The Cubs will carry 11 pitchers and 14 position players during the National League Division Series:

Pitchers (11):  LHP Neal Cotts, RHP Ryan Dempster, RHP Rich Harden, RHP Bob Howry, LHP Ted Lilly, RHP Carlos Marmol, RHP Jason Marquis, LHP Sean Marshall, RHP Jeff Samardzija, RHP Kerry Wood and RHP Carlos Zambrano

Catchers (2): Henry Blanco and Geovany Soto

Infielders (7): Ronny Cedeno, Mark DeRosa, Mike Fontenot, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Ryan Theriot and Daryle Ward

Outfielders (5): Jim Edmonds, Kosuke Fukudome, Reed Johnson, Felix Pie, Alfonso Soriano

The 2008 National League Division Series begins tonight at Wrigley Field at 5:37 p.m. and continues tomorrow with Game 2 at 8:37 p.m., also at Wrigley.

The series shifts to Los Angeles on Saturday with Game 3 at 7:07 p.m. Pacific Time (9:07 in Chicago) at Dodger Stadium.  Game 4 (if necessary) is scheduled Sunday (time to be determined) and Game 5 (if necessary) would be played on Tuesday, October 7 at Wrigley Field (time to be determined).

Recommended Reading: Off season Outlook Part II

Snyder, 26, was originally selected by Cleveland in the first round (18th overall) of the 2003 Draft. He has batted .273 (641-for-2,345) with 132 doubles, 32 triples, 84 home runs and 356 RBI in 639 minor league contests, having spent the last two seasons at Triple-A Buffalo.

A left-handed batter and thrower, Snyder hit .246 (101-for-411) with 28 doubles, 12 homers and 61 RBI in 115 games for Buffalo this season as the team’s centerfielder, including a .271 average (39-for-144) following the Triple-A All-Star break. He hit .300 (27-for-90) with four home runs and 16 RBI in 24 July contests before ending the campaign with a .304 batting average (17-for-56) with runners in scoring position and two outs.

In 2006 with Double-A Akron, Snyder led the Eastern League with 86 runs scored, was second with 233 total bases and 135 games played, was fourth with 141 hits and fifth with 62 walks. He ended the campaign with a .270 batting average (141-for-523), 28 doubles, five triples, 18 homers and 72 RBI.

With Akron in 2005, Snyder was named the Eastern League Player of the Week ending August 7 after hitting .419 (13-for-31) with 11 RBI in seven games. Later that year, he batted .367 (36-for-98) with three homers and 19 RBI in 25 games for Mesa in the Arizona Fall League – his .367 batting average ranked sixth in the league.

Harben, 25, was 3-6 with a 5.37 ERA (35 ER/58.2 IP) in 23 games (seven starts) for Single-A Daytona this season, missing time on the disabled list with a left calf strain (June 6-17) and a right shoulder strain (August 10-September 11). He was acquired by the Cubs from Minnesota September 5, 2006, in exchange for infielder Phil Nevin.

Yost relieved of managerial post
09/15/2008 2:59 PM ET
MLB.com

MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers today announced that Ned Yost has been dismissed from his position as manager of the Club. The announcement was made by Brewers Executive Vice President and General Manager, Doug Melvin.

“This was a very difficult move to make, and we appreciate all of the work that Ned has done to develop this team into a contender,” Melvin said. “In the end, this was a collaborative decision made to put our Club in the best position for the final two weeks of the season.”

Dale Sveum, the Brewers third base coach, will take over in an interim role as manager for the remainder of the season. Bench Coach Ted Simmons has been reassigned to an advisory role. Any other coaching changes will be announced later.

From ESPN:

MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers fired manager Ned Yost on Monday in the midst of a late-season slump that has jeopardized the team’s chances of making the playoffs for the first time since 1982.

Third-base coach Dale Sveum will become interim manager for the remainder of the season. Bench coach Ted Simmons was reassigned to an advisory role.

“This was a very difficult move to make, and we appreciate all of the work that Ned has done to develop this team into a contender,” general manager Doug Melvin said. “In the end, this was a collaborative decision made to put our club in the best position for the final two weeks of the season.”

The Brewers share the NL wild-card lead with Philadelphia despite losing 11 of 14 in September, including seven of their last eight. Milwaukee was idle Monday.

“I think we have sucked in September so far,” a Brewers player who wished to remain anonymous told ESPN.com’s Amy K. Nelson. “And I don’t think it’s his fault that we can’t hit or pitch right now, but something had to change.”

Milwaukee is hoping to avoid a repeat of last year’s collapse. The Brewers held an 8½-game lead in late June before sliding to 83-79 and missing the playoffs.

The Brewers kept up their playoff push even longer this season, boosted when they made a big splash on July 7 by getting ace CC Sabathia from Cleveland.

Sabathia, the reigning AL Cy Young winner, is 9-0 in 13 starts with six complete games and a 1.59 ERA.

Yost was in his sixth season as the Brewers’ manager. When Milwaukee hired him from Atlanta after the 2002 season, the team was in the midst of four straight seasons with 94 losses or more.

But the next three seasons resulted in records of 81-81, 75-87 and 83-79, a marked improvement for a franchise that hadn’t had a winning record since 1992.

Yost spent 12 years on the Braves’ coaching staff with Bobby Cox, and Atlanta won division titles every year Yost was there except the strike-shortened 1994 season.

Wood is available to pitch in this afternoon’s game against the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on July 24, retroactive to July 14, with a blister on his right index finger. Wood last pitched July 11 vs. San Francisco at Wrigley Field, earning his 24th save.

Named to the 2008 National League All-Star Team, Wood is 4-2 with 24 saves in 29 opportunities and a 3.02 ERA (15 ER/44.2 IP) in 44 relief appearances for Chicago this season. He has struck out 55 in 44.2 innings of work while walking just 13 and limiting opponents to a .201 batting average. His 24 saves tie for fifth in the National League while his 11.08 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched rank third among N.L. relievers (min. 40 games).

In his 14th year in the Cubs organization, Wood has gone 76-59 with 24 saves and a 3.64 ERA (485 ER/1197.2 IP) in 255 career games (178 starts) for Chicago. His 1,378 strikeouts rank third in club annals.

Eyre, 36, went 2-0 with a 7.15 ERA (9 ER/11.1 IP) for the Cubs this season, limited to 19 relief appearances due to a pair of stints on the disabled list. He set a franchise record with 33 consecutive scoreless appearances from August 16, 2007-June 13, 2008, covering 23.2 innings, a career-best for the southpaw.

Signed to a three-year contract prior to the 2006 season, Eyre went 5-4 with a 4.03 ERA (56 ER/125.0 IP) in 148 relief appearances with the Cubs. He is 23-29 with four saves and a 4.42 ERA (297 ER/605.0 IP) in 556 major league appearances (32 starts) with the White Sox (1997-2000), Blue Jays (2001-02), Giants (2002-05) and Cubs (2006-08).

Samardzija, who will wear uniform No. 29, will be available to make his major league debut this afternoon against the Florida Marlins at Wrigley Field.

The 23-year-old Samardzija joins the Cubs after going 4-1 with a 3.13 ERA (13 ER/37.1 IP) in six appearances with Iowa, the lone six outings higher than Double-A in his professional career. With Iowa, Samardzija struck out 40 batters in 37.1 innings, an average of 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings, and limited opponents to a .241 batting average. He has a 2.37 ERA (5 ER/19.0 IP) in his last three starts, striking out 25 and walking only five in 19.0 innings. Overall, he has pitched at least six innings in all six of his Triple-A outings.

Samardzija began the season with Double-A Tennessee and went 3-5 with a 4.86 ERA (41 ER/76.0 IP) in 16 appearances, all but one as a starter. The righthander has gone 7-6 with a 4.29 ERA (54 ER/113.1 IP) in 22 outings, all but one as a starter, in 2008 between Tennessee and Iowa.

The first member of Chicago’s 2006 Draft class to reach the big leagues, Samardzija signed a five-year major league contract with club options for 2012 and 2013 on January 19, 2007. Selected in the fifth round, Samardzija combined to make seven minor league appearances between Single-A Boise and Peoria in 2006 prior to signing the major league deal.

After pitching in Boise and Peoria in the summer of 2006, Samardzija returned to the University of Notre Dame for his senior football season as a wide receiver. The 6-foot-5, 218-pounder completed his Notre Dame football career with a school-record 179 receptions, 2,593 receiving yards and 27 receiving touchdowns, earning First-Team All-America honors in his final year.

Samardzija committed fully to baseball upon signing his major league deal (declining entry in the NFL Draft) and split the 2007 season between Single-A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee, combining to go 6-11 with a 4.57 ERA (72 ER/141.2) in 30 appearances, 26 as a starter.

Harden, 26, is 36-19 with a 3.42 ERA (206 ER/541.2 IP) in 97 appearances (89 starts) in all or part of the last six seasons with Oakland.  He has 523 strikeouts in 541.2 innings pitched, an average of 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings, and has limited opponents to a .224 batting average.  He pitched in the 2003 and 2006 postseasons.

The righthander is 5-1 with a 2.34 ERA (20 ER/77.0 IP) in 13 starts this season with Oakland, fanning 92 batters in 77.0 innings, an average of 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings.  His 2.34 ERA would rank second in the majors behind only Oakland’s Justin Duchscherer (1.98), but he is just shy of the necessary innings to qualify.  Harden’s .206 batting average against would rank third in the majors.  He has 92 strikeouts and 31 walks this season, one strikeout shy of a three-to-one strikeout-to-walk ratio.  Harden has allowed only five home runs in 77.0 innings.

Among pitchers with at least 12 starts this season, Harden leads the majors with 10.75 strikeouts per nine innings (San Francisco’s Tim Lincecum is next at 9.49) and he ranks 12th with 10.40 baserunners allowed per nine innings.

Harden spent one month this season on the disabled list (April 10-May 11) with a strained right shoulder and has averaged six innings per start since returning, four times pitching into the seventh inning or beyond.  He has turned in a quality start in seven of his last 10 outings, posting a 2.02 ERA (14 ER/62.1 IP) and a .190 batting average against in that span starting May 17.  Overall, he has allowed two earned runs or less in 10 of his 13 starts.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Harden went 3-0 with a 0.68 ERA (2 ER/26.2 IP) in four starts vs. the National League during interleague play this season, limiting those foes to a .132 batting average.  In his career, Harden is 5-1 with a 1.81 ERA (11 ER.54.2 IP) in 10 interleague appearances, nine as a starter.

A native of Victoria, British Columbia, Harden is 10-3 with a 2.95 ERA (49 ER/149.1 IP) during the last three seasons, limiting opponents to a .201 batting average, though five stints on the disabled list have kept him to 29 appearances, 26 as a starter.  His 2.95 ERA and .201 batting average against would lead all big league starters if he had accumulated the necessary innings during the last three seasons to qualify for league-leader rankings.  In his career, he is 18-3 with a 1.45 ERA (35 ER/217.1 IP) when pitching at least seven innings (29 starts).

Gaudin, 25, is 5-3 with a 3.59 ERA (25 ER/62.2 IP) in 26 appearances (six starts) with Oakland this season, including a 3.38 ERA (10 ER/26.2 IP) in his 20 relief appearances.  He has not allowed an earned run in 15 of his 20 relief outings and has pitched 1.0 inning or more in 17 of those appearances.  The 5-foor-10, 185 pound Gaudin joins the Cubs having turned in a 1.50 ERA (1 ER/6.0 IP) in his last seven relief outings beginning June 21.

The New Orleans native has pitched all or part of the last six seasons in the big leagues with Tampa Bay (2003-04), Toronto (2005) and Oakland (2006-08), going 24-23 with two saves and a 4.33 ERA (25 203 ER/421.2 IP).  He returned to the bullpen this season after making 34 starts with Oakland last season.  Gaudin is 8-5 with two saves and a 3.63 ERA (59 ER/146.1 IP) in 111 relief appearances in his career.

Gallagher, 22, is 3-4 with a 4.45 ERA (29 ER/58.2 IP) in 12 appearances (10 starts) with the Cubs this season.  He has split the last two seasons between the Cubs and Triple-A Iowa.  Gallagher was originally selected by the Cubs in the fifth round of the 2006 Draft.

Murton, 26, has split the 2008 season between the Cubs and Triple-A, batting .250 (10-for-40) with two doubles and six RBI in 19 games for Chicago this season.  He has spent all or part of the last four seasons in the majors, hitting .294 (256-for-870) with 28 home runs and 104 RBI in 308 big league games.  He was acquired by the Cubs on July 31, 2004 from the Boston Red Sox as part of a four-team, six-player trade.

Patterson, 25, has also split the season between the Cubs and Triple-A and hit .237 (9-for-38) during his three stints in the big leagues this season.  He was originally selected by the Cubs in the eighth round of the 2004 Draft.

Donaldson, 22, batted .217 (51-for-235) with six home runs and 23 RBI in 63 games for Single-A Peoria this season.  He was selected by the Cubs in the second round of the 2007 Draft.

Hoffpauir and Patterson both begin their second stints with the Cubs this season and are available for this afternoon’s game against the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field.

The 28-year-old Hoffpauir was first recalled from Iowa on May 18 and batted .421 (8-for-19) with three doubles and one RBI in 11 games with the Cubs. The left-handed hitter batted .500 (4-for-8) with a double, three runs scored and one RBI in his final three games before being optioned to Triple-A on June 3. In 16 games with Iowa this season, he is batting .306 (19-for-62) with four doubles, three home runs and 15 RBI.

Hoffpauir last season batted a career-best .319 (99-for-310) with 24 doubles, 16 home runs and 73 RBI in 82 games with Iowa to earn Pacific Coast League All-Star honors.

Patterson returns to the Cubs after batting .326 (59-for-181) with 13 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 27 runs scored and 26 RBI in 47 games with Iowa this season. He posted a .361 on-base percentage and a .514 slugging percentage. The 25-year-old was first recalled this season by the Cubs on April 16 and went hitless in six at-bats before returning to Iowa three days later. The left-handed hitter made his major league debut last season and saw action in seven games, going 2-for-8 (.250) with one double.

Soriano endured the minimally displaced fracture of his left fourth metacarpal last night when hit by a pitch in the bottom of the second inning. He is batting .283 (60-for-212) with 11 doubles, 15 home runs and 40 RBI in 51 games for the Cubs this season. Soriano returns to the disabled list for the second time this year, as he was sidelined for 15 days from April 16-30 with a right calf strain.

Hart is 2-1 with a 6.62 ERA (13 ER/17.2 IP) in 12 relief appearances covering two stints with the Cubs this season. He is 1-1 with a 3.81 ERA (11 ER/26.0 IP) in six appearances, all starts, with Triple-A Iowa this year.

Hoffpauir, who joins his first major league roster, will wear uniform No. 6 and be available for this afternoon’s game vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates. Chicago’s 40-man roster now stands at 40 players.

When he makes his major league debut, Hoffpaiur will become the 14th “home-grown” player to appear for the Cubs this season.

The 28-year-old Hoffpauir is in his seventh professional season after being selected by the Cubs in the 13th round of the 2002 Draft. Hoffpauir batted .324 (11-for-34) with three home runs, 12 RBI and a .676 slugging percentage in nine games for Iowa this season after missing the first month with a strained left oblique.

Hoffpauir last season batted a career-best .319 (99-for-310) with 24 doubles, 16 home runs and 73 RBI in 82 games with Iowa to earn Pacific Coast League All-Star honors before a right-knee injury ended his campaign in early July.

In 613 career minor league contests, Hoffpauir has batted .281 (615-for-2,190) with 74 home runs and 379 RBI.

Ward is batting .200 (5-for-25) with one home run, six RBI and a .412 on-base percentage in 30 games with the Cubs this season, including 23 pinch-hit appearances.

First Star - A. Soriano (.218)
Second Star - T. Iguchi (.135)
Third Star - K. Fukudome (.133)
Top Play - Alfonso Soriano singled to left (Liner). Kosuke Fukudome scored. Reed Johnson scored. Ted Lilly advanced to 2B. (+.153)

Rather than write a recap, here is the story you want to talk about anyway:

CHICAGO - The Chicago Cubs today signed outfielder Jim Edmonds to a 2008 contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. To make room for Edmonds on the 25-man roster, outfielder Felix Pie was optioned to Triple-A Iowa after tonights game.

Edmonds will wear uniform No. 15 and will be available for tomorrows 1:20 p.m. game against the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field. Chicagos 40-man roster now stands at 39.

Edmonds is a four-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove Award winner during his 16 major league seasons with the Angels (1993-99), Cardinals (2000-07) and Padres (2008). The 37-year-old outfielder has appeared in the post-season six times, advancing to the World Series in 2004 and 2006. In 2004, Edmonds won a National League Silver Slugger Award after batting .301 (150-for-498) with 42 homers and 111 RBI.

The left-handed batter and thrower owns a career .286 batting average with 397 doubles, 363 home runs and 1,127 RBI in 1,840 major league games, including 1,639 games as a centerfielder. Edmonds boasts a .989 career fielding percentage in centerfield, the fifth-best mark among active players (minimum 1,000 games in centerfield). His 125 assists in his career rank second among all active outfielders behind only Ken Griffey, Jr. (148).

Edmonds joins the Cubs leading all active centerfielders with a .377 career on-base percentage, ranking second with a .526 slugging percentage and third in hits (1,817), home runs and doubles.

The Fullerton, Calif., native was traded to San Diego from St. Louis on December 15, 2007 but began the 2008 season on the disabled list recovering from a right calf strain. Activated April 5, he batted .178 (16-for-90) with one home run and six RBI in 26 games before being released on May 9. Edmonds joins the Cubs having batted .278 (5-for-18) with a .381 on-base percentage in six games in May after batting .153 (11-for-72) with a .235 on-base percentage in 20 games in April.

Edmonds boasts 10 seasons with 20 or more home runs and four seasons with 100 or more RBI, including his career-bests in 2004 that led to his Silver Slugger Award. He has been slowed by injuries the last three seasons, including post-concussion syndrome and injuries to his right shoulder, lower back and groin in 2006-07 and the right calf strain at the start of the 2008 season. Nevertheless, Edmonds averaged 123 games played per season between 2005-07 with an average of 20 home runs and 71 RBI per campaign.

Pie had been with the Cubs since Opening Day and is batting .222 (14-for-63) with one home run and seven RBI in 30 games for the Cubs this season.