Ozzie Guillen may not have enjoyed Prior’s pitching performance yesterday, but he seemed impressed by it.

Ryan Dempster thinks the Cubs are close to breaking out in a big way. We’ve heard this before.

Ooh, goody, more Steve Stone news. This never gets old.

Time for Joe to break a finger or something.

Mariotti puts down the doughnut to rip Cubs fans for being optimistic. Hey Jay, it’s all we got, jackass.

After all that hand-wringing, the Cubs-Sox season series ended up at 3-3. Whoop de damn doo.

Moron Steve and Dusty.

Ozzie said Jon Garland was better this year, Prior agreed with him, but wasn’t too convincing.

David Huh and this concept are both dumb.

Teddy G. looks at the two dullest “blogs” going.

Seabiscuit’s Jockey looks at Dusty’s blind faith in batting Corey leadoff, and then says something stupid like,

But when the move works—as it did on Sunday with Patterson’s go-ahead home run off Jon Garland in the sixth inning of the Cubs’ 2-0 win—the payoff can be huge.

Huh? Did a solo homer in the sixth inning have anything to do with where Corey was batting?

Dempster’s been nearly flawless as the closer. Love the phrase “nearly flawless” which means nothing.

You take Andrew Bogut number one and you’ll always be the team that didn’t draft Marvin Williams. I’m just saying…

Rick Morrissey’s still pointless, and boring.

After two appearances by Jerome Williams Phil Rogers is worrying that other GMs won’t deal with Jim Hendry. I’m worried that nobody will beat Phil senseless with a sock full of quarters.

The Wizard of Roz says that Wood and Prior are important. Gee, really?

Peter Gammons says that the A’s will trade Mark Kotsay to the Cubs or Yankees (this is disappointing because what Gammons says never comes true–but now you see how Mariotti writes his column, he reads Gammons on Sunday morning and regurgitates), and says Len and Bob are among the best announcers in the game. Then he neuters that statement by adding Michael Kay and Paul O’Neill into the mix. They’re awful.

Bret Boone to the Padres? He’s off the ‘roids and Petco is huge. Yeah, sounds like a great fit.

This pantlode was in the Daily Southtown today:

Piniella to Cubs?

The rumor mill isn’t solely focused on outfielders the Cubs may obtain before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. Rumors are circulating about a replacement for Baker — even though Cubs officials have stated publicly and privately that Baker’s job is safe.

Newsday in New York reported in Sunday’s editions that an unidentified source said Lou Piniella, who is unhappy about his situation in Tampa Bay, could end up with the Cubs or back in Seattle.

Baker is in the third year of a four-year, $14 million. Cubs brass might not want to pay off his contract and hire another high-priced skipper.

Ken Rosenthal says that the Cubs have turned down one offer from the Rockies of three prospects for Preston Wilson, and says that the Marlins are looking to trade AJ Burnett. For some reason Ken makes a comment on how Preston is “only” 18 months older than Kotsay, but with more power. Why not just say that Preston is only 18 months older than Kotsay, but worse?

In a separate column Rosenthal talks about Kotsay to the Cubs again. I’m on board with this being an excellent idea. Kotsay can play left or center (or both at the same time) and can lead off or hit down in the order. You wouldn’t give up Corey to get him because a) he’s a free agent after the season and b) the A’s wouldn’t want Corey, so you could mix and match between Kotsay and either Hollandsworth or Patterson or Dubois. Hey, that’s just crazy enough to work.

Todd Walker wants to lead off, but Dusty won’t let him. That’s right, you need guys batting behind Derrek Lee not in front of him where he could drive them in.

JFK Jr apparently nailed Princess Di. Hey, if he had the chance he’d have been a fool not to.

The world’s greatest newspaper with a guy so fat he has his own moon.