Cubs Trail Indians 7-0, Enjoy Wild 8-7 Comeback Win

Mark De Rosa and Kerry Wood were two fan favorites at Wrigley.

Mark De Rosa singled home Cleveland's seventh run. Kerry Wood came on in the ninth after the Cubs cut managd to cut the defecit to 7-6. Kerry Wood then came on to try and stop the bleeding, but then he gave up a game tying homerun to Derrek Lee, Derrek's second homerun of the game.

In the bottom of the tenth inning, Ryan Theriot lined a base hit into right center field to score Alfonso Soriano,and the Cubs comeback for the second straight day and win a barnburner of a baseball game 8-7.

Tim Kurkjian On The Struggling Cubs

Tim Kurkjian talks about the Cubs' playoff woes.


The Cubs are just about dead in this one.

Each Cubbie infielder had a hole in their glove Thursday night, and Manny Ramirez continues to show that the Cubs need to use the intentional walk.

Some Questions:

Why is Derrek Lee still hitting in the three spot? I would have put Aramis in the three spot, and move Derrek down in the order.

Why Is Manny Ramirez still being pitched to?

Why are the Cubs and Angels down 0-2 in their series?

Why is the NL's best offense being outscored tenfold?

Will The Cubs fight back and make this a series, or will their lack of plate discipline and shaky defense lead to another three and out in the postseason?

Watch Game Three tonight on TBS.

2008 MLB All Star Rosters Revealed!

Here are the lineups and reserves for the 2008 MLB All Star Game!

American League
Starting Lineup
Pos Player B/T

C Joe Mauer, MIN L/R
1B Kevin Youkilis, BOS R/R
2B Dustin Pedroia, BOS L/L
SS Derek Jeter, NYY R/R
3B Alex Rodriguez, NYY R/R
OF Josh Hamilton, TEX L/L
OF Manny Ramirez, BOS R/R
OF Ichiro Suzuki, SEA L/R
DH David Ortiz, BOSº L/L
Pitchers
Pos Player B/T
P Justin Duchscherer, OAK R/R
P Roy Halladay, TOR R/R
P Scott Kazmir, TB L/L
P Cliff Lee, CLE L/L
P Joe Nathan, MIN R/R
P Jonathan Papelbon, BOS R/R
P Mariano Rivera, NYY R/R
P Francisco Rodriguez, LAA R/R
P Ervin Santana, LAA R/R
P Joe Saunders, LAA L/L
P George Sherrill, BAL L/L
P Joakim Soria, KC R/R
Reserves
Pos Player B/T
C Dioner Navarro, TB S/R
C Jason Varitek, BOS S/R
1B Justin Morneau, MIN L/R
2B Ian Kinsler, TEX R/R
SS Michael Young, TEX S/R
3B Joe Crede, CWS R/R
3B Carlos Guillen, DET S/R
OF J.D. Drew, BOS L/R
OF Carlos Quentin, CWS R/R
OF Grady Sizemore, CLE L/L
DH Milton Bradley, TEX S/R


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National League
Starting Lineup

Pos Player B/T

C Geovany Soto, CHC S/R
1B Lance Berkman, HOU S/L
2B Chase Utley, PHI L/R
SS Hanley Ramirez, FLA R/R
3B Chipper Jones, ATL S/R
OF Ryan Braun, MIL R/R
OF Kosuke Fukudome, CHC L/R
OF Alfonso Soriano, CHC R/R
Pitchers
Pos Player B/T
P Aaron Cook, COL R/R
P Ryan Dempster, CHC R/R
P Dan Haren, ARI R/R
P Brad Lidge, PHI R/R
P Tim Lincecum, SF L/R
P Ben Sheets, MIL R/R
P Edinson Volquez, CIN R/R
P Billy Wagner, NYM L/L
P Brandon Webb, ARI R/R
P Brian Wilson, SF R/R
P Kerry Wood, CHC L/L
P Carlos Zambrano, CHC S/R
Reserves

Pos Player B/T

C Russell Martin, LA R/R
1B Brian McCann, ATL L/R
1B Adrian Gonzalez, SD L/L
1B Albert Pujols, STL R/R
2B Dan Uggla, FLA R/R
3B Aramis Ramirez, CHC R/R
SS Cristian Guzman, WAS S/R
SS Miguel Tejada, HOU R/R
OF Matt Holliday, COL R/R
OF Ryan Ludwick, STL R/L
OF Nate McLouth, PIT L/R


Notes:
# Final Vote Selection
º Injured, will not participate
ª Named as replacement

Watch The 2008 All Star Game July 15th at 8PM EST on Fox!

One Week Through Baseball Season...

Here's What I've Observed...

THE PLAN FOR CARLOS ZAMBRANO TO EAT MORE BANANAS AND DRINK LESS ENERGY DRINKS IS WORKING
Carlos Zambrano lasted a little longer in his second start than he did in his first, and there was no cramping for Zambrano in this game. Zambrano lasted seven innings and struck out seven batters. Zambrano was on in this game, as he didn't walk anybody and lasted 105 pitches.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE ALFONSO SORIANO HITS OR HOW LONG HE'S IN A SLUMP, THE HITTING WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF
Alfonso Soriano broke out of a 1-for-24 start with a leadoff homer in the fifth inning. He pulled an outside pitch into the basket in left to break a 1-1 tie. In the first inning, Soriano nailed Astros leadoff man Michael Bourn at home on a sacrafice fly. Alfonso Soriano will take care of himself. The Cubs don't need to worry about him.

DERREK LEE IS HITTING LIKE A MAN POSSESSED
Derrek Lee hit his third homerun in a week as the Cubs continue to go as Derrek goes. Lee has swung for both contact and power, as evidenced by his three doubles he's hit in a week. Once Lee, Aramis Ramirez, and Alfonso Soriano get hot and start hitting, watch out!

THE DETROUT TIGERS, WITH ALL OF THEIR PRESEASON HYPE, ARE STILL WINLESS, AT 0-5
The Detroit Tigers, with all the Spring Training Hype about Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis, are winless. It is obvious the Tigers miss Joel Zumaya and Curtis Granderson. The Detroit Tigers have not started off this bad since they were 0-9 en route to an American League Record 119 losses in 2003.

Could Detroit still right the ship? Abseloutely. But they better do it quickly, or they will be in big trouble.

JOHAN SANTANA'S SECOND START NOT HELPED BY ANEMIC METS OFFENSE
Johan Santana had overall not quite as good of a start as he did last time, exiting with his Mets down 1-0 due to a third inning RBI double. The Mets Offense couldn't get anything going, and credit that to the great pitching job done by John Smoltz. The Braves doubled their lead in the eighth, after Santana left, thanks to Mark Texiera homerun. The Mets got their lone run in the ninth thanks to a Ryan Church RBI Single.

The Mets better start scoring more runs to help out their already thin rotation or this will turn into another season of despair for Mets fans.

MLB Preview: NL Central

The Cubs hope that Kosuke Fukudome lives up to his Japanese Billing.

The National League Central was up in the air for almost the whole season. The Cubs ended up winning the division, but did squat in the playoffs, getting swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS. The Cubs will have a tough road if they want to repeat. The Race for the NL Central will be even tougher for the Cubs than Last Season. They start the season and end the season against Milwaukee. That final weekend of the regular season may be when we find out who will win the NL Central.

CHICAGO CUBS
The Cubs went on a $300 Million Shopping Spree in 2007 to improve what was the worst team in Major League Baseball Last Season. The team signed Alfonso Soriano to the richest contract in Cubs history, and he produced by hitting 33 homeruns, without hitting a single homerun in April. Expect Soriano to not get the "Big Contract Jitters" he may have had his first month.

Lou Piniella got to know his players in 2007, and once he knew what he had, he made changes. Out was Catcher Michael Barrett and Shortstop Caesar Izturis. In was Geovanny Soto and Ryan Theriot. The Cubs turned it on that final month, before becoming Ice Cold in the playoffs.

Expect Lou Piniella to figure out this team again. Ryan Dempster is competing with Jon Lieber (the Last Cubs Pitcher to win 20 games, Sean Marshall (Rumored to be heading to Baltimore, those rumors were later false) and Jason Marquis (The tale of Two Jasons. Good First Half. Bad Second Half.) If Marquis doesn't win the final rotation spot, he will get his wish to go elsewhere.

There is another battle for Ryan Dempster's old Job as Closer. Competing for the closers job is Bob Howry (he was the closer when Ryan Dempster was injured last season), Kerry Wood (He Struck out 20 Batters on April 12, 1998, holding the Astros to one hit) and Carlos Marmol (the best pure stuff in baseball, a Shut down reliever).

There is another battle for Center Field as Felix Pie is competing with Sam Fuld for that job. Cubs Hitting Coach Gerald Perry has spent time with Pie to try and make sure he isn't "Corey Patterson Version 2.0."

Alfonso Soriano is comfortable in Left Field and the Center Field Battle will work itself out, but out in Right Field is the Japanese Outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. Fukudome is a blend of the two most famous Japanese Outfielders, Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui. How will adjust to the Bleacher Bums out in Right Field mangling his last name for drunken humor effect? He will just ignore it.

Fukudome will get an instant chance to make an impact this season, as he will bat third in the lineup, moving Derrek Lee to the cleanup spot and Aramis Ramirez in the five spot.

Starting Wise, Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly and Rich Hill are set at 1,2, and 3. The Final Two Spots will be won in the spring. Zambrano can be on his A-Game, but when he isn't you know from the get-go. Expect him to work on being more consistent this season.

Ted Lilly won 15 games for the Cubs in 2008, losing only eight. Lilly has great stuff. He has a nice Slider and an even better breaking ball.

Rich Hill is a solid number three. If he learns to mix more pitches in with his curveball, Watch out.

Who will win the final two spots? How will Felix Pie and Kosuke Fukudome do in the outfield? Will the new closer be able to keep the lead? Can Carlos Zambrano learn how to control his emotions on the mound? If so, expect these Cubs to do something not done since 1908, return to the postseason for two straight seasons.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS
The Milwaukee Brewers had a 8.5 Game lead by midseason before they let Chicago come roaring back to win the National Leagie Central. Prince Fielder joined Alex Rodriguez as the only players to hit 50+ homeruns in 2007. I don't think he'll hit as many homeruns, but he will still be a major force at the plate. Ryan Braun was a Callup in May and the "Hebrew Hammer" Hammered 34 homeruns in 2007, winning the National League Rookie Of the Year Award. Ryan Braun manned Third Base in 2007 before all of a sudden being switched to play Left Field. Bill Hall will play Third Base this season. Mike Cameron takes over in Center Field, but will serve a 25 game suspensions for Performance Enhnacing Drugs.

Ben Sheets was 12-5 in 2007 with a 3.82 ERA. If he didn't go down with an injury late in the season, Milwaukee may have won the NL Central and made their first Playoff Appearance since 1982, when they were in the American League.

Jeff Suppan proved his wasn't worth his big time contract, as he was 12-12 with a 4.62 ERA.

The Biggest loss to the Brewers Staff will be the loss of Francisco Cordero. Cordero went to division rival Cincinnatti.

Milwaukee and Chicago will battle for the NL Central Crown.

ST LOUIS CARDINALS
The Cardinals had much of the 2007 season without their workhorses of Mark Mulder and Chris Carpenter, and this will be the same for the early part of the 2007 season.

Albert Pujols hit 32 homeruns in 2007. Expect him to hit more homeruns this season.

The Cardinals traded a Third Baseman for a Third Baseman, as Troy Glaus was traded to the Cardinals for Scott Rolen. La Russa and Rolen were never BFF in St Louis, so Rolen is on the way out. Rolen gets to reunite with David Eckstein North Of The Border.

The Cardinals released another Third Baseman, as Scott Spiezio was released after recieving a warrant for his arrest. Hopefully he gets to work his life out.

Caesar Isturis will replace David Eckstein at Shortstop.

Colby Rasmus is aiming to replace Jim Edmonds in Center Field, and will get every opprutunity to win the job in camp.

St. Louis won't compete for the central this season, but there's hope for the future with this bunch.

CINCINNATTI REDS
The Reds in 2008 have new management, as Dusty Baker is out of the "Baseball Tonight" Studios and managing again. Reds fans are hoping he doesen't ruin young prosepect Homer Bailey, as many Cubs fans have blamed him for ruining the promising careers of both Mark Prior and Kerry Wood.

This may be the final season for both Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr with the Reds.

We may finally get to see how good Joey Votto and Jay Bruce are.

Dusty Baker mismanagement has cost The Giants and Cubs a chance at a World Series. Expect the same from Cincinnatti, if they are ever able to compete in the Central.

HOUSTON ASTROS
The Houston Astros don't have Craig Biggio, the longtime face of their franchise anymore. The Astros signed Kazuo Matsui away from Colorado to take over second base.

The Astros traded away Brad Lidge to the Philladelphia, and the Phillies were daft enough to trade away Michael Bourn to get him.

The Astros also acquired Miguel Tejada, but he may face the same punishment as Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens for using performance enhancing deuga and then lying about it.

Pitching wise, This team will be looking to fill the rotation as Jason Jennings and Matt Albers are no longer with the team.

Watch out for Hunter Pence this season. He was lucky enough to be learning from Craig Biggio and he may be in the outfield this season.

Houston won't win the division this season, but Cecil Cooper has the tools to build a winning Astros team in the future.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES
The Pirates team of the future is built around Jason Bay and Zach Duke. Ronny Paulino will get better behind the plate, and Xavier Nady will continue to play well in right field.

John Russell will find out the best thing about the Pirates is the ballpark they play in.

That concludes this year's MLB Team Previews. In the final MLB Preview, we will do our best to determine who the Paper World Series Champions of 2008 will be. Will Detroit live up to their high expectations? Who will be Their League's MVP? Find out all this and more in the next MLB Preview.

MLB Postseason taking unexpected Twists and Turns

Kenny Lofton had four RBI's in the Indians victory over the Yankees.

Through the first two games of the NLDS and the opening games of the ALDS, there have been some suprises. Arizona and their youngsters are one game away from going to the National League Championship Series, as they have tamed the Cubs offense to a dull roar through the first two games. Colorado Rockies as well are one game away from eliminating their opponent, the Philladelphia Phillies. Ryan Howard's homerun wasn't enough to overcome Kaz Matsui's Grand Slam in Game Two, as Colorado beat Philly by the score of 10 to 5.

Here's my analysis of the respective series.
NLDS: Cubs vs. Diamondbacks
Wow. How about the Arizona Diamondbacks. It seems like The "Fountain Of Youth" has been found. It's is Arizona, buried underneath Chase Field. The Diamondbacks players are young, most are only about 25 years old, and they are one game away from eliminating the $300 Million ballclub that has suffered for 99 (and possibly coming up on 100) years without a World Series Ring. The only good thing for the Cubs is that their next two games are at home. The Wrigley Crowd will be rocking, trying to modivate the Cubbies to fight to win three in a row to advance to the National League Championship Series. Rich Hill gets the ball for the Cubs in the all important game three, and he will be opposed by the former Montreal Expo Livan Hernandez. I hope the Cubs fight to pull even and win this thing, but I don't think it's going to happen.

NLDS: Rockies vs Phillies
The "Fountain of Youth" has also been found in Rocky Mountain High Coors Field in Denver Colorado. Rockies Superphenom Troy Tulowitski has been on a tear offensively and defensicely. Tulowitski and Todd Helton are the two reasons the Phillies are dead in this series. It would be good October baseball for them to come back, but I don't see that happening.

ALDS: Red Sox vs. Angels
Vlad Guererro has been hurt, and the Angels production has hurt without him. The loss of gary Matthews Jr. was the big reasdon why this team was doomed coming into this series. Daisuke Mastuzaka will make his postseason debut for the Red Sox in Game Three, where the Red Sox can sweep the Angels and move on to the American League Championship Series.

ALDS: Yankees at Indians
Derek Jeter went 0-4 in the Yankees loss to the Indians, but of course, the talk will be how Alex Rodriguez went hitless in what may be his final season with The New York Yankees. Chien Mien Wang did not have his good stuff in that game. I lost count how many homeruns were hit in that game. Cleveland Sports Fans will make a huge deal about LeBron James wearing a Yankee cap in Cleveland, but Red Sox Natrion has that same thing to be said to Tom Brady, a self-professed Yankee fan.

October Baseball is in full swing and you can catch all of it on TBS.

Divisional Series Action On TBS

TBS Baseball.

There is a lot of great baseball on TBS today. Check out this Dane Cook TBS Preview. Click on the video to have it begin.


For those of you who missed the one game playoff game between the San Diego Padres and the Colorado Rockies, here is all the good parts from this long, exciting game. The video itself is about 10 minutes. Click on the video to have it begin.


Enjoy Phiilies at Rockies, Yankees at Indians, and Cubs at Diamondbacks on TBS tonight.

Chicago Cubs October Comercial

Check out this Dane Cook Actober commercial about The Cubs. Click on the video to have it begin.

The Cubs quest for a World Series Pennant starts again tonight as the Cubs take on the Arizona Diamondbacks. Carlos Zambrano goes for The Cubs, while Brandon Webb goes for the Diamondbacks.

Be sure to catch all of the Divisonal Series Games on TBS.

There's only one postseason, there's only one Fall Classic. There's only one October!

(MLB) Cubs Derrek Lee, Padres Chris Young Suspended Five Games Each

The Chicago Cubs' Derrek Lee and San Diego Padres' Chris Young will each be suspended five games for the meelee that erupted at Wrigley Field on Saturday. San Diego and Chicago are both off today, giving Lee and Young time to think about whether to contest the penalty.

I am suprised that Jake Peavy wasn't suspended. He was out of the dugout, on the field. ready to fight, and all he gets is a fine.

I am also suprised that Carlos Zambrano wasn't suspended. He was ready to fight, that's why he was taking his belt off, and he gets away without a suspension or a fine.

Oh, By The Way, Cubs hitiing instructor Gerald Perry was suspended three games for his role in the melee at Wrigley on Saturday.

MLB: Around The Bases, June 17,2007

Punches thrown in Cubs-Padres game.


This was after San Diego Padres pitcher Chris Young intentionally threw at Cubs First Baseman Derrek Lee, hitting him in his surgically repaired wrist. Lee said a few words to Young, Young said something back, Derrek Lee didn't like the response, and it was on. Lee, Young, fellow Padres Pitcher Jake Peavy and Chicago Cubs hitting instructor Gerald Perry were all ejected from the game. Young may have thrown at Lee because the Padres felt the Cubs' Alfonso Soriano was showboating when he hit his homerun against the Padres Friday. I hate watching guys having baseballs aimed right at their heads, and I don't care what Chris Young says, that was intentional. No doubt, there will be suspensions and fines for all involved in this meelee.

Fast forward to the eighth inning. One Out. Carlos Zambrano has not allowed a hit to this point. Marcus Giles reaches base safely for the first hit of the game for the Padres, putting an end to Carlos Zambrano's no hit bid.

On now to the ninth inning. Full Count to Russell Branyan. He hits the ball deep, and it has just enough to make it over the ivy covered wall, into the basket for a homerun. Padres lead 1-0, and that would be the final score of this game. Carlos Zambrano allows just two hits in this game and gets the loss. However, the bigger story will be: What type of punishment will come from the melee at Wrigley?

In the battle of New York, the Yankees defeated the Mets 11 to 8.

The Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Baltimore Ravens 8 to 4.

The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Washington Nationals 7 to 3.

The Florida Marlins won a wild game against the Kansas City Royals 9 to 8.

Manny Ramirez homered for the Red Sox as they defeated the Giants 1-0 at Fenway.

The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Minnesota Twins 5 to 2.

The Atlanta Braves defeated the Cleveland Indians 6 to 2.

The Chicago White Sox defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 6 to 1.

In the Freeway Series, the Angels shut out the Dodgers 3 to 0.

The Cincinnati Reds defeated the Texas Rangers 8 to 4.

The Phillies defeated the Tigers 6 to 3.

Colorado defeated Tampa Bay 10 to 5.

Houston defeated Seattle 9 to 4.