The Cubs optioned shortstop Ronny Cedeno to Triple-A Iowa and designated catcher Koyie Hill for assignment after the game against the Cardinals on Monday.  It is being rumored that Cliff Floyd and Henry Blanco will replace them on the active roster.

Floyd is back with the team after being with his family during his fathers health problems and death.  Floyd says that it is great being back with the team, and a much needed relief at this time.

Blanco joins the team after having some back and neck problems which has kept him out most of the season.  He was 2-10 during a minor league rehab which isn’t that great but we know he is on the team for his defense more then his offense.

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CUBS FANS, WE ARE IN FIRST PLACE!  Well by .01 of a percentage point over the Milwaukee Brewers.  The Cubs were able to push across a run in the bottom of the 9th inning last night on a wild pitch by Brett Myers of the Phillies.  If that is what it takes for the Cubs to be in first place, we will all take it!

In an up and down game for Rich Hill, the Cubs bullpen kept the Cubs in the game that allowed for the dramatic ninth inning.  Scott Eyre, Carlos Marmol, Bob Howry, and Ryan Dempster pitched the final 4.1 innings and did not allow earned run!  That a way guys, keep up the good work.  It’s sad that Hill only last 4.2 innings, but he was throwing way to many pitchers everything inning to go deep into the game.  Hill has got to figure out how to get batters out without throwing 10 pitches to each batter.

Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, and Matt Murton all had two hits apeace.  Murton, Ronny Cedeno, Jacque Jones, and Rich Hill each had an RBI for the team.  It was nice to see Murton producing in the game.  He just might earn some more starting playing time in right field now to give Floyd some rest.  Murton was the guy that started the rally in the 9th inning as he led off with a double.

It was also nice to see Soriano steal some bases last night.  He finished with three stolen bases to move his season total to 18.  I can see Soriano running more often down the stretch to get into scoring poistion for Lee and Ramirez.

What do you all think? Are the Cubs in first place to stay?  Let us know by leaving a comment!

The Chicago Cubs lost the first game of a four game series to the Philadelphia Phillies as Cole Hamels shut down the Cubs with eight strong innings.  Hamels (12-5) allowed one run and three hits, struck out eight and walked two. The 23-year-old left-hander retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced, and also set down his last nine batters.

Just a terrible performance by the Cubs offense against a tough left hander.  You have to get more people on base and play small ball against a pitcher like Hamels and the Cubs didn’t do that much.  They had their best chance when Hamels walked two batters, and then Ronny Cedeno came up and swung at the first pitch and popped out.  Why was Cedeno swinging at the first pitch after the last two batters walked?  Who knows, but if Cedeno wants more playing time he is going to have to be smarter.

Ted Lilly picked up the lose for the Cubs.  It was his first loss in his last 8 eight games so the streak was meant to come to an end eventually.  He didn’t pitch too bad overall, but let two former White Sox players hit homeruns off of him.  Tadahito Iguchi and Aaron Rowand took Lilly deep that combined for all four Phillies runs.

Great start to the series with the St. Louis Cardinals as Carlos Zambrano led the Cubs to a 4-3 victory.  In a low scoring game, Zambrano and Kip Wells had a great pitchers duel but it was an error that extended the seventh inning gave Zambrano and the Cubs the win.

Zamrano threw 6.2 innings while he gave up five hits and two earned runs.  He kept the Cubs in the ballgame and that is what you ask for your starter.  He did have three walks, but for the most part, they didn’t hurt him to bad.

Will Ohman, Carlos Marmol, and Ryan Dempster came in out of the bullpen and held the Cardinals down to scure the win.  The Cardinals did score one in the ninth inning to come within one but that was all they could get as Albert Pujols grounded out to second base to end the game.

Aramis Ramirez and Jacque Jones both had great days at the plate for the offense.  Ramirez went 3-4 with an RBI and Jones went 1-2 with an RBI as well.  Ronny Cedeno who was called up before the game chipped in with an RBI in the sixth inning as well.  Cedeno came into the game during the 4th inning when Mark DeRosa left with some sort of nagging hamstring injury.  At this point, we are not sure how bad the hamstring injury to Derosa.  Derrek Lee delivered an insurance run in the 9th inning when he singled in Ryan Theriot.

The two teams will play again tomorrow night at 7:10.  The Cubs will be going for another win to keep pace with the Brewers so hopefuly they can get it.  It will be Ted Lilly against Adam Wainwright.

Cubs shortstop Ronny Cedeno has been re-called from Triple A Iowa and will be in uniform for tonights game in St. Louis.  Cedeno, who hit .097 in 14 games after starting the season with the Cubs, was leading the Pacific Coast League with a .360 average and has 10 home runs with 32 RBIs in 65 games at Iowa.

I would expect to see Ryan Theriot play most of the time, but Cedeno can play as his backup or even move Theriot to 2nd base and play Cedeno at short to get another right handed bat in the lineup when needed.

Hopefully Cedeno’s time at Triple A and getting his swing back will help him out in the Big Leagues.  If he doesn’t hit, you can’t put him in there when you have Theriot and Mike Fontentot who have been pretty good.

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