Last year I said that Neil Cotts was going to bring a lot of value to the Cubbies, and that the trade that sent David Aardsma to the White Sox in return was not a bad deal. As of now, having witnessed yesterday's two pitch debacle by Cotts, in which he gave up a bases loaded home-run to A.J. Pierzynski, I eat my words. (Aardsma of course is doing great for the South Siders.)

I wondered about Lou Piniella's judgment when Cotts was called in to relieve Zambrano, given that this was a high tension moment and Cotts might not relish it. Then when I realized he was facing A.J., the one guy on the White Sox who probably understands his pitching better than anyone, I got really scared.

First pitch, low and outside ball that Pierzynski got decent contact with that went foul. So why come in with another low ball? I admit I know next to nothing about what A.J. likes or does not like. But I am old fashioned enough to feel that if he just hit a low ball, he won't be as grooved for something diferent. Anyway, it's history. And Neil has a lot to live down now. Even though he did not lose the game, he may have lost a little heart in the circumstances.