Bruiser Chong

Well, let's not look past the fact it was David Ross and Eric Milton.

ESPN BREAKING NEWS: Padres acquired Russell Branyan from Tampa Bay.

As bad as they look right now, it'd be hard for them to miss the postseason. If even if they lose out on the division, I'd imagine they'd snag the WC.

Boy, what a mistake picking up Cole Hamels specifically for this start was.

Indians now up 15-13 in the 10th. They got within one, but gave up three in the bottom of that inning. They scored four in the ninth and two in the 10th.

The Cubs would've been trying to close it out in the ninth had Fast Freddie Bynum, in all his infinite speedy wisdom, hadn't been picked off from first. Jacque Jones doubled immediately after, but since no one was on base, the Cubs didn't score. They got a Murton homer in the 8th, but the Phillies scored in the ninth and it looks like the Cubs are about to drop another. Now, Ryan Theriot is riding pine tonight because he foolishly tried to steal third last night and was thrown out by plenty. You would imagine this means Freddie Bynum does likewise tomorrow.

Indians have pulled to within one.

And here I thought Buck Coats was black.

Al: Is Ronny Cedeno the worst positional player in the majors?

The unfortunate part is only four of those runs were earned.

Juan Pierre just showed us why the notion that walks are only good if you're fast is a stupid one.

Look at those stupid Phillies clogging up the bases with all of those walks!

Fast Freddie Bynum playing second and hitting second. It's like Neifi never left.

Eckstein's on the DL as of yesterday. Who knows how effective he'll be the rest of the way, even after he comes back.

What a charmed life it must be to have your announcer say a homer will win it and on the next pitch, that happens.

Cubs made it interesting, cutting the lead to one, but keeping Glendon Rusch in there only ensured it was going to be at least a three-run Phillies lead in no time. Just release the guy, already.

Moyer's gonna throw a no-hitter!

Can't help but laugh about Pierre getting picked off, even though Moyer threw over there five times before getting him.

We aren't jaded and/or bitter. We're just used to how things work on the north side.

Yeah, I won't be around later tonight, so I'm hitting the circuits now.

Oh and it'll be interesting to see what an offense that isn't horrible does against O'Malley.

It amazes me Hernandez continues to stick around. He's always been the kind of hitter who'd give you maybe 15 homers, while striking out roughly 380 times a season. And what better way to address a gap in the outfield by acquiring a career utility infielder.

Caesar Izturis goes to the DL. I'd be interested to see if this means Ronny Cedeno is moved back to short for now. You'd imagine this would mean more at-bats for Theriot, but I suspect we could see Cedeno at short and Bynum at second for the most part.

Has anyone on this board ever come up with a nickname for a baseball player that wasn't incredibly lame?

Games like this emphasize the need for walks on the offensive side and solid defense. Cedeno doesn't blunder, the Cubs walk a little bit (maybe even ONCE) and the game could've swung the other way.