Cubs starter Ryan Dempster’s having a heck of a first half, but he’s not the kind of guy to let individual accomplishments get in the way of really matters ; a pointless pissing match with Baltimore’s Kevin Millar (above, left).  From The Chicago Sun-Times’ Gordon Wittenmyer :

”Let’s be honest, really,” Dempster said. ”Can there be anybody more lucky than [Kevin] Millar?”

Until Cubs manager Lou Piniella juggled his starting rotation a couple of weeks ago, Dempster was on schedule to get his long-awaited matchup with old Florida Marlins teammate and pal Millar during this week’s series. The two sparred through the media for weeks during spring training — Millar mocking Dempster’s World Series prediction and threatening to homer off the rooftop Budweiser sign against him, and Dempster countering with a threat to drill Millar in the ribs.

”Now he knows if he gets hit by a pitch, it’s on accident,” Dempster cracked after improving to 9-2 with another impressive start Sunday against the White Sox. ”I get to watch his circus act from the bench for three days.”

So now what are the Orioles first baseman’s chances of reaching the Bud rooftop?

”Oh, yeah, I’m sure he’ll probably take a fungo out there in [batting practice] and hit it just to say he did,” Dempster said. ”I’ll be surprised if he even plays because he’s barely fringe enough in the field to be able to play a position and there’s no DH for him.”