Bleacher Report - Articles by Chris Bremner

Chicago Cubs: SOLD

Chris Bremner — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:36:31 -0500

Although a formal announcement has not yet been made, a source has indicated that the Ricketts family is the winning bidder for the ill-fated Chicago Cubs. The deal was estimated at $900 million.

After nearly two years of waiting, it seems the Chicago Cubs sale has finally reached an end. The Chicago Tribune Company purchased the Chicago Cubs in 1981 for $20.5 million and is now expected to pass on the torch, fortunately, to another local Chicagoan.

A big concern among Chicago Cubs fans during this sale fiasco was what the fate of the team would be under new ownership.

Would the name Wrigley be changed to something ridiculous, like US Cellular? Would the stadium be re-located out of Wrigleyville? Nobody knew, or for that matter, still completely knows. H

owever, the chances of the cherished Wrigley Field remaining Wrigley Field, in Wrigleyville, just got a lot better.

Tom Ricketts, member of the founding family of TD Ameritrade Holding Corp., is actually an average Chicago Cubs fan—with whole a lot of money.

Like many of us, Ricketts has spent those long summer days, not only watching the Cubbies on WGN, but experiencing them at Wrigley itself. Ricketts is such a fan that at one point he lived in an apartment above a bar right across the street from Wrigley Field. It has been reported that he even met his wife in the bleachers during a game.

This news couldn't be better for Cubs nation. The new owner is not only a huge Cubs fan himself, but he has witnessed firsthand how its fans feel about the tradition of their team.

The deal still needs to approved and still needs to be fine tuned, which could take anywhere from 60-90 days.

With the Ricketts Era expected to start, you have to think it's the end of all of the Mark Cuban talk. Although that might have been nice, we have one of our own in there now, and I would not bet on Wrigley being called Ricketts Field anytime soon.

Are the Chicago Cubs Ready To Contend in the Playoffs?

Chris Bremner — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:00:51 -0500

It has been an interesting offseason to say the least.

Though Chicago Cubs fans have been less than excited about the moves made thus far, and are still awaiting that patented last minute Jim Hendry move.

Jim Hendry has been a tremendous help to the Chicago Cubs who, before he arrived in 2002, looked as though they belonged in Double-A ball.

He got to work immediately, firing Don Baylor and subsequently bringing in names such as: Dusty Baker, Aramis Ramirez, Derrek Lee, Nomar Garciaparra, Greg Maddux, Lou Piniella, Alfonso Soriano, and Milton Bradley, to name a few.

While his acquisitions have had their ups and downs, Hendry has shown the desire to improve. But have the Cubs improved at all this offseason?

The Good

Ryan Dempster (17-6, 2.96 ERA in 2008) was signed to a four-year deal on November 18. He was a rock in the rotation last year, and should help hold the staff together for the next few seasons.

Milton Bradley was one of the most sought after sluggers of the offseason. However, many teams were hesitant to sign the outfielder due to his hot temper and injury history.

Last season, Bradley hit .321 with 22 home runs, and 77 RBI. The Cubs signed the slugger on Jan. 8.

Reed Johnson batted .303 with six home runs, 50 RBI, and 21 doubles in 109 games. Add his acrobatically stellar defense, and he is a great keep.

The Bad

Neil Cotts went 0-2 with a 4.29 ERA in 2008. On Dec. 12, Cotts signed a one-year deal with Chicago.

Chad Gaudin finished 2008 with a 4.40 ERA, and owns a career 4.45 ERA in six seasons. Gaudin’s appearances were limited last year due to back injuries. On Dec. 12, Gaudin was signed on for the 2009 season.

Aaron Miles is a solid utility player, but will never put up power numbers like Mark DeRosa. Miles hit an impressive .317 in 2008; however had only 31 RBI, and had a lowly four home runs.

Luis Vizcaino is a 34-year old relief pitcher with a lifetime 4.24 ERA. Not a bad acquisition I suppose, but not a fair trade for Jason Marquis.

Kevin Gregg was signed to take the place of Kerry Wood. Gregg is a career 4.00 ERA pitcher, and without a doubt a downgrade at closer, assuming Carlos Marmol doesn't seize the role.

The Ugly

Mark DeRosa had a career year in 2008, batting .285 with 21 home runs and 81 RBI while playing virtually every position on the field, and excelling at them. He is truly a rare find in the Major Leagues.

On Dec. 31, he was traded for one mediocre Double-A relief pitcher, and two unknown low minor leaguers. A+ move...for Cleveland. This move better somehow involve Jake Peavy.

Kerry Wood has had a rocky career, and seemed to finally find a comfort zone in the bullpen. Wood desperately wanted to stay a Cub for the remainder of his career and was even willing to take a pay cut to stay.

However, on Nov. 13, he was released to free agency and later signed on with the Cleveland Indians.

Joey Gathright is not good. He has a career batting average of .263 with 96 RBI and 1 home run...after five years! On Dec. 13, the Cubs signed him to a one-year deal.

Garrett Olson, unless trade bait for Jake Peavy, may be one of the worst acquisitions yet. He is 10-13 and owns a career 6.87 ERA. On Jan. 18, he was signed as a Cub.

Jim Edmonds will not return to the team, who with his one-year stay on the Cubs, batted .235 with 20 home runs, 50 RBI, while playing game-saving defense in 111 games.

A few bad breaks here and there and the Cubs are setting themselves up for a season in which could end up looking like the 2004 season, a season with high expectations, and great numbers...on paper.

The Cubs stayed relatively healthy in 2008, with only a few short DL stints that proved insignificant due to the strong play by utility saviors like Mark DeRosa, as well as decent pitching from guys like Jason Marquis.

This offseason, it seems all the Chicago Cubs have done is turned their team into a high-risk ballclub, adding some below-average arms and mediocre bats.

Additionally, the Cubs are overloaded with high-risk injury players like Soriano, Rich Harden, and now Milton Bradley.

With the current Cubs roster, they are still the team to beat in the National League. However, they are not as good as they were last year.

If they add Jake Peavy they will have upgraded their roster, but without his addition they have not improved a great deal in the offseason.

The Chicago Cubs do not need a whole lot of work in order to be a contender in the playoffs.

However, they have definitely taken a step backward rather than a step forward with their moves thus far.

Let’s just hope that the one crucial move everyone has been waiting for is still around the corner.

Chicago Cubs' Convention Not So Fan Friendly

Chris Bremner — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:40:07 -0500

The 24th annual Cubs convention was held at the Hilton Chicago with great expectations, for a great Chicago Cubs baseball team.

The 2008 Chicago Cubs won back-to-back division titles for the first time since their three consecutive world series trips from 1906-1908.

They also sent a record seven players to the All-Star Game, won a National League best 97 games, produced their first no-hitter in 36 years, earned honors including the NL Rookie of the Year, the NL Manager of the Year, as well as, the Hank Aaron award winner.

This historic regular season was by no means one to shake your fist at and the fans have shown their appreciation.

In 2007, Chicago Cubs fans set a new single-season attendance record, and in 2008, set an even better one with 3,300,200 attendees. With the Chicago Cubs having one of the highest paid teams in baseball and their salaries being paid mostly by ticket sales, concessions, and memorabilia sales, you would think players would be a little more gracious towards their fans.

It seems year after year that Cubs fans are being shorted at these conventions, and I am sick of it.

Here is a re-cap of my experience at the 2009 Chicago Cubs convention after purchasing the expensive, sold out, convention tickets:

Big Wigs such as Alfonso Soriano, Ryne Sandberg, Carlos Zambrano, and Lou Pinella were all in attendance, supposedly. However, you actually had to win at a scratch-and-win lottery card in order to even stand in line for their autographs.

N.L. Rookie of the year Geovany Soto, confirmed to be there, “missed his flight”, and newly acquired slugger Milton Bradley was scheduled in two different places at the same time, leaving a total of 20 minutes out of the scheduled 45 minutes promised for autographs.

My personal favorite was Ted Lilly. Ted was scheduled to take photographs with his loyal fans, but instead, proceeded to walk up next to the stage and take a look at the large crowd before promptly turning around and leaving, never to return. Is this a joke?

I know that dealing with crowds and pretending to like every autograph hound is probably extremely annoying but guess what...deal with it! You are Major League Baseball players getting paid millions of dollars to play a game!

You are not saving lives, you are not solving world peace issues, and you are not royalty. Entertaining the fans is your business...Time to start acting like it.

Geovany Soto, you missed your flight? Book another one! Milton Bradley, you were scheduled two places at once? Maybe you should take the initiative and get there 30 minutes earlier and participate in both events equally, instead of showing up at the last possible minute...wait I mean late!

And Ted Lilly, there were children there who waited over three hours just to take a picture with you, their idol, and just sitting there and smiling was too big of a hassle for you.

Unless there was some sort of family emergency, you may have officially become one of the most selfish and arrogant Chicago Cub players since Kent Mercker or Sammy Sosa roamed the clubhouse. Especially after last year’s mess when you showed up 20 minutes late to the children’s autograph session. What a shame.

Besides the one-on-ones, other events such as the Zambrano no-no interview, the opening ceremony, and coaching staff interviews went very well.

I understand that MLB players have a long and tedious season and that they have to deal with some over-excited fans on a day to day basis. When it comes to something such as the Cubs convention, though, you are under the spotlight and if there is ever a time to at least pretend you are a decent, grateful, human being this would have been the time.

There were no games or practices to use as an excuse, this was the fans turn. Especially for the kids.

I realize I may have been a bit harsh putting all of the blame on the players, as the management at the Convention seemed to be completely disorganized in some instances (e.g. How do you book Milton Bradley in two places at once?), but between both parties one would think you could get it right.

It is a shame that some of these ego driven players actually think that their time is more valuable than any other persons. Being a ballplayer is a business, you do not have a right to be there. It should be an honor.

The class acts deserving honorable mention are: Ryan Theriot, Micah Hoffpauir, Jeff Samardzija, Ryan Dempster, Kevin Gregg, Kevin Hart, and the always appreciative Carlos Marmol.

Ned Yost...You're Fired: Milwaukee Brewers Seek Change

Chris Bremner — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 08:47:49 -0400

Following a four-game skid and falling back 7.5 games of the division lead, Ned Yost has been fired as the Brewers' manager.

With two weeks left in the regular season, and in second place in the division, the Milwaukee Brewers will have to adapt to a new face in the big seat. The team will now be led by interim manager Dale Sveum, who has served as the team’s third-base coach.

With recent production lacking and the pressure building up, it was clear the Brewers had to make a change, but is that smart this late in the season? Aren’t they still slated to make the playoffs? Well, not exactly. The recent meltdown is all too familiar to the Brewers, who watched their playoff opportunity in 2007 disappear to the Cubs late in the season.

The news of the Ned Yost firing came a day after the Chicago Cubs invaded the Milwaukee Brewers’ home field and truly made it their own. Carlos Zambrano threw a no-hitter for the first time in Miller Park’s history, and it was the first time a no-no had been thrown in Milwaukee since June 19, 1974, when Steve Busby did it for the Royals. Unfortunately for Milwaukee, the closest Brewer was about 850 miles away.

The Cubs’ historic win in Milwaukee, against the Astros, truly added insult to injury for the troubled Milwaukee Brewers.

The Brewers are tied for the wild card with the Philadelphia Phillies, and they still hope to make the playoffs. The last time the Brewers made the playoffs was 26 years ago, when they were still part of the American League.

Carlos Zambrano Makes History as he No-Hits the Houston Astros

Chris Bremner — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 16:32:08 -0400

The Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros began their series on Sunday night after being postponed since Friday due to Hurricane Ike. However, they were not playing in Houston or Chicago, but the ever-so-friendly Miller Park in Milwaukee—also known as Wrigley North.

The Milwaukee Brewers lost to the Phillies in Philadelphia earlier in the night to complete a sweep, while Carlos Zambrano and the Chicago Cubs moved onto their home turf. After a recent slump, and some shoulder discomfort, Carlos was granted 12 days off to rest.

While dressing for the game in Milwaukee’s locker room, he was asked how he felt. Zambrano answered back “I feel good”. Then Carlos stepped on the field.

All eyes were on the Cubs’ ace tonight, not because he dominated his last time out in Milwaukee, but because his health has been a concern. Experts have stated that if Carlos cannot perform in the playoffs, the Cubs’ chances would dramatically decrease.

Well critics, I would put those worries aside.

For the first time in his career, Carlos Zambrano tossed a no-hitter, striking out 10 and leading the Chicago Cubs to a 5-0 victory. Zambrano’s no-no against the Houston Astros makes him the first Cubs pitcher to do so since Milt Pappas did it on Sept. 2, 1972.

Cubs fans invaded the Brewers’ home park for what turned out to be an historic night for Chicago Cubs. This NL Central matchup was supposed to be an Astros home game, but it sure didn’t seem that way. Somebody forgot to tell Houston that Milwaukee is the Cubs’ second home field, or at least it felt like it with the majority of the 23,441 occupants wearing Cubbie-blue.

Fans cheered for the win, cheered for the Brewers’ loss in Philly, and erupted for Carlos Zambrano as he collected his first no-hitter, which he deserved so very much.

Soriano's leadoff home run would have been all Big Z needed, but the rest of the Cubs wanted some attention, too. Derrek Lee was kind enough to knock in Ronny Cedeno and Zambrano with a two-run double in the third, and Aramis Ramirez decided to send Lee in with a rocket single to left field. The merry-go-round continued with catcher Geovany Soto, who then doubled in A-Ram.

With the Cubs' victory tonight, and the Brewers’ loss, the Cubbies improved to a 7.5 game lead in the NL central division.

Is Chicago Really Where Receivers Go To Die?

Chris Bremner — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 08:49:01 -0400

I may just be falling for the classic trash-talk bait, but am I the only one raising an eyebrow to Muhsin Muhammad’s bitter comments?

If you have not already heard, Muhsin Muhammad was quoted this summer, stating that, “Chicago is where receivers go to die”. Oh really Moose? Or is it just where you went to die? One more thing, he didn’t leave. He was cut.

Does anybody else remember Moose dropping more passes than any other receiver last season? More importantly, the bulk of those drops occurred in big situations.

In nine seasons with the Carolina Panthers, Moose had three 1,000-yard seasons, which is outstanding. The other six seasons (the majority of his career there) he had an average of 657 yards a season!

What was his average in Chicago, you’re wondering...727 yards a season! Well Moose, if what happened in Chicago was “dead,” what does that say about the majority of your career?

Do not get me wrong, I think Muhammad is a very good receiver and an outstanding leader, at times, but Moose: Those comments you made were completely unnecessary. It was not our quarterback’s fault you couldn’t hang onto the football.

Sure a great QB could have provided you more opportunities to receive passes, but a good receiver works with what he’s got, and you got a lot of opportunities; you simply couldn’t make anything happen.

Bernard Berrian is a great example; the Chicago quarterbacks made him look so bad that the Minnesota Vikings wrote him a six-year $42-million contract to be their go-to guy. Wow, he really must have looked "dead" in his tenure with the Bears to earn that.

Moose, you left Chicago with a good reputation, regardless of your streaky play. Don’t blame the Chicago Bears for you not being good enough to make the team this year.

We know we don’t have the best quarterbacks in the league, but that has never been Chicago’s...forte. You’re slower, older, and apparently extremely bitter. Maybe that’s why your numbers are decreasing.

Patriots will be fine, even without Brady

Chris Bremner — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:31:44 -0400

Let me start off with this: The quarterback position is the most overrated and over-credited position in team sports. With that being said, it is still the single most important component to a football team.

A quarterback’s impact on his team is similar to the heart’s impact on the human body. Think about it: a heart must have a constant rhythm to maintain a stable pattern. If a quarterback loses his rhythm, the team will end up looking like JaMarcus Russell’s Raiders did on Monday night.

It is also vital for the QB to get the ball to his teammates; much like a heart must feed the components of the body. Otherwise, well, the body dies. Symbolic? Finally, as the heart can generate electrical impulses, a quarterback must generate excitability both on the field, and in the club house.

The above information is the perfect formula for an unstoppable quarterback. However, unlike the heart, with just one of the above attributes, any decent QB can not only survive, but can lead his team to the promise land.

There is always one position in team sports that can be classified as “most important”; the one position that, with just one slip-up, could cost the team the contest.

With baseball, you have the pitchers. It doesn’t matter if you have Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Ty Cobb hitting behind you. If a pitcher is unable to retire a batter, you’ll lose. Soccer, Hockey, and Lacrosse all have the same concept; can’t defend a goal, be defeated.

Quarterbacks seem to reap all the benefits from their team’s hard work. When the offensive line is able to read their defenders, pick up blitzes, remember their counts, and BLOCK, the ‘quarterback’ ran the offense masterfully.

When the defense shuts down the opposing team time after time, the ‘quarterback’ ruled the time of possession. And finally, when the field goal kicker knocks in a beauty, the ‘quarterback’ got him in that position in the first place.

Point is, although quarterbacks are essential to winning, they do take up a lot of the spotlight, and probably do not solely deserve the last 22 of 42 Super Bowl MVP awards received.

The loss of Tom Brady on Sunday is a devastating loss for the New England Patriots, if they let it be. The New England Patriots still have a solid defense and an outstanding offense even with the loss of Brady. With Laurence Maroney, Moss, O-line and a quarterback to manage the team, and they will succeed.

I am not saying that they will blow out opponents and go undefeated through the regular season, but they have enough talent to bounce back from a blow like this. Expect victories to be more like the 17-10 W vs. the Chiefs.

There is only one way the former Super Bowl favorites will not succeed this season. That’s if their greatest key to success truly is out for the season, their confidence. A quarterback does not need to win for their team; they need to not lose for their team.

My crystal ball is not working today, but my prediction for the Super Bowl victors of 2008-09 is: the team with the best defense, most consistent offense, and keenest play-calling.

Chicago Bears: "Not good enough to beat Colts 29-13"

Chris Bremner — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:22:27 -0400

Now that I have gotten your attention, you must read a section of an article by Gregg Doyel with CBSSports.com National Columnist. My response follows.

INDIANAPOLIS -- "The Colts didn't pay $717 million for this.

OK, technically, the Colts didn't pay $717 million for anything. Their brand new home, Lucas Oil Stadium, is being financed mostly by the good folks of Indiana. The Colts chipped in about 15 percent of the cost. Taxpayers are paying the rest, a total of roughly $612 million.

Which makes Lucas Oil Stadium — with its beautiful brick façade and its retractable roof and its 80-foot window view of downtown Indianapolis—the biggest waste of money since the New York Yankees.

The Colts, unbeatable in their old home, lost their first game in their new home Sunday night, and they lost it horrifically to a team that could yet prove to be horrible. I'm not sure what to make of the 2008 Chicago Bears, but I'm sure of this: They're not good enough to beat the Indianapolis Colts 29-13. Not in Chicago, and definitelynot in Indianapolis. Not at brand new Lucas Oil Stadium or the forsaken RCA Dome or the even skanky patch of urban blight located between the two domes.

The Chicago Bears have a quarterback who won't win games and can only hope not to lose them, as Kyle Orton did Sunday night. He didn't win the game. He just managed to avoid losing it.

The Bears have receivers who, um, ahem. Can I be honest? I'm still not sure who their receivers are. I watched the whole game, I promise, but for the life of me I couldn't tell you who plays receiver for the Bears. Maybe Devin Hester, though the only thing he did that caught my eye was field a kickoff seven yards deep in the end zone, count slowly to 10, and then run it out, making it all the way to the 3. His own 3. Nice move, Devin."

Well, Gregg, let me give you some insight on who the Chicago Bears are. The quarterback who "won't win any games" and will "only manage them", has managed to win 13 out of the 20 games he has started. The former 2004 Heisman candidate may not have the best QB rating but as you stated, he still tossed better then NFL's golden child Peyton Manning.

Now, to the receivers that you never heard of. Are you really a sports columnist?

Marty Booker may have only caught one pass for seven yards Sunday night but he is a former Pro-bowl veteran who has led the Bears to multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons in his career, nothing?

Rashied Davis (Mr. Clutch); all I have to say was if it were not for him the Bears would not have made it to the Super Bowl. Were you following sports in 2006? Divisional Round of the 2006 playoffs...overtime pass that sets up the game’s winning field goal…advancing the Bears to the NFC Championship...any of this ring a bell?

Brandon Lloyd has had some bad luck in the NFL, but he has been around too. He has yet to break out in the NFL but in college he finished with the second-most receiving yards (2,583) and touchdown catches (21) in Illinois history, and ranks third in all-time receptions (160). Watch for him to excel this year.

You did not mention Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen but their results Sunday should speak volumes. Four catches for combined 82-yards on scoring drives…not bad for big tight-ends. Guess you missed that too.

Devin Hester, well, of course you know who he is, every average sports fan knows who he is. The fact that he is the only one you recognize is disappointing. The media tells us who to like, you may have fallen victim to that. Hester is an amazing return-man, but the Chicago Bears do have some receivers as well.

You can’t just look up and see the stars, you must wait until the sun goes down, and at the end of the day, you will see the Bears do have some stud receivers.

Go back and watch the highlight from Sunday night's match-up, Gregg. The Bears are in fact good enough to beat the Colts 29-13. They did it.

Thanks for the motivation.

Fukudome, Cubs Shine: 17 Hits Destroy Bucs

Chris Bremner — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:22:12 -0400

It may only be the Pittsburgh Pirates, but you will not hear any of the Cubs complain. The North-Siders powered their way to three straight wins and gained half a game on both the Cardinals and Brewers, who had the day off.

Kosuke Fukudome was entered back into the starting lineup after a career first pinch-hit homer last night. With a man on third in the second inning Kosuke cracked a deep drive for the sacrifice which would be the first of a big night. Fukudome would add a two-run single to left in the fifth, and to cap it off he roped an RBI double in the ninth. Fukudome is definitely starting to show progress with his adjustments and is looking more like that lethal left-handed threat he was in the first half.

Aramis Ramirez returned to haunt his former ball team clubbing a three-run shot in the fifth and accumulating four RBIs on the night. Ramirez entered the ball game batting .313 against the Pittsburg Pirates: Aramis continues to see the ball very well at the roomy-PNC park.

Jim Edmonds looked great on the bases tonight which should be incredibly encouraging for the Cubs. Jimmy's defense has been impressively characteristic and his bat has really come through when needed; but a nagging left knee injury has caused for some concern throughout the season.

Not tonight. Edmonds made a statement in his first at bat smoking a ball to deep center, Edmonds would gallop 270 sweet non-painful feet to third base which would be the start of a three hit performance. With Edmondo's legs fresh, watch for him to play a huge part in October.

Although the 17 hit massacre was impressive, the pitching really opened some eyes. Ted Lilly gave up only two runs over seven-innings, and Kerry Wood shut out the ninth with only thirteen pitches, nine of them being strikes.

Cubs have been dominant in every category recently; let's hope they can continue at this torrid pace.

Cubs-Nationals: Rich Harden Was Hardly Hittable as Cubs Cruise

Chris Bremner — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 13:16:34 -0400

The Cubs claimed the rubber game against the lowly Washington Nationals on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field. It seems that someone forgot to tell Cubs hitters that the wind was blowing straight in, as the long ball carried them to victory behind stud pitcher Rich Harden.

Harden tossed seven innings of two-hit ball, giving him his fourth win while wearing Cubbie blue. Harden punched out 11 batters—tying his career high—and rendered no free passes.

The way Rich is pitching and being managed, you have to believe that the Cubs are in a much better situation than Milwaukee is with CC Sabathia. I am sorry to say it Brewer fans, but at the rate Ned Yost is using your ace, I would not be surprised to see his arm fall right off with his next fastball.

Maybe a tad dramatic, but reference Mark Prior and Kerry Wood's 2004 season after they were overworked for a combined seven complete games and over 422 innings. You can even reference the rest of Prior’s career. Thanks Dusty.

Mark "Home Run" DeRosa hit his fourth dinger in as many days. He has proven one thing to baseball this year: He belongs in the everyday lineup. DeRosa, 33, has been used as a super-utility guy for the majority of his career, yet this year, he is proving he belongs in an everyday role.

DeRo is hitting 287. with 18 HRs and 77 RBI. Mark has looked natural in every defensive spot he's been asked to play this year, and if he can keep his bat, he will be a vital component on this club for the next few years.

Catcher Geovany Soto blasted his 19th home run of the season, tying a club record for rookie home runs. Soto, a possible Rookie of the Year candidate, has done nothing but impressed this year, on and off the field. This is great news for the Cubs’ organization, as they seem to have found a gem in a traditionally shallow-producing position.

Kosuke Fukudome has been struggling as of late, and you have to expect that. After cruising through the first half of the season hitting .296, it seems pitchers have finally figured Fuks (f-oo-ks) out. But I wouldn't count on that for too long; he is a professional hitter and will adapt as needed.

Kosuke proved that in the seventh inning, with a pinch hit, two-run homer. Look for him to return to early season form.

The Chicago Cubs are still a long way from making any kind of history, as the second and third-best teams in the N.L. are right in the division race, including the very impressive Brew Crew.

Their work is definitely cut out for them. Watch for some exciting baseball to be played here down the stretch.