It's a big day in the Cubs' 2009 season. With this morning's exciting news that a deal looks to have finally been agreed upon to sell the Cubs to the Ricketts family and the scheduled return of three key players, most notably long-missed third baseman Aramis Ramirez, July has suddenly turned into an exciting month for Cubs fans.

Encouraging all that along are the Cubs' three wins in four games against the Brewers, a necessity with their next meeting not falling until September. If the Cubs can continue to boost their home success up to last year's levels -- they have won 8 of their last 12 at Wrigley, 24-14 overall -- they could generate a whole new outlook by the All-Star break. Seven games remain starting with three against Atlanta and four against NL Central leaders and Cub arch rivals (no pun intended) the St. Louis Cardinals. As close as the Cubs have stayed to the top despite being mostly in fourth place, 2 and 1/2 games back never looked better.

The return of Aramis Ramirez might not have a messianic effect on an offensive that still struggles to consistently deliver with runners on base, but when you get back your regular clean-up hitter in that pivotal fourth spot, everyone starts seeing different pitches. Suddenly, guys such as the super-human Derrek Lee have too many legitimate threats behind him to be pitched around.

A team that not even a month ago was an easy three outs in the 7-8-9 spots becomes much deeper too. That's not to mention the excitement of having a great teammate back on the field and the knowledge that your team officially has a future. If the Cubs can make something happen here, what once seemed like a quiet trade deadline passing could become quite different. Maybe no major signings, but some better-than-expected help.

Warm welcomes will also be extended to Reed Johnson and reliever Angel Guzman. When Jake Fox was in the line-up playing third, the Cubs didn't have a true right-handed bat on the bench in Johnson's absence. New acquisition Jeff Baker from the Colorado Rockies doesn't count at this point. Johnson is that bat and he tends to drive in runs when the Cubs need them most.

The absence of Johnson's glove in the outfield has also been painful with Alfonso "misjudged liner" Soriano and Milton "move out of the way, sun!" Bradley in the corners. Johnson's ability to play center gives Lou Piniella the flexibility to use Kosuke Fukudome in defensive situations on days he doesn't start in center. His return means that Sam Fuld, whose shown the ethic to deserve more time in the Bigs, will most likely find his way back to Triple-A Iowa, but at the least the Cubs know what they've got in him.

Angel Guzman, if he can continue putting up great numbers gives Piniella options with the bullpen in tight games. With Carlos Marmol guaranteed to walk a man per inning pitched, Guzman, who has walked only 11 batters, is more emotionally stable (though not as unhittable) and has proved he can work two-inning stints easily. His return means that at either recently recalled Jeff Samardzija, Kevin Hart or David Patton, who has been with the team since Opening Day, will get sent down. Perhaps two of them if Lou has a harder time sending down another hitter like defensive star Andres Blanco or more specifically, big swinger Jake Fox.

The Cubs will finally see Braves starter Jair Jurrjens tonight, who nearly no-hit the Phillies his last time out. Let's not forget that his opposing pitcher, Randy Wells, nearly did the same thing the last time he faced the Braves. More importantly, tonight will be a big first test of this restored line-up. It will be interesting to see if Lou keeps Soriano hitting lower in the order. It would seem to be the best thing as recent lead-off man Fukudome has found some success there and Jurrjens has allowed a .296 BA against lefties.