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It was a nice run headed into the break. The Brewers finally had their record start to catch up with their talent level and play. The Cubs haven't been great, but have clearly been the best team in the NL. Hendricks giving up too many HRs, Bryant hurt, Darvish hurt, Lester being the only starter meeting expectations, etc. A lot of ways they can improve in the 2nd half.

anyone watching the derby tonight, baez and schwarber are going

so i was on vacation for a week, how are we doing? i was barely following the team

i see we're still in first, any deadline deals in the works? should there be any?

woooooooo back to back homers to walk off!

Damn Hermes, keeping the ship steady. 'Cause now we actually have a ship. Hope you're well, my friend.

Cole Hamels...not sure how I feel about this one. He's struggled this year, but he has been better away from the little league park in Texas. I guess we'll see what he has left at 36.

Howling Mad wrote:Damn Hermes, keeping the ship steady. 'Cause now we actually have a ship. Hope you're well, my friend.

hey man

Kizz Fastfists wrote:Cole Hamels...not sure how I feel about this one. He's struggled this year, but he has been better away from the little league park in Texas. I guess we'll see what he has left at 36.

espn says he's 34, but i don't know much about him after he left the phillies

looks like he is a lot better away from texas (era under 3 on the road, and its nearly 5 overall this season)

we'll see if the change of scenery works for him.

i see we only gave up a bunch of low level minor league players, so that's nice we kept the big league team intact. is this just a rental? what's hamels contract status?

is this the end of chatwood in the rotation or move montgomery back to the bullpen?

You are right about the 34. I misread that. He has a team option for next year. $19M with a $6M buyout. I figure they'll keep him for the $13M difference if he is solid down the stretch. I figure Montgomery goes back to the bullpen, but I'm not sure. It does make me wonder if they are worried about Darvish coming back this season.

Think solid for what we gave up. I hope it moves Chatwood to the pen, MM has been too good starting at this point.

Think they are very worried about Darvish.

did we give up anyone very promising?

They didn't give up anything that matters. Chatwood is going to the pen. Hopefully that will get the rotation on track.

cubs beat the birds and avoid the sweep, hendricks was good again (another homer in the first though)

when did we get this chavez guy in the bullpen? he's been really good

Picked him up from the Rangers about a week before the Hamles trade. I don't expect much from him. He's 34 and has never been very good. He should be a solid middle relief arm, but he's been significantly better over his small sample with the Cubs than anywhere he has previously pitched. He has a career 1.37 WHIP, 4.56 ERA and 4.37 FIP. He has been used a starter on occasion with 70 starts and over 300 relief appearances in his career.

Brandon Kintzler for Jhon Romero. Didn't see Romero on our top 30 prospects on MLB.com

Seems to be a good move.

It is solid, although I'm not that high on Kintzler with his walk rate. Romero is a 23 yr old bullpen arm in A ball. Even if he turns into a solid reliever in 3 years it is well worth it for an upgrade now. It is more likely Romero fails in the upper minors than he become a high leverage reliever.

pretty good start for hamels, and the offense helped out quite a bit

another cubs win! baez still raking

cubs hold on for another win today

strop is fun closing it out, he gets very excited when he finishes the game with a strikeout

Hendricks gives up another HR. I'm not confident in any of the starters right now. Maybe Hamels can step up and be the ace that is needed for the postseason.