The Cubs now have their starter for Game 2 of the September 15 doubleheader against St. Louis. And if they get into a one-game playoff at the end of the year. Here is the press release. Having Trachsel back eight years after he last pitched in a Cubs uniform is a little weird. For what it is worth, he posted a 2.37 ERA in 6 starts in August.

Big innings win games, and the Cubs had a big inning in a big game last night.

Rich Hill was, for the most part, excellent, striking out nine and walking none in seven innings. Two of the three runs he allowed came on Corey Hart's bloop single to center. Hill has been the Cubs' best starting pitcher since the All-Star Break.

Alfonso Soriano returned and did nothing at the plate and looked hesitant in the field. Still, I feel better with him in the lineup.

Less than two months ago, Jacque Jones was on his way to Miami. In the unlikliest of turnarounds, he is on pace to being one of the heroes of the season. Going into last night, Jones had hit .326/.372/.479 since Lou Piniella reinserted him into the starting lineup on July 13. He has also played good defense all year, which is especially important given that he has been next to Cliff Floyd many times. See Cub Town for more on Jones.

The fielding error by Scott Linebrink on Ryan Theriot's high chopper to the mound during the fateful 7th inning last night was interesting for one particular reason: it was actually scored an error rather than a hit. That was the correct call; Linebrink should have fielded the ball (though Ron Santo disagreed with me). But Linebrink did have to make a small jump for it and, in today's baseball world, most scorekeepers call anything a hit where the fielder has to make more than a minimal amount of movement. It is one reason why fielding percentage statistics need to be taken for no more than they are worth, which is not much.

With the Cubs' win over the Brewers, and the Cardinals' win over the Astros, the Cardinals now sit in second place. I told you I was worried about them. 1060west is worried, too. ESPN.com's Gene Wojciechowski tries to sort out the NL Central. He also notes something cool that the fans did last night:

TV listings for Cubs fans - September 2007

For telecast info regarding individual Cubs games, check out the cubs.com schedules at:

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=chc&m=9&y=2007
and
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/chc/schedule/broadcast.jsp

So far, the above page doesn't list telecast info for the Cubs/Cardinals game on Sept 10.
I'm also wondering if they'll have a special promotion givaway for that game day.

The September 5 game vs the Dodgers is scheduled to air on WGN and ESPN.

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon discussed Rex Grossman on PTI yesterday, following the Bears' preseason win over the 49ers. "We expect the quarterback to take the snap!"

Good news for Cubs fans! The PLAYSTATION 3 has predicted that the Cubbies will take two out three from the Brewers this week. After losing game one, the Cubbies will come back to take the final two.

Using the MLB 07 The Show, the best selling and most realistic baseball simulation available, Sony PlayStation simulated the three game series on the PLAYSTATION 3 console.

Taking into account each team’s line-ups and scheduled starters, here is how the three game series will play out.

Game 1:

Tuesday, August 28

Brewers 2 – Cubs 0

Suppan vs. Hill

Suppan – Win

Hill – Loss

Cordero – Save

No HR

Suppan went 6 innings with 0 R and 5 K

Hill went 7 innings with 1 ER and 4 K

Game 2:

There are 5 weeks of baseball left in this season, and the Cubs, setting atop the NL Central by 1.5 games, are in the hunt for a playoff spot, but regardless of that outcome, I am prepared to declare this season a success in my book.

When we last heard from Mark Prior -- or at least about him -- we discovered that his arthroscopic shoulder surgery revealed significant damage to his labrum. He spoke to Cubs reporters for the first time since that April surgery yesterday and we learned the following (S-T; D-H):

--He is in "Phase 2" of his recovery

--He has not started throwing yet, but should start in late October.

--Prior will not be full strength by the opening of spring training, but wants to be ready by opening day.

--He wants to play for the Cubs.

--The Cubs are likely to tender him a contract. If they do, they will have to pay him a minimum of $2.86M because they can only cut his salary by 20% under the collective bargaining agreement.

USA Today has a nice Q&A with Bleed Cubbie Blue publisher Al Yellon, in an ongoing series of Q&As with sports bloggers.

Aramis Ramirez will no longer get, and apparently no longer needs, days off to rest his knee, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. Ramirez has been remarkably consistent the past four seasons, each time posting an adjusted OPS+ between 126 and 136. This year, he and Derrek Lee are tied for the team lead at 131. Ramirez has not played in 28 of the Cubs' games this year.

Additionally, "Alfonso Soriano (quadriceps) ran through a series of trainer-supervised tests before the game, including full batting practice and base-running. He appeared to fare well but is not expected back for a week to 10 days." Soriano's return is important. For whatever reason, Matt Murton has continued to have a disappointing season. He has hit .240/.296/.440 in 54 plate appearances since Soriano went down on August 5.

http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2000/04/2007-free-agents.html

I know it's August, we are in first place, but the off season is just as exciting to me as the in season. Anyways, I came across this list the other day. It's going to be a thin crop this year with the exception of center fielders, which we really don't need. Jones is finally hitting enough not to be a liability, and his defense has been better than expected. I can only hope the Yankees would be dumb enough not to pick up Bobby Abreu's option. He really would look nice in right field and hitting behind Soriano and Theriot but ahead of Lee and Ramirez. His left-handed bat also gives the lineup more balance.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2978642

I think this is the best deal the Cubs could have possibly done to keep him. If he had hit the market, his contract would have been astronomical.

After winning four straight games to close out July, then losing five straight to open August, the St. Louis Cardinals have won six of their last eight games, all against winning teams -- the Padres, Dodgers, and Brewers. The Cardinals have outscored their opponents 48-19 in those eight games. Combine that recent success with the Brewers' and Cubs' struggles, and the Cardinals sit just three games out of first place in the loss column, just two in the loss column behind the Cubs. This, despite a losing record and a pretty awful runs scored/runs allowed differential (the Pythagorean records would have the Cubs ten games up in the loss column against the Cardinals).

Count me among the worried. As the AP says, "the Cardinals suddenly are lurking."

And they have a number of good things going for them:

The Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan reports that the Cubs will call up left-hander Carmen Pignatiello and outfielder Jake Fox before tonight's game against the Reds. (Hat tip: Out of Right Field.) Presumably Eric Patterson and Sean Gallagher are leaving, which leaves us wondering why Patterson was brought up in the first place. He was with the club for seven games, started just one of them, and had just six plate appearances.

Show them this picture:

Here is the television schedule for the Chicago Cubs / St. Louis Cardinal series this weekend at Wrigley Field...

August 17 - Cubs vs. Cardinals 1:20pm WGN

wgnsuperstation.trb.com/sports/

August 18 - Cubs vs. Cardinals 2:55pm WFLD / Fox

www.myfoxchicago.com

August 19 - Cubs vs. Cardinals 7pm ESPN

sports.espn.go.com/espntv/espnGuide

Derrek Lee and the Cubs aren't the only ones going through a loss of powe this season. ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick runs through some of the possible reasons MLB teams are on pace to hit 578 fewer home runs this season than they did in 2006.