First Place Cubs, Rehab Updates, Rumors, and More!

The Cubs are in first place!
With the Cubs win today to sweep the Reds, and the Cardinals loss in Philly, the Chicago Cubs have moved for the first time this season! The Cubs have now won 4 in a row and 8 of 10 since the All Star Break! The Cubs were the only team in the NL Central to pick up a win today.

B.J. Ryan Update
Left handed pitcher B.J. Ryan has reported to Mesa to start his rehab. He has spent the last week working one on one with Cubs minor league pitching coach Mark Riggins. They are starting with some long toss.

Brad Snyder Rehab
According to Arizona Phil of the Cubs Reporter.com, Iowa Cubs outfielder Brad Snyder is also rehabbing from a broken wrist at Fitch Park, and he hopes to be back in the I-Cubs lineup by the end of next week.

Miles at AAA
According to Bruce Miles the Cubs are in no hurry to activate Aaron Miles from the DL, who is rehabbing at AAA Iowa with an elbow injury. The Cubs are waiting until his starts swinging the bat a little better to call him up. He's hitting .226 at AAA, but tonight he does have an RBI double.

Patton Also Rehabbing
David Patton is rehabbing with the AA Tennessee Smokies, and he's 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA so far. He will start @Mobile tomorrow night at 7:05 CT, let's hope it goes well!

Rumor Time!
Bruce Levine has tossed out names like John Grabow, Tom Gorzelanny, and Zach Duke for the Cubs pitching staff. The Cubs have discussed Scott Downs with the Blue Jays according to WGN Radio. We've also heard about many other relievers that the Cubs have interested in. Will the Cubs make a move before Friday's deadline?

Lee's Neck
Derrek Lee left yesterday's game with neck spasms, and sat out today's game against the Reds. Derrek has dealt with this neck issue all year long and in the past, and is expected to be back in the Cubs lineup when the Cubs open up a big 3-game series is the Astros tomorrow night at Wrigley Field.

Cubs prove Writers Wrong
2 of the headlines on Cubs.com before today's game were "Bradley better from the right?" and "Afternoon not a delight for Harden". There was lots of talk that Milton should hit only right handed and that Harden should pitch only at night, but Bradley went deep from the left side in a pinch hit AB yesterday, and Rich Harden pitched a gem during a day game today.

Tomorrow I will have an update on the Cubs draft picks; who hasn't signed, who's at Boise, who's at Mesa, who's played well, who has not.

But that's it for now, I'll let you know any rumors I catch wind of as the deadline nears.