Big Unit on Cubs' radar

Randy Johnson is being courted by the Cubs. Maybe next year is the one ! For you soccer fans out there the Cubs haven't won a World Series since 1908.

CHICAGO -- With Kerry Wood out of the picture and Ryan Dempster and Jake Peavy out in the open, the Cubs are considering another big name -- the Big Unit.

Free agent left-hander Randy Johnson, 45, would draw interest from the Cubs if the club is unable to re-sign the All-Star Dempster or acquire the former Cy Young Award winner Peavy. Johnson, a likely future Hall of Famer, is five wins shy of 300.

The Cubs are one of six teams who have contacted Johnson's Chicago-based agents, Al Nero and Barry Meister. The pitcher is unlikely to re-sign with the Diamondbacks.

Johnson knows Lou Piniella from playing for him in Seattle, and he would prefer to remain in the National League.

"It's very preliminary," Nero said Saturday, two days after Johnson filed for free agency. "Obviously, there is a tremendous amount of mutual respect between Lou and Randy. It would be natural for us to consider this."

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081115&content_id=3680965&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp

Zambrano throws no-hitter as Cubs beat Astros 5-0

Well, further proof that God exists- the Cubs are in first place and get their first no hitter in 36 years. (Number 257 in the history of pro baseball since George Bradley did it in 1876) Played in Milwaukee because of Ike. But it gets better Ted Lilly almost repeated the feat today. For you soccer fans out there, a no hitter is when the opposing team doesn't get a hit.

Pitching for the first time since Sept. 2, Zambrano stopped a Houston team that had not played since Thursday. The storm forced baseball to move two games from Texas to Miller Park and the Astros flew hours before they took the field.

Zambrano, known for his emotional displays on the mound, kept himself in control until striking out Darin Erstad to finish off the gem. It was baseball's first neutral-site no-hitter in modern history, the Elias Sports Bureau said.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/sns-ap-bbn-cubs-astros,0,5291319.story

Everyone from Cubs manager Lou Piniella to fellow starter Ryan Dempster needled Ted Lilly about having to follow up Carlos Zambrano's no-hitter. Lilly sure came close to one of his own. Lilly pitched no-hit ball until Mark Loretta's seventh-inning single, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Astros 6-1 Monday to sweep a two-game series moved from Houston by Hurricane Ike.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-080915-chicago-cubs-houston-astros,0,4263577.story