Is there any question that he's the next Bears QB?

It might have been the final college game for (Ball State quarterback Nate) Davis, who has indicated he was considering skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft. He was 9-of-29 passing for 145 yards and lost two fumbles and an interception in the first half. Davis was not made available for interviews after the game. He was 0-for-10 in the second half.

K-Mad Killer Update (cont'd)

General manager Omar Minaya said Thursday that Moises Alou has a torn left hamstring and will likely undergo season-ending surgery. Alou injured his hamstring Wednesday while playing in a minor league rehab game on his comeback from a strained calf. Even without going under the knife he's probably done for the year.
~

you knew this would start...

News item: Rather than exchange a traditional handshake, Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) bumped fists at the conclusion of their joint appearance on CNN's Late Edition yesterday. The move appeared to be "a reference to Barack and Michelle Obama's celebratory fist bump on Tuesday."

Which is the more shocking news story?

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- After watching his underachieving offense go 2-for-14 in a 4-3 loss at Tampa Bay, manager Ozzie Guillen promised some changes to his White Sox roster.

"Just be ready because I expect movement Tuesday," Guillen said. "I expect Kenny to do something Tuesday, and if we don’t do anything Tuesday, there are going to be a lot of lineup changes. That’s all I’m going to say about the offense.

"It can be me. It can be (hitting coach) Greg Walker. It can be the players. It could be anybody. I’m sick and tired to watch this thing for a year and a half. I’m not protecting anybody anymore. (Bleep) it.

"If they can’t get it done, Kenny should find someone to get it done. That’s it."

OR

SAN FRANCISCO - San Diego Padres pitcher Mark Prior will undergo season-ending surgery on his injured right shoulder, the latest medical setback to a once-promising career.

Padres manager Bud Black announced the decision to operate before Sunday's game against the San Francisco Giants. Prior, one of the top young pitchers in the game for the Chicago Cubs just a few years ago, has not pitched in the majors since Aug. 10, 2006.

He had been trying to make a comeback with his hometown Padres this season, but his rehab process was shut down at extended spring training about two weeks ago when he had more soreness in the shoulder. Prior, 27, had surgery on the same shoulder in April 2007 while with the Cubs.

"I can't imagine how frustrated he is," Black said. "It looked like everything was on course. Then to have this happen I'm sure is extremely frustrating. I'm upset for him just because there was such confidence from him about how he felt."

Wilfredooooo Ledezzzma: Welcome to the Horrorz (cont'd)

Wilfredo Ledezma allowed four runs in four innings to lose to the Cardinals on Monday night. Ledezma, who was starting in place of Jake Peavy, gave up three runs on two homers. With two outs in the third inning, he issued an Albert Pujols single, then walked two batters and hit Yadier Molina with the bases loaded to allow a third run to score. With Peavy facing a possible trip to the disabled list, Ledezma should get at least another start.

as reported here Friday (cont'd)

The Chicago Scum-Slimes reports that the Cubs will pursue Jim Edmonds as soon as he clears waivers on Wednesday.

Sources tell the "paper" that Edmonds has told his agent that the Cubs are the first team he wants to talk with. Edmonds would likely replace Felix Pie on the team's roster, and share center field duties with Reed Johnson.

They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

Mark Prior experienced discomfort in his surgically repaired right shoulder during a throwing session on Saturday and will be examined by team doctors. There aren't even any jokes left to make. The Padres knew they couldn't count on Prior when they took a chance on him. They'll hold out hope he'll contribute later on, but it's hardly likely to happen.

what took him so long?

News item: Bush Blames Democrats For Sliding Economy
President says Democratic-controlled Congress has blocked proposals to address issues ranging from soaring gasoline prices to increasing food costs.

Smiff is shocked again (cont'd)

I see the Blackhawks didn't make the playoffs again.

Smiff beating Decker in yet another fantasy league

We were chatting last night and thought we would give ESPN a whirl since their game is free again. Who is shocked...SHOCKED!...that I'm in 2nd, Sarge is in 9th...

Senor Chico Standings
1 Team Ross
2 785 Smelly Hound Dogs
3 Team SENOR
4 kansas city kc royals
5 Skeetin on Ya
6 new york newyork bombers
7 Elgin Cell
8 Annapolis Crunchers
9 BROOKLYN Dogs of Yore
10cardington yankees

Opening Day!

Predictions:

AL Division Winners and Wild Card

AL East
Boston - 97-65

AL Central
Detroit - 100-62

AL West
California - 91-71

AL Wildcard
Cleveland - 95-67

NL Division Winners and Wild Card

NL East
New York - 94-68

NL Central
Chicago - 96-66

NL West
Arizona - 91-71

NL Wildcard
Milwaukee - 92-70

AL Playoffs

Boston over Cleveland
Detroit over California

Detroit over Boston

NL Playoffs
Brewers over New York
Chicago over Arizona

Chicago over Milwaukee

World Series

Chicago Cubs: World Champs 2008

PLAYERS

AL MVP - Miguel Cabrera
NL MVP - Derrick Lee

AL CY Young - Justin Verlander
NL Cy Young - Cole Hamels

AL ROY - Evan Longoria
NL ROY - Joey Votto

AL Manager of the Year - Eric Wedge
NL Manger of the Year - Dusty Baker

Biggest Surprises
Rich Harden, healthy, has one of the best seasons on a bad team ever. But his bad team/great pitching is shadowed by the as good pitching of Cain and Lincecum who have a combined 21-27 record with a 3.45 e.r.a. and 345 innings pitched//360 k's. In the year of bad team//good pitcher, Zach Greinke, Ian Snell and Shawn Hill will also put up great periphials. As a unit, all these pitchers will go something like 62-80 with a 3.70 e.r.a. and 1030 innings pitched//980 strikeouts.

The Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays will compete for a playoff spot into mid-August if Kazmir is healthy relatively soon.

Daric Barton will break out hard-core.

Biggest Questions
To what extent will Felix Pie develop this year?

How healthy is John Lackey? If he's worse than they're saying, Seattle will be right there.

Where will Barry end up (if anywhere)?

Will the Twins get smart about Joe Mauer and at least have him play a Victor Martinez kind of role - dh'ing, maybe playing a little 3B and catching 4 games a week?

To what extent will Joba and Hughes be allowed to develop into front-line starters this year? Will Ian Kennedy kill the Joba-star? Is this allowable?

Will Alex Gordon become a beast?

What will the Mets rotation look like in mid-August? If there's some injuries, Atlanta and Philadelphia get back in the middle of things real quick.

Minor League Break-outs:
Tim Alderson - SF Giants Starting Pitcher
Joe Savery - Phi Phillies - Starting Pitcher
Josh Vitters - Chicago Cubs - 3B
Jeremy Jeffress - Milwaukee - Starting Pitcher
Bill Rowell - Baltimore - 3B
Neftali Feliz - Texas - SP
Mike McCardell - Minnesota - SP

I write this as if it were in stone.

If the sun came up today, well...

...Jim Oberweis must be losing another election in Illinois:

Major Democratic Victory - Hastert’s IL Seat Goes To Bill Foster

What's next for Jimbo? Is "ice cream truck driver" an elected position anywhere?

Face it, no one likes you. Dick.

Oh, it's on now...

EU increases pressure on Zimbabwe

President raps ‘gang of four’

Merkel’s remarks demonstrate fascist inclinations: Ndlovu

In summary:

EU - we want to help, but you must do this, and that, and the other
Africa - we aren't your colonies any more, don't tell us what to do. Send the money though

Result - nothing.

Cubs, Phillies show why they rarely make the playoffs.

See subject line.

a certainty defined

Milton Bradley:
1) great hitter, when healthy, which is infrequent to say the least
2) HYOOOGE asshole, all the time, which is frequent to say the most

Milton Bradley is still likely a few days away from returning from a strained oblique, according to manager Bud Black. And there's a good chance Black will say the same thing come Wednesday or Thursday.

shocking - and who's behind the book burnings?

Liberals read more than conservatives (My Pet Goat doesn't count...)

the man just can't buy a break

Darin Erstad left Thursday's game in the sixth inning with an apparent leg injury.
Erstad put a ball in play and immediately fell to the ground clutching the back of his leg, before limping to first base. He appeared to be in a great deal of pain and had trouble exiting the field, but it's possible that it was merely a cramp. He went 2-for-3 with an RBI before leaving and was replaced in left field by Andy Gonzalez.

The Sox are officially done.