Bruiser Chong

I'd have to imagine at this point they're just looking to ensure their possession of the WC. I think this trade greatly helps them with that goal and that if they wanted a good chance of actually getting it and then being successful in the postseason, a fairly big move was needed. So I get this trade, but it's a bit short-sighted at the same time, since it's up in the air if he'll even re-sign. That's what would have made giving up Clement so stupid. Even though he's also a free agent at the end of the season, I think they've got a better chance of re-signing him and at a better price.

I think the Boss just felt compelled to make a trade of some kind with the Mets making all these last-minute trades. They need some help with the starting pitching, but I don't think either guy is much of an upgrade for their respective new teams.

Now here's the question: is Nomar just a rental or is he going to re-sign with the Cubs next season? I think on the surface, this was a great move for the Cubs, but they gave up three highly-touted prospects. A pretty hefty tag if Nomar is just a two-month rental.

I'm curious, too. What do the BoSox fans on the board think of this trade? Seems like a fairly poor deal for them if you ignore that Nomar may have not been back next year.

So in summary, the Cubs gave up Gonzo, Harris, Beltran and technically Cabrera. I liked Beltran and despite his poor bat, I can't help but feel bad for Gonzo, who just went from a playoff chase to a dead-end situation. But that aside, I think the Cubs are huge winners here, getting Nomar without giving up Clement. I know expectations for the Cubs were high, but their WC chances just improved vastly.

YES~!!!

I guess details are coming up on ESPN News, so flip over there if you haven't already. I'm actually a bit nervous, as I don't see how we could've gotten Nomar without have giving up Clement. Some of the early reports that the Cubs actually got Lowe too scare the HELL out of me. If he's involved, here's to hoping he went to the Twins. Although if he is involved, it would indicate that Clement was involved, too.

I'm hearing that the prospects the Cubs gave up were Brendan Harris and Francis Beltran. Beltran was a good arm out of the pen and was supposedly a guy they wanted in the closing role down the road, so this is interesting. Obviously, things aren't all fleshed out yet.

So the BoSox got Gonzalez and prospects? Any word of Clement is involved in this deal? If so, I'll be torn on the move, but if not, I'm all for it.

I suck at the Internet.

It's being reported that Contreras to the White Sox for Loiaza. And it's official. Nomar is going to the Cubs in a four-team trade.

He probably doesn't want to leave the friendly confines of Coors Field, especially considering what his offensive numbers would look like if he were to do so.

Finley to the Dodgers. Should be interesting how they handle Milton Bradley, since Finley will only play center.

Their defense is what let them down today. Were it not for the two errors, they would be up 3-2 right now, since both men who reached on the errors scored via the home run. Doesn't look like they pulled off any kind of deal, which may be a mistake, since this team's clearly in need of some sort of change.

ESPN was talking a little bit ago about the Cubs trying to secure Cabrera from the Expos and then trade him and Clement to the Sox for Nomar. Could be an interesting turn of events.

Go for it. It was one of the few shows I watched every week, even if it was only for a year. I loved the show so much I opted to get the eight-disc Yearbook Edition when the DVDs were released.

Sorry for my last post in here. For whatever reason, I thought this was the weekly MLB thread. My bad, as the kids like to say. That deal with the Marlins and Dodgers is interesting, as I thought Mota wouldn't be on the block. Sorta funny to see Encarnacion heading back to the Florida.

I've gotta question the logic behind leaving Farnsworth in there for so long, even having him bat, when they could've brought in Rusch for the eighth. As it is, thanks to Farns, it's back to a three-run game. Thankfully, Rusch comes in to get the last out, in the form of Thome, who represente the tying run.

Okay, maybe Bowa does need to go. He sticks with Milton who clearly had nothing left, even though he'd just given up a homer and was getting hit harder. He yanks him after there's two on and only one out, bringing in Cormier. The Cubs proceed to take the lead on a bad judgment play by Bell, error by Abreu and for whatever reason, Bowa leaves Cormier in there to face Sosa with the potenial fifth run of the inning at second. Oh yeah, Sosa's KILLED him over his career and yet Bowa leaves him in there. Needless to say, the Cubs just plated the fifth run of the inning.

Looks like Bowa's job is safe for another day thanks to Prior not having it at all today.

Leave it to the Cubs to bring out the Phillies everyone's been expecting to see all season.

Wow, what looked like strike three on Abreu was called ball two and subsequently, he hit it out of the park on the next pitch.

Al, you should root for the Cubbies this weekend, as losing the series or getting swept would probably be the straw that breaks the camel's back and sends Bowa packing.

Until the six inning, when a chunk of concrete falls on the head of the guest conductor of the seventh inning stretch.

I see Dotel almost blew the save, which would've sucked, since I've got some good stuff going on in my fantasy league this week, pitching-wise. Maddux, Zambrano, Schmidt, Russ Ortiz and Pavano have made for some dandy W-L and ERA totals.