Aaron Heilman came in to pitch the seventh inning and immediately gave up a homerun to the Marlins Cody Ross.  For his trouble, Dempster ended up with a no decision.

The Cubs took the lead 2-1 with a homerun by Jake Fox in the top of the ninth.  With a one-run lead, Lou Piniella handed the ball to closer Kevin Gregg.  Gregg had blown a save the day before, only to have the Cubs come back to win the game.  Gregg even got the “W”.

Gregg started out the bottom of the ninth in good fashion by getting pinch hitter Hanley Ramirez to pop out for the first out of the inning.  Then things fell apart.  The next batter, second baseman Dan Uggla, hit a solo shot off of Gregg to tie the game.  Cody Ross was next up and hit his second homerun of the day to give the Marlins the victory.  In two successive batters, Gregg earned a blown save and the loss.

The blown save was Gregg’s fifth of the year.  He has 21 saves in 26 chances.  To be honest, that’s not horrible, but I can’t say that I have had faith in Gregg any time he has stepped on the mound.  In 2008 as the Marlins closer, Gregg had 29 saves in 38 chances, or nine blown saves.  He’s on pace to do about the same this year.

The Cubs next head to Cincinnati to take on the Reds in a three game series.  Under-the-radar Rookie of the Year candidate Randy Wells (7-4) takes on Aaron Harang (5-12).  The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.

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I don’t know if the following story/rumor is true, but I found it interesting.  It comes from Hot Stove Cubbies, a site I know almost nothing about.  In doing some checking, the unnamed author of the site supposedly has some close contacts with personnel from the Cubs and he has apparently called things right in the past.  You be the judge. 

Here’s what Hot Stove Cubbies had to say about a trade that got away:

I am hearing from a really reliable source that the Cubs were talking to the Orioles on Friday morning about a potential deal where switch-hitting leadoff man Brian Roberts would be sent to the Cubs along with a minor leaguer.

According to my source the O’s were going to pay 20 million of Roberts salary if they could get Jeff Samardzija, highly touted prospect Hak-Ju Lee, power hitter Jake Fox, prospect Alex Maestri and Mike Fontenot.

There was a couple of sticking points for the deal but did not kill that did not kill it [sic]. The Cubs did not know if the Shark would be willing to waive his no trade clause and whether the Cubs could afford to take on Roberts contract at 4 years 20 million dollars. As it neared the afternoon the Cubs brass got the O.K. to add the money and Jeff said he would waive his no-trade clause for a chance to start in Baltimore.

All this work was for nothing because when Andy MacPhail presented the deal to Peter Angelos, he vetoed the trade. There was no reason giving [sic] by my source why Peter would veto such a trade when he is getting 5 good young ball players, 3 with ML experience and two that could be ready in a year or two. Not to mention that the O’s would get our #2 prospect and #10 prospect according to baseballamerica.com.

I honestly think the O’s would have gotten a little better of a deal than the Cubs would because the Cubs are giving up quite a bit of talent for Roberts and a minor leaguer but they are in win now mode so I would have approved the trade.

The Cubs would have gotten a good 2nd baseman for the next 4 year at a cheap price. Not only would he provide the Cubs with stolen bases but he is a true leadoff hitter. It’s a shame this deal did not go through because I feel this would have put this team over the top.

The Orioles would have gotten a guy that could immediately step into the rotation in Shark and at 2nd base in Fontenot. Not only that they would get a really good power bat in Jake Fox. He could play some outfield, 3rd, and 1st but would primarily be their DH. The O’s then would receive a really good defensive shortstop with an good bat but is a couple of years away in Lee and Alex Maestri could step in as a top notch reliever next season. What a young good team the O’s would have for years to come!

It is really crazy how now we hear trades that were purposed but did not happen. In the past we heard Nate McLouth for Felix Pie straight up, the Cubs turned that one down a couple of years ago. Mark Prior, Felix Pie, and prospect for Miguel Tejeda and Erik Bedard, the Cubs also turn down that one years ago as well. But this one is hardly the Cubs fault. I guess we can hope for this to be revisited maybe through waivers? Not likely.

Again, I don’t know if this is true or not, but if it is, I hope Jim Hendry can revive it in the off season.  Mike Fontenot is obviously not the answer at second base, and the Cubs have demonstrated time and time again that they need a true lead off hitter. 

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I have a real problem with the way salaries are handled in MLB.  There’s a real problem with the business side of the game when a team like the Yankeees pay one player more than other organizations spend on their entire roster.  The idea of a salary cap has been floated in the past, but in my mind, the only way that makes sense is if it includes a minimum amount a team must spend.  Not only would this be necessary to get the Players Union to approve the plan (they probably would still not approve it), but it would be necessary to promote competitive balance.

Ben Bouma formerly worked for the Pittsburgh Pirates and now works as a producer with ESPN and TBS.  He still lives in Pittsburgh and he remains passionate about Pirates Baseball.  At the moment, he’s none too happy about the way the Pirates organization is run.  Here’s what he had to say in Nick Cafardo’s column in the Boston Globe:

The Pirates, on pace for an American professional sports record of 17 straight losing seasons, have gutted their team of name players and decided to start anew, but in the process barely have a major league team on the field.

 

Bouma points out that in 1997, the Pirates’ payroll was $9 million, $1 million less than Albert Belle’s salary. The Pirates’ current payroll is $25 million, 25 percent less than what Alex Rodriguez is making this season.

“Four players in MLB make $20 million to $25 million and three of them play in that [Yankees] infield. [The Dodgers’ Manny Ramirez makes $23 million.] With 67 percent of the season gone, the Pirates are only on the hook for less than $9 million for the remainder of 2009,’’ Bouma writes in an e-mail. Bouma points out that the Pirates are the only team in the majors without a player making at least the MLB average salary of $3.26 million (Paul Maholm is highest at $2.5 million).

“Last year, the Pirates are believed to have received a revenue-sharing check of $27 million from MLB, based on figures leaked to the Wall Street Journal,’’ Bouma writes. “They receive close to $35 million from the national TV contracts. That is $62 million before anyone buys a ticket, sets foot in PNC Park on Opening Day and buys a hot dog, or watches or listens to a game on local TV and radio. Not to mention what they will receive from MLB for the MLB Network and MLB.com/MLB.TV and Extra Innings packages. On top of this, they let go many front-office people [some with 20 years of service] earlier this season.

“This is no longer a problem of ‘how baseball is structured’ any longer. This is both fundamentally and ethically wrong . . . It is high time this [ownership] group is held accountable for the complete mismanagement of the franchise as their excuses have run out.’’

Pirates general manager Neal Huntington, after making his final deal Friday, said, “We need to break the cycle of losing. We need to break the cycle of being in a situation where we’re making trades every year. We have the pieces in place to build something.’’

The Pirates are a sad case, as are the Royals and Marlins (although the Marlins have been somewhat competitive).  The Padres can be added to that list at the moment, although their situation is different and appears to be temporary.

When you look at the Pirates and realize that not one of their players earns the league average salary, you have to wonder why Commissioner Bud Selig doesn’t step in and do something for the good of the game.  If the ownership group doesn’t have the money to field a competitive team (is that possible considering they received $62 million dollars for doing nothing?), then they should be forced to sell or bring on a deep-pocket partner (Mark Cuban?).  If the city simply can’t or won’t support the team, then the once proud organization should be moved.  Baseball can not allow this travesty to continue.

Carlos Zambrano got the start for the Cubs and pitched well, going 7.0 innings and giving up just three hits and an earned run.  He struckout four and walked four.  Wandy Rodriguez was every bit as good for the Astros, going 7.0 innings, giving up six hits and one earned run.  He struckout seven and walked two. 

Both bullpens battled it out for the next six innings.  But in the bottom of the 13th inning, Houston’s Chris Sampson faced Alfonso Soriano with the bases loaded and Soriano delivered a blast to deep center field to end the game.

Aramis Ramirez was the hitting star, going 3-for-6, including a sharply hit single that led to the Cubs eventual victory.  Ramirez is hitting .338 and has looked great since his return from the DL.  I guess his shoulder is doing okay (*knocks on wood*).

Derrek Lee was 2-for-3 with a homerun and three walks.  Milton Bradley went one-for four with two walks.  Bradley hasn’t completely turned the corner on his hitting  (he’s still hitting just .248), but he is looking better up at the plate and he is finding a way to get on base.  It’s still not enough, but it’s a start.

The series with the Astros continues tonight with Roy Oswalt (6-4) going for Houston against the fresh-off-the-DL Ryan Dempster (5-5).

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The Cardinals beat the Dodgers to keep pace with the Cubs, while the Astros lost to the Cubs and the Brewers lost to Washington.  Houston is in third place in the division, three games behind the Cubs.  The Brewers are now one game under .500 and 4.0 games back in fourth place in the division. 

With Milwaukee falling under .500 so close to the trade deadline, does that mean they may tun from being buyers into sellers?  Baseball is a game of faith, but you also need to know when to cut your losses and set your sights on next year.  If the Cubs were in the same position, I would say they should keep fighting.  But the Brewers don’t have nearly the pitching that the Cubs have and adding Jerrod Washburn (as has been rumored) won’t improve them enough.

I don’t want to write off the Brewers.  They have a tremendous offensive team, but their pitching staff needs work.  If I were either GM Doug Melvin or owner Mark Attanasio, not only would I be driving a nicer car, but I would play out the string this year and focus on making my pitching staff better in the off-season.  Or maybe a better way to say it is that I wouldn’t make any moves this year unless those moves help to make the team better in the future.  A one year rental won’t make things better in the future.

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Ted Lilly had his knee scoped yesterday and everything went well, at least that’s what Paul Sullivan with the Chicago Tribune say.  According to noted physician Lou Piniella, Lilly’s shoulder should be healed by the middle of August and his knee should be ready to go by then as well.

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Add Washington’s Joe Beimel and Pittsburgh’s John Grabow to the list of relievers the Cubs are looking at.  This, according to Bruce Miles at the Daily Herald.  George Sherrill of Baltimore seemed to be the Cubs first choice for lefty reliever, but Orioles GM Andy McPhail has placed a rather high price on his left-hander. 

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JP Ricciardi will not budge off of his price for Roy Halladay, so teams are beginning to turn their attention to Cleveland’s Cliff Lee.  I’m sure Cleveland is not going to just give Lee away, but they are in a dealing mood.  According to MLB Trade Rumors, yesterday the Indians sent outfielder Ryan Garko to San Francisco for LHP prospect Scott Barmes.  The Indians reportedly still have interest in moving Lee as well as catcher Victor Martinez.

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According to MLB Trade Rumors, East Windup Chronicle is reporting that the Cubs have signed Taiwanese pitcher Wang Tsu-an.  Tsu-an (or is it just Wang) reportedly received a $300,000 signing bonus.

In Sunday’s game, the Cubs offense exploded for eleven runs to beat the Nationals 11-3.  Micah Hoffpauir, Jake Fox and Mike Fontenot all had three hits in five at-bats.  Fox and Alfonso Soriano hit homeruns for the Cubs, and Kosuke Fukudome went 2-4 in the leadoff spot.  It was the third day in a row that Fukudome led off and was 2-4.

The win moves the Cubs into second place in the NL Central, just two games back of the Cardinals.  Milwaukee and Houston are three and four games back respectively.

The Cubs now travel to Philadelphia to take on the Phillies.  Ted Lilly will start for the Cubs against the Phillies’ Rodrigo Lopez.

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Speaking of the Phillies, they remain the most likely destination for Roy Halladay should the Blue Jays trade him.  However, Tim Kurkjian commented yesterday on ESPN Radio that he doesn’t believe that the Phillies have the pieces necessary to trade for Halladay.  He said that the Blue Jays are looking for two MLB-ready players (one a pitcher), and two top prospects. 

According to Danny Knobler of CBSsports.com (via MLBTradeRumors.com), the Brewers are in the hunt for Halladay.  Knobler writes:

“Rival teams say the Brewers have enough prospects to make a Halladay deal, even though they’ve suggested they won’t trade Alcides Escobar or Mat Gamel. One intriguing possibility: A team that talked to the Brewers was told that shortstop J.J. Hardy could be available “in the right deal.” “

I hate to hear that.  Facing the Brewers with Doc Halladay on the mound wouldn’t be much fun for the Cubs.

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Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports says that the Cubs are one of the teams showing interest in Baltimore closer George Sherrill.  Other teams thought to be interested according to Rosenthal are the Marlins, Dodgers, Brewers, and Angels. 

Orioles GM Andy McPhail has taken the position that Baltimore doesn’t need to trade Sherrill, but the truth of the matter is that Sherrill is probably the best closer available right now and his trade value may never be higher.  Plus, Sherrill’s contract is up at the end of the year.  If Baltimore has any plans to move Sherrill, now may be the time.

In 2008, Sherrill had 31 saves in 37 opportunities.  So far in 2009 he has coverted 20 of 23 save opportunities.  In 38.1 innings, Sherrill has given up 30 hits, struck out 35 and walked 12.  In comparison, Kevin Gregg has converted 18 of 21 save opportunities this year.  He’s pitched a total of 44.1 innings giving up 37 hits, striking out 43, and walking 18.

Comparing their contracts, Sherrill is on a one-year contract worth $2.75 million.  He’ll be a free agent at the end of the 2009 season.  Gregg is also on a one year contract and he too will be a free agent at the end of the season.  Gregg earns $4.2 million per year.  Gregg is 31-years old while Sherrill is 32.

I’m not convinced the Cubs have much interest in Sherrill, but if they do, my guess is that they would use him in the 7th or 8th inning to get to Gregg rather to replace him.  Sherrill is not much of an upgrade over Gregg, if in fact he is an upgrade at all.