Mismatch

Later today we've got Angel Guzman facing off against Jason Schmidt. This one does not look good on paper, but it's Angel Guzman. Angel's coming off one of his worst starts of his career, where he allowed 10 hits in 3 innings against the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates. I have confidence in Guzman, and as with Rich Hill I think it's only time before he harnesses his stuff. Guzman's been hit or miss each start this season. He's either been very good or very bad. The last month or so he's incorporating his plus changeup into his repetoire more and more. He's got great stuff, everyone knows that. Just rookie inconsistency. He can still catch lightning in a bottle and the light might just turn on for him, as it seemingly as for Rich Hill.

Jason Schmidt is coming off two terrible starts back-to-back where he allowed a 14 runs to the Diamondbacks and the Braves combined. He's been pretty forgettable since the All-Star Break, going 4-3 with a 4.72 ERA. I need not remind you, but Jason Schmidt has been a Cub killer the last few years. He threw a complete game against us earlier this season and has a 1.15 ERA against us since the start of the 2003 season in 47 innings. The way the Cubs are swinging the bats I would not expect any except the same this time out. Looks like it will be another loss for the Cubs tomorrow. Is that really a bad thing?

1. 87 Kansas City
2. 82 Pittsburgh
2. 82 Tampa Bay
4. 80 Chicago

The Cubs are within striking distance with the number two slot in the draft. About the draft. Vanderbilt's David Price was named Baseball America's Summer Player of the Year. He has to be the number one prospect in the draft right now, with ease. The second is probably NC State right-hander Andrew Brackman. The 6'10" righty armed with a 99 MPH fastball has yet to decide whether or not he'll shoot hoops this fall. If he does not, he's the second best prospect. The third college player in the elite trio is Georgia Tech catcher Matt Wieters. His plus bat could intrigue the Cubs, but if Price is there they'd be stupid to pass him up. A potential Veal, Pawelek, Price lefty rotation makes me salavate.

Some random stuff from yesterday's games. Tampa Bay turned a triple play, it's the second time one has been turned on Seattle this season. That wasn't the rarest thing, Phillies' right-hander Scott Mathieson faced one batter, struck him out. The batter reached on a passball and Mathieson was taken out with an injury. Final line: 0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 BF, 1 ER. Go figure.

Stat of the Day: Top 10 Position Players in PrOPS:

1. 1.125 Travis Hafner, DH - Cleveland Indians
2. 1.102 Jason Giambi, 1B - New York Yankees
3. 1.097 Albert Pujols, 1B - St. Louis Cardinals
4. 1.088 David Ortiz, DH - Boston Red Sox
5. 1.075 Manny Ramirez, DH - Boston Red Sox
6. 1.073 Ryan Howard, 1B - Philadelphia Phillies
7. 1.055 Jim Thome, 1B - Chicago White Sox
8. 1.045 Lance Berkman, 1B - Houston Astros
9. 1.032 Frank Thomas, DH - Oakland A's
10. 1.032 Adam Dunn, LF - Cincinnati Reds

Note the positions. All of them first basemen with the exception of the DH playing left field and the first baseman playing left field. Chris Dial posted his defensive ratings at the end of last month, Adam Dunn was at -13/150 and Manny Ramirez was at -41/150.