Chicago Cubs

The series finale game against the Atlanta Braves will be "Sweet" Lou's last game as a manager. 

Earlier this year, he did announce he intended to retire after this season, but plans do change.

Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella has seen enough of this season apparently and has decided to retire from it and his career after Sunday's game against the Atlanta Braves. 

In mid-July, Piniella had announced that this would be his final season in the big leagues, after 18 seasons as a player and 22 as a manager.

Third base coach Mike Quade will serve manager the rest of the Cubs' season.

Relievers are often called upon when a strikeout is necessary to prevent the other team from scoring. Here are the five relievers that are best at striking hitters out, based on their K/9 rate. 

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Assuming that everything that owner Tom Ricketts has told us is true, and Jim Hendry really will be leading the search for the next Cubs manager to replace the retiring (retired?) Lou Piniella, do not believe that former Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg is a lock to be the man.

In fact, if you read into the tea leaves, Hendry doesn't feel that Ryno is ready to be a major league manager and instead would prefer one with previous major league experience.

2:20 pm ET, Friday, Aug. 20 TV: CSN, SPSO

Probable pitchers: Ryan Dempster (11-8, 3.62) vs. Jair Jurrjens (5-4, 3.92)

4:10 pm ET, Saturday, Aug. 21 TV: FOX

Probable pitchers: Tom Gorzelanny (6-7, 3.85) vs. Tommy Hanson (8-8, 3.41)

The San Diego Padres are simply too strong for the Cubs.

The Chicago Cubs could not avoid the sweep by the NL West leaders Thursday afternoon.  Once again, their bullpen sank and a careless defensive play in the seventh inning put them down 5-3 in the series finale.

In a move that was slightly surprising, Derrek Lee was traded to the Braves on Wednesday.

It wasn't really a surprise that the Cubs wanted to trade him. After all, they did try to make a swap with the Angels involving the veteran first baseman not too long ago.

Unless Cubs GM Jim Hendry makes some significant moves this off season, the Cubs rotation for next year could be really bad.

In fact, the Cubs top starter looks to be Ryan Dempster, who would be a fourth or fifth starter on any other "contending" club.

Of course, that is assuming the Cubs will be contenders next season, an assumption that is not likely to be realized.

Even in an average rotation, one would have to look long and hard to find a worse number one than Dempster.

Casey Coleman’s first Major League start is a loss.

The 23-year-old right-hander pitched in Thursday’s matinee match in Wrigley Field.  The Chicago Cubs lost 5-1 to the San Diego Padres for their third defeat in a row.

Spending a week on a cruise ship tends to take you out of the sports loop.

That was my situation last week as I tuned into ESPN in my cabin and caught the hosts of "Baseball Tonight" talking about Texas Ranger's outfielder Josh Hamilton.

I didn't catch the beginning, but what I heard was something like, "If Hamilton didn't get messed up with drugs at the beginning of his career, he might be on his way to the Hall of Fame."