Agony & Ivy

Pujols Right Guy for Cubs

I wish Chicago Sun-Times columnist Joe Cowley would stick to telling White Sox general manager Ken Williams how to do his job.

In Thursday's Sun-Times, Cowley, a former longtime White Sox beat writer, advised Cubs fans to not get their hopes up in regards to the North Siders signing St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols. He suggested that any Cubs fan who dares dream of Pujols donning a Cubs uniform in 2012 should "pick up the nearest stapler and punch it into your chest to help snap you back to reality."

Adios, Carlos Silva

And don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out the door.

Kudos to the Cubs organization for making the right decision in naming Andrew Cashner the team's No. 5 starter and releasing Carlos Silva.

Time for Cubs to Walk the Walk

When spring training opened last month, Cubs manager Mike Quade let it be known that there would be open competition for a large percentage of the spots on his team's Opening Day roster.

Infighting Didn't Derail Cubs Dynasty

Cubs manager Mike Quade told reporters Thursday that he didn't care whether Carlos Silva and Aramis Ramirez "hugged it out" in the wake of their dugout altercation earlier this week.

Talk About the Passion

While a portion of the Chicago media used Wednesday's spring training dugout spat between Carlos Silva and Aramis Ramirez as a chance to recall every incident in recent history in which a Cubs player lost his cool, I choose to view the incident as a healthy expression of passion from a couple of players who are pissed off about the team's performance.

Only 32 Days Until Opening Day

The snow has melted, the days are getting noticeably longer, and the Cubs are playing spring training games in Arizona.

Garza Trade Good for Cubs

The acquisition of pitcher Matt Garza by the Cubs, along with two minor leaguers, from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in exchange for five prospects - that include right-handed pitcher Chris Archer, outfielders Brandon Guyer and Sam Fuld, shortstop Hak-Ju Lee, and catcher Robinson Chirinos - is a brilliant and gutsy move by general manager Jim Hendry.

Cubs Player Rankings

The improved play the Cubs demonstrated under interim manager Mike Quade during the season's final weeks (a 24-13 record) was encouraging but it doesn't change the fact that the 2010 season was an unmitigated disaster.

Brewers 2, Cubs 0

Hero: In his fifth career start, rookie Casey Coleman (1-2) allowed one (earned) run on five hits over six innings while striking out three and walking three. The 23-year-old right-hander has gone at least six innings in each of his last four starts.

Astros 7, Cubs 3

Hero: Tyler Colvin went 2-for-4 with his fifth triple of the season and drove in a pair.

Cubs 5, Astros 4

Hero: Geovany Soto snapped a 4-4 tie with his 17th home run of the season,off Wilton Lopez (5-2), with two outs in the bottom of the eighth.

Gorzelanny to Miss Start

Cubs left-hander Tom Gorzelanny will miss his next scheduled start Tuesday after a CT scan of his pitching hand revealed a fracture below the nail on his pinkie finger.

Rehab Start a Success for Silva

Carlos Silva, in his first rehab start since going on the disabled list Aug. 1 with an abnormal heart rate, allowed two hits in 2 2/3 shutout innings Friday to help the host Peoria Chiefs claim a 3-1 Midwest League victory over the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

Silva Rehab Start Scheduled in Peoria

Joe Girardi and his first-place New York Yankees will be in town to play the White Sox and the Cubs will be visiting the first-place Cincinnati Reds on Friday. But, if you'd prefer to make a short road trip, the Class A Peoria Chiefs will be hosting the Cedar Rapids Kernels. And Carlos Silva will be their starting pitcher.

122 Pitches! The Horror!

The jury is still out on whether Thomas Diamond will be a decent starting pitcher and if he'll be part of the Cubs' rotation in 2011, but with the Cubs 14 games under .500 with 54 to play there is no time like the present to find out.

The Cub Factor: Coming Clean

Doesn't it feel good to come clean? To finally admit it? To stop the charade? The Cubs finally admitted it to themselves, to their fans and, well, to anyone else who is paying attention: They suck.

Rockies 8, Cubs 7

Hero: Marlon Byrd went 3-for-5 with a two-run triple in the ninth inning. Byrd's .315 average if the best on the Cubs and ranks fifth in the National League.

Rockies 6, Cubs 5

Hero: Derrek Lee hit a two-out three-run homer off Colorado's Rafael Betancourt to tie the game at 5. It was the 12th home run of the season for Lee who earlier in the week exercised his "Five-and-10" right to reject a trade to the Los Angeles Angels.

Rockies 17, Cubs 2

Hero: James Russell allowed one hit struck out three, and walked none in two shutout innings of relief.

Cubs 5, Astros 2

Hero: Carlos Silva (10-4) rebounded after back-to-back horrible outings to reach double figures in wins for the first time since 2007 when he earned 13 victories for the Minnesota Twins. Silva allowed one (earned) run on five hits in five innings while walking one and striking out four.