today. He's starting primarily because he's lefthanded:
"You look at the Cardinals, and they’re 11 games over against right-handers and one game over against lefties," manager Lou Piniella told the Cubs’ official Web site. "That leads me to believe that we have a better chance with left-handers."Former Cub Wellemeyer has one career start vs. his original team, beating them in St. Louis on May 4. The Cubs may be facing him at a good time -- he's 0-2, 9.45 in his last three starts and maybe he's not quite ready:
"I can go back out there," Wellemeyer said. "I don’t want to say it, but I could probably use a couple more bullpen sessions and get to where I need to be."Today's game is on CSN, on broadcast TV in the St. Louis area (KSDK), and on TBS. Your guess is as good as mine as to whether you'll get the TBS telecast if you're outside Chicago or St. Louis. For more see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
MLB.com Gameday (2007 version)
MLB.com Gameday (2008 version)
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Today's first pitch thread posts at first pitch time, 2:15 pm CT. The overflow comment threads will post at 3:30 and 4:30 pm CT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.