Don’t worry Raffy, you didn’t lose much. Just your reputation, your dignity and any chance you ever had of making the Hall of Fame.

Phil Rogers says if Bud has his way, the next time a player pulls a “Raffy” he gets 50 games off.

The Cubs play fewer “contenders” than just about any of their wild card race foes, but they do have lots of games left with Houston and St. Louis. They’d be wise to win those.

The rap on Matt Lawton is that he’s a bad outfielder, though a good leadoff man. Yeah, you mean just like Kenny Lofton?

Groucho says the Bulls would be better off trading Eddy and Duhon. I can tell you this, the Chris Duhons of the world are a dime a dozen. Do not pay him three million bucks. He’s never going to be better than he was last year, and that wasn’t that great.

The Bears have a tight end named Ron Johnson? Nobody is named Ron Johnson who isn’t in the FBI witness protection program for something. Maybe he went to the Super Bowl in Atlanta with Ray Lewis?

Jerry Azumah wants to make the playoffs. Yeah, me too. Oh, and we find out that Jody Gerut was in Chad Hutchinson’s wedding earlier this summer. Really. No shit.

Hawk got fired up yesterday. Don’t worry, he didn’t get fired up enough to start making any sense.

Teddy G says Big Ten schools don’t schedule good non-conference teams. Well, Michigan plays my alma mater and my almost mater, so that has to be something, right?

Mariotti puts down the doughnut to get on his soap box (which makes him about what, 5’7?) to rip Palmeiro.

Toni Ginetti says Jim Hendry went into the trade deadline looking for a relief pitcher and a power hitting outfielder. Matt Lawton is neither.

The Wizard of Roz on…OK, fine, this is the last Sandberg column, right Barry? It’s at least eight in a row, now. You’re friends. We get it. Thanks.

Jayson Stark says in his book Palmeiro is still a first ballot Hall of Famer. Do I think Sammy, Mark McGwire, Raffy, Barry, etc. deserve to be in the Hall? Sure. Will I care if they are excluded? Not one bit.

Sports Guy on “Manny being Manny.”

Peter King drops in on the Lions.

Kelly Dwyer has the list of the top ten worst NBA free agent signings. Yet, no where on his list are Jon Koncak or Jim McIllvaine?

Ooh, get the popcorn ready! Saddam’s trial is going to be on TV.

America’s finest news source on how Disneyland celebrated it’s 50th Anniversary.