Athos and Porthos are no longer lonely

Aramis Ramirez returned to the Cubs' lineup today, playing DH. He hit a solo home run in his first at-bat and went 2-for-3, also reaching on a hit-by-pitch, with a run scored and two RBI, as the Cubs beat the Sox 5-1 in the opener. Considering Ramirez tends to be a second-half player, this is a great time for him to be coming back. The fact that he played DH and was pulled for a pinch-runner in the ninth suggests that he's probably not 100% quite yet, but it could just be that Piniella is treating him with kid gloves (certainly not a bad idea). Either way, he might be just what this offense needs right now.

Zambrano had another great outing - eight innings, twelve Ks, one earned run. Don't look now, but his ERA is down to 4.27 after it was 5.77 in April and as high as 5.62 in June (specifically, on June 1, the day of his 13-hit abomination against Atlanta). Since the fight with Barrett, Zambrano is 3-1 with a 1.15 ERA, the only loss coming in the 1-0 game where Zambrano almost threw a no-hitter, then threw a complete-game two-hitter, but lost when the Cubs managed only two hits off the Padres and no runs. By all rights, he should be 4-0 in that time, but either way the ERA speaks for itself. And what I said on April 18 is no longer true - Zambrano is now making himself money with each additional start. I really hope the Cubs' ownership situation gets settled soon, because if they can't offer Zambrano a big contract, he is going to be pitching in New York next year. And that's really going to upset me. As mercurial as Zambrano can be, he's a workhorse and a guy who could be the anchor of the franchise for another decade. He hasn't had the injury problems that derailed his fellow young guns Wood and Prior; he's a guy who will win you 15 games with an ERA in the low 3.00s. You're going to let that walk out the door because he can be emotional? If you ask me, that's just not enough of a liability. (And frankly, can you imagine Zambrano handling the New York media? God forbid he has another April like this one after signing a $120-million contract; they'd eat him alive.)

Fun fact: Rob Bowen has already drawn three walks in two games as the Cubs' starter. Barrett had 17 in 57 games.

Other fun fact: In his first start for the Padres, Barrett struck out three times and allowed a passed ball. (Maybe I shouldn't have wasted energy defending him...)

Fun ancillary recap item: "The White Sox fired senior director of amateur scouting Duane Shaffer after 35 seasons with the team." This is like when Steinbrenner fired the strength coach. Really? The director of amateur scouting? I guess Jerry Owens was a bust, but don't you think that if anyone needed to be fired due to the Sox's recent slump, it should be someone involved with the big club? Maybe I'm crazy.