odds & ends

So the WHITE SOX were all giddy after winning 7 of 8 and decided to stand pat at the trading deadline. COMPLETE MORONS. did anyone want to mention to the emperor those seven wins came against last place teams? they had one piece worth trading and rather than get some prospects, they're going to let him walk away at the end of the year because they thought they were 'in it.' the only thing they're in is big trouble. the yankees kicked their ass over the weekend and now tampa is continuing the beat down.      arrrrrrgh.

the CUBS decided they didn't want to play with the big boys BUT they did made two solid moves which can only help them in the race to the post season. (although i was sorry to see TAYLOR TEAGARDEN go to make room for the newcomers.  it was just fun saying his name.)  

DAN HAREN will make a perfect #5 starter for the north siders as he eats up a lot of innings and keeps you in the ball game. he couldn't get a fastball past your mother but it will save the cubs the angst of starting DALLAS BEELER or TRAVIS WOOD. the cost for haren? two MINOR leaguers not even listed as top thirty prospects in the organization. see how that works?

the cubs also learned quickly that RAFAEL SORIANO is not the answer to the closing position and picked up fireballing TOMMY HUNTER from baltimore for journeyman JUNIOR LAKE, who signed his death warrant with manager JOE MADDON for  hot dogging it after hitting a home run against the marlins in early june.  lake soon found himself back in the minors, never to see wrigley again as long as maddon was still around. so enter hunter, who can throw 99 mph on his strong nights and while his major league experience is not that of a closer, he did fine his first time out over the weekend when he got the save against the brewers.

august is the 'we'll see' month for the cubs.  SEVEN games against the GIANTS, three vs. the PIRATES, four vs the BRAVES and three vs the DODGERS.  september will bring them six each against the CARDINALS and the PIRATES but  a bunch of games against terrible teams.  split the games mentioned earlier and they're dancing in october.

only the CHICAGO BEARS..........#1 draft choice KEVIN WHITE hasn't seen the field yet because of a secret injury.  is it his shin for sure?  nobody knows because NFL teams are not required to release any injury information until the regular season starts.  i'm hoping the bears can go 6-10 this year but a national publication today released their prediction that they would be the WORST TEAM IN FOOTBALL at 3-13.  ouch.

short but sweet. see you later.