Anyone still paying attention to this team is probably aware that, after a very slow start, Jeff Baker has done a pretty incredible job with the Cubs this year. The second baseman has put up a .329/.380/.476 line in a Cubs uniform, with 19 RBIs in 170 at-bats, to boot. Last night, he had an incredible at-bat against hard-throwing Giants closer Brian Wilson. Baker rallied back from being down 0-2 in the at-bat to sock a 2-out, 2-2 pitch to deep left field to give the Cubs the lead and the eventual win.

Mark DeRosa, as Mike D. is quick to remind you, managed to turn a 1-out, bases-loaded, 3-1 count against Livan Hernandez during the 2007 NLDS into a routine 6-4-3 double play. He’s been bad for the Cardinals, posting a .238/.301/.435 line since he came over from Cleveland. He’s six years older than Baker, he’s making $5,085,000 more than Jeff, and he’s become an annoying Chicago folk hero whose departure was lamented by idiots like Dave Kaplan. On the other hand, Baker doesn’t have five-o-clock shadow, and your wife (probably) wouldn’t eagerly take him into her mouth while you were standing there, watching and sobbing. INTANGIBLES! With that, let’s put them into the Fukudome.

	VS.
Jeff Baker		Mark DeRosa