I can't believe the plan is to have Harden sit on his hands until July 21. Primer Chimp, indeed.

Lou's gotten a little weird of late. The break's coming at a good time for him. Then again, trying to straighten out the recent version of Carlos Marmol could do that to a guy.

Well, they've got their work cut out for them today, facing Lincecum with a depleted bullpen. Dempster better be lights out. And it's not that unrealistic to think he might be, pitching at home against this offense. Piniella will almost certainly make him pitch very deep into this one as long as he's effective.

I can't believe the plan is to have Harden sit on his hands until July 21.

Why the surprise? There were people in the trade thread advocating having Harden sit on his hands until September.

July 21 is next Monday; that'll be the Cubs' 4th game after the all-star break. Might as well get him an extra couple days rest while the opportunity's presenting itself.

i dont mind resting him and lets see what marshall can do in a start, let him and marquis battle it out for the 5th starter slot, then hopefully marquis pitches well and they can trade him

Lou's madness yesterday seemed more understandable in light of Wood's blister. As for Harden, why not give him extra rest? Others on here have declared we should wrap him in bubble wrap and slap a fragile sticker on his ass.

what happened with wood? and what happened to in the 9th i didnt catch it

Marmol got torched-no that is not even the right word. It resembled Dresden out there.

Why the surprise? There were people in the trade thread advocating having Harden sit on his hands until September.

CONCUR x100000000. The plan is to have him healthy in October. Who cares what he doesn until then?

I'm pissed I missed yesterday's start from Harden, but I'll be in my hotel room tonight CarlSpoonberging (TVAnts and chattering from Europe).

I guess Lou's at his wits end when it comes to dealing with Marmol now, so yesterday looks like tough love of a sort. I never, under any circumstances, would have left him out there that long. Looks like he overmanaged early and got stuck in a pickle late.

I'd consider either DLing or demoting Marmol for a little bit. Preferably the first, just so he has the rest and it's not as much of a punishment.

Wait, Marmol made the All Star team as Wood replacement?

Quick easy inning for Dempster.

Lee almost took Lincecum's head off there. It may have scraped his mullet on its way by.

Lincecum throws the hardest of anyone I have seen this year. His stuff is filthy.

Another good one.

Defense fell apart there. Theriot wasn't covering 2nd on the steal and DeRo just overran it. Geez.

Ouch. Going to be tough to make up three runs.

Sucks that DeRo doesn't get an error on that play.

The Cubs just need to make Lincecum throw lots and lots of pitches. They'll have to get the runs back against the bullpen.

That was a good inning.

Durham's been kinda of a Cubs killer this year, hasn't he? I wonder if he's always been that way.

Anyone who votes for Reed Johnson is this poll should be neutered (poll q is most valuable Cub not on the All-Star team this year; options are Lee, DeRosa, Theriot, Johnson, or Edmonds).

BTW, who'd have thunk Edmonds would even have been on a poll like that for the Cubs?

Farmer Ted references will never go out of style.

I hope Clint doesn't use Marmol on Tuesday.

Well, Dempster didn't pitch horrible today, but wasn't that sharp all day. Had 3 or 4 great innings though. Some bad defense helped do him in.

After ten years, must they continue to ruin the bottom of every seventh inning?

You're gonna have to stop complaining so much if you're gonna ride this bandwagon. We're positive folks here.

Good one.

Len, Len, Len...Gaudin didn't fill in for Harden, Gaudin was the fourth starter to begin the season and lost his job to sixth starter Greg Smith when Harden and Duchscherer returned to the rotation. Because six starts with a 3.75 ERA were enough to change the offseason assessment that Gaudin belonged in the rotation without a fight.

This team just doesn't die.

Brewers just won. Cards also won.

Oh well.

57-38, 4.5 up. I'm happy.