New Faces

The 2010 Cubs are leading the major leagues in one-run losses by a wide margin. So the best thing that could happen to this team is to have its OPS leader go on the DL - especially when the only other catching option on the major league roster has a sub .500 OPS. To remedy this, the Cubs called up Welington Castillo, who was so excited to replace Geovany Soto that he left one of his "L's" in Iowa. Castillo has an .823 OPS (albeit in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League), but he's only 23, so maybe he'll be somewhat useful. Unless the manager does what he did last year when Soto went on the DL and plays Koyie Hill almost every inning of every game until Soto returns, that is.

Also, Derrek Lee, who is still dead last among NL first baseman in OPS, will be out on bereavement leave. Micah Hoffpauir has been brought up to replace him. Last year, the Hoff hit .239/.300/.427, which is actually better than Lee's .246/.332/.383 line this year. That's right - Lee has been less productive than a guy who couldn't even find a spot on the Cubs' major-league roster this year. We'll see if the manager insists on putting the Hoff in the 3 or 4 spot in the order, as he has done with Lee in every single game he has started this year.