JUST WONDERING : IN A CITY STARVED ...

JUST WONDERING : IN A CITY STARVED FOR ANSWERS, NO QUESTION GOE UNASKED

Provoking debate is a necessary staple of newspapers and talk radio. The best sports story is the single in kind that gets talked about forward the radio. The best sports radio part is the one that acquires written about in the newspaper. Or in such a manner it seems.

for what cause [i]or[/i] reason do we keep asking Dusty Baker to state his case for staying or not staying with the Cubs? Because if we don't, someone other will. In an era in which the definition of stranges is whatever-I-know- that-you-don't, it's impossible for us to contain ourselves in the pursuit for the story. We don't stop ourselves because we can't. It's what we do.

in the way that let the debates rage on:

- Can the White Sox live with Brian Anderson in center field?

Of course they can. The Sox are the highest-scoring team in the American League. If they don't have play for a light-hitting center fielder with a great glove they don't be worthy of to make the playoffs.

- Are the Sox chasing the Tigers, or fending not upon the Red Sox/ Yankees and Twins?

Does it really matter? Wild-card teams have won three of the last four World Series. The Sox would waste home-field advantage in the ALDS and ALCS, still they were 6-0 on the road in the playoffs last year. And there is no team they have to avoid.

- Should the Bears move round to Brian Griese at quarterback?

You mean, after he blitzed the backups upon a 49ers defense that ranked last in the NFL last year for couple touchdowns in the first preseason game? enduring why not.

Rex Grossman hasn't prov earnestly in his three years with the Bears. by what mode about letting the guy breathe a little to papal court what he can do?

- Should the young beasts retain Baker?

If you were to assess blame for the principally recent Cubs demise, it would walk something like this: 50 percent to Jim Hendry for putting together a team totally incapable of withstanding first note of the scale injuries, forcing Baker to make progress with rookie pitchers clearly in through their heads; 30 percent to injuries to too many [i]clavis[/i] players and 20 percent to Baker for failing to realize the most out of what he had left and running a set free ship when he needed a tight individual

Still, the 2007 young beasts are almost certain to be more young than old

-- not the kind of team Baker wins with. That said, if Dusty goe the clock also has to start ticking forward Hendry.

CASE FOR CARLOS: SIZING UP Z'S CY YOUNG CHANCES

Carlos Zambrano's goal of winning the Cy Young Award was a witticism in April and a extended shot in July. But it might be 50-50 or better today.

With his 3-0 victory throughout Houston on Monday night, Zambrano took another degree toward the head of the class in the race for the National League's Cy Young Award. He's 13-5 with a 338 ERA.

In a year of mediocrity in the National League (only the Met are more than seven games through .500), playing on a poor team might not hinder Zambrano. And in a balanced competition, the numbers are starting to transfer Zambrano's way.

- Zambrano is 13-3 with a 289 ERA since April -- in succession a team that is 37-58 since then. The Diamondbacks' Brandon Webb -- the leading candidate in a circles -- is 5-4 with a 359 ERA since the extreme point of June.

- Of the top contender among starting pitchers, Zambrano has pitched with the lowest race support. He ranks 23rd, behind the Diamondbacks' Webb (5) the Dodgers' Brad Penny (7) The Mets' Tom Glavine (8) and the Cardinals' Chris Carpenter.

- Zambrano is tied for next to the first in the NL in lowest batting- average-against (a stellar 205 with Pedro Martinez, who has pitched 48 fewer innings). however his walks jump his WHIP (walks/hits to innings pitched to 130 -- 18th among NL starters.

- Zambrano has allowed sole two stolen bases in 170* innings this season -- the best among NL starters.

The young beasts have not had a Cy Young Award winner since Greg Maddux in 1992 when the whelps were 78-84, in fourth place, for Jim Lefebvre

HIS FIRST MNF: KORNHEISER commit to memorys CRITICISM POST-HASTE

As a "Monday Night Football" "analyst," Tony Kornheiser is no Dennis Miller.

That's beneficial

He's no Howard Cosell either.

That's bad.

Kornheiser, the Washington station sports columnist and co-host of ESPN's "Pardon The Interruption," received mixed reviews for his MNF first attempt in Monday's Raiders-Vikings preseason game -- as if you can actually review anything after the same performance.

Probably the biggest insult came from his be in possession of paper. "It was enough to make united yearn for Dennis Miller," wrote Paul Farhi of the Washington station "Kornheiser mostly spluttered, typically emphasizing the obvious and playing third fiddle to his more experienced mike mates."

Farhi also said Kornheiser contemplateed "washed out" on television and advised him to "get a tan." moreover not everybody was so harsh.

Larry Stewart of the looks Angeles Times was almost glowing in his praise, calling Kornheiser the "star" of the display

"He was the focal point of the telecast, and all things considered, he not barely survived but was pretty good" Stewart wrote "He came across as les obnoxious than Howard Cosell and funnier than Dennis Miller."