Maholm has had a few problems throwing strikes.

I'll admit to confusing Maholm with the Pirates' seemingly endless parade of mediocre/shitty white starting pitchers, so I must ask: Has he always been this prone to hitting batters?

He averages about 1 every 21 innings over his career. So, kind of a lot, but nothing like, say, Kerry Wood in his salad days.

Cubs on pace for 90 HR on the year, by the way, after yesterday's power outage.

What's the point of trying to steal a base when your pitcher is trying to lay down a sac bunt anyway?

Yeah that was a pretty weird send.

Even when Marlon does something right he ##### up.

FAIL. Why is Greene even bunting with no outs?!?!?

Oh, and your former Cubs update:

Aramis Ramirez: .192/.200/.194
Carlos Zambrano: 3.75 ERA in 12 IP with 10 K's and 8(!) BB's

Tyler Colvin: .417/.462/.833 (in 13 PA)

Paul Maholm: Shitty

Too bad Marlon Byrd didn't get off to a good start. Perhaps the Cubs could have pawned him off on Boston.

Why do I think that the Cubs and Red Sox will be unlikely to deal with each other for awhile?

Meanwhile, down on the farm, Randy Wells got shelled today (8 ER in 2.1 IP), but Tony Campana hit his first professional outside-the-park HR. Luis Valbuena hit a grand slam and as of rightnow has an 1109 OPS (that game is ongoing).

Rizzo is 2-for-4 with two singles

Brett Jackson is 1-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts. That's a very typical Jackson line

Matt Szczur was 1-for-5 and is now batting a mere .135 - ugly.