CIN, HOU, MIL, PIT, CHC all pisspoor in 2009.

[PenFoe]

By my very unofficial count, the Pirates have now gotten rid of 32% of their Opening Day Roster.

[Weebs]

By my very unofficial count, the Pirates have now gotten rid of 32% of their Opening Day Roster.

Too bad, if they didn't trade Bay last year or make all of the moves they have this year, they'd probably be contenders in the Central.

[PenFoe]

By my very unofficial count, the Pirates have now gotten rid of 32% of their Opening Day Roster.

Too bad, if they didn't trade Bay last year or make all of the moves they have this year, they'd probably be contenders in the Central. wouldn't be the Pirates.

In actuality fool'd.

[Tank]

By my very unofficial count, the Pirates have now gotten rid of 32% of their Opening Day Roster.

I count 10 gone, for 40% of 25...

Adam LaRoche, Freddy Sanchez, Jack Wilson, Nyjer Morgan, Nate McLouth, Eric Hinske, Craig Monroe, Ian Snell, John Grabow, Sean Burnett

[PenFoe]

By my very unofficial count, the Pirates have now gotten rid of 32% of their Opening Day Roster.

I count 10 gone, for 40% of 25...

Adam LaRoche, Freddy Sanchez, Jack Wilson, Nyjer Morgan, Nate McLouth, Eric Hinske, Craig Monroe, Ian Snell, John Grabow, Sean Burnett

I didn't count Monroe because he's so bad they just cut him.
I missed Burnett though...

[BC]

The Genius just put Wellemeyer into the 10th inning of a 3-3 game, and Todd promptly gave up a two-run single.

Thanks TG & TW!!!

[Philberto]

Lost in the excitement of Grabowner and Godzillany was this: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/07/astros-release-russ-ortiz.html

[July 30, 2009 at 4:36pm CST]

According to Alyson Footer via Twitter, the Astros released pitcher Russ Ortiz.  Ortiz's nine earned run drubbing today was apparently the last straw, as his ERA rose to 5.57.  The Astros had signed Ortiz to a minor league deal in January and named him the fifth starter in April.

The game was a 1:20 start and apparently took 2:54 to complete, so 4:14, and a mere 22 minutes later he was being reported as released.

Cecil must have told him as he came to the mound to pull him to go ahead and pack his bags.

As Pen pointed out in the SBox, the Astros come in to Chicago and over the course of 4 days, they lose Oswalt to an injury, lose Wesley Wright to Zambrano-syndrome, have Hampton reinforce how much he sucks, and cut Ortiz. Sounds like that SNEAK ATTACK might be faltering.

[Saul Goodman]

Lost in the excitement of Grabowner and Godzillany was this: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/07/astros-release-russ-ortiz.html

[July 30, 2009 at 4:36pm CST]

According to Alyson Footer via Twitter, the Astros released pitcher Russ Ortiz.  Ortiz's nine earned run drubbing today was apparently the last straw, as his ERA rose to 5.57.  The Astros had signed Ortiz to a minor league deal in January and named him the fifth starter in April.

The game was a 1:20 start and apparently took 2:54 to complete, so 4:14, and a mere 22 minutes later he was being reported as released.

Cecil must have told him as he came to the mound to pull him to go ahead and pack his bags.

As Pen pointed out in the SBox, the Astros come in to Chicago and over the course of 4 days, they lose Oswalt to an injury, lose Wesley Wright to Zambrano-syndrome, have Hampton reinforce how much he sucks, and cut Ortiz. Sounds like that SNEAK ATTACK might be faltering.

Well that's where you're wrong.  All the more sneaky when it's the least likely.

[BC]

The Cubs need a three-day SNEAK ATTACK from the Astros this weekend... Then they should lay down for the rest of the year.*

* = Except against the Cardinals, Brewers, and any potential Wild Card team.

[LoneStarCubFan]

Dusty claims another one.

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/baseball/wires/story/1167692.html

[Hawkeye's clutchness]

Brew town implosion continues. Thoroughly enjoyable.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/52277737.html

[Saul Goodman]

Brew town implosion continues. Thoroughly enjoyable.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/52277737.html

"It's just baseball," Braun said. "The toughest play as an outfielder is the line drive right at you. It's just baseball. You just move on to the next play. I didn't say it doesn't bother me, I just said it's baseball it happens. It won't be the first time, it won't be the last time."

"No matter who is in there, we have to find a way to throw the ball better for us to have success," Braun said Sunday. "I think when you're constantly behind in games, it's not easy and it's not fun. Their starting pitcher was clearly better than ours this series."

So when other Brewers screw up, Braun thinks they're killing the team and changes need to be made.  When Braun screws up, it's "just baseball".  I wonder what the pitchers in the bullpen were thinking as he chased down that line drive.

[Saul Goodman]

DPD.  At least Brewers fans have the awesome HOME RUN DATABASE.

[Weebs]

RotoWorld occasionally has a gem amidst all their failed attempts at comedy:

Willy Taveras has been scratched from the lineup a fourth straight game Sunday.
Taveras is battling wrist problems. Without Jerry Hairston Jr, Laynce Nix is the immediate beneficiary. Taveras is batting .240/.279/.290 this season with 21 stolen bases. The Reds would be better served to move on after the year, but Taveras signed a two-year pact. It means another year of Dusty Baker ensuring the leadoff position isn't clogging up the bases. Of course, here Baker is just clogging up the bench.

[BC]

It is much more fun watching him manage a different National League Central team...

Here's to hoping he gets to "lead" another Central foe at some point in the future.