You've seen it -- or at least heard about it -- a few times by now. Two out, bottom of the 9th, and a routine fly ball hit to Alfonso Soriano. It should have won the game. It should have won the series. And Soriano inexplicably drops it. Brian Bixler comes around to score and tie the game. And the Pirates come back to win it 5-4 in the 10th on a Jason Bay single. Sound familiar?

This game was chocked full of bobblehead moments by the Cubs though. Consider in addition to the Soriano blunder:

A fly ball hit to left in the 1st inning by Luis Rivas that goes for a home run. In reality, not only was it catchable by Soriano, but it actually bounced off the top of the wall, and back into play, making it no more than a double.

Adam LaRoche hits a fly to right that drops for a hit in the 6th. Kosuke Fukudome plays it perfectly, guns it to second, and Ryan Theriot misplays the ball completely on what should have been an easy out.
Later in the inning, Reed Johnson makes a great throw to the plate that should have gunned down LaRoche. Henry Blanco misplays it, allowing the run to score.

Hell, even the Pirates got in on the act. Jason Bay casually fields a Derrek Lee hit to left, allowing him to reach second in the 8th.

Bottom line, it was a bad ballgame. Shaky pitching from the start, with Ted Lilly up and wild for all of his six innings. Lack of timely hitting. And most definitely a lack of defense and execution. And numerous failed opportunities to put this game away, with blunders each time.

Even the normally patient announce team had seen enough. I think Bob Brenly said it best when he commented "You can throw a dart at that first base dugout, and find a better defender than (Alfonso) Soriano". Let me make a suggestion. Sit his ass down. Play Jim Edmonds if left for a game or two during the upcoming Dodger series, and maybe kill three birds with one stone. It tells Soriano that his play is uninspired, and we won't stand for it. It allows you to give Edmonds a few more at-bats -- not that I don't think he should be cut tomorrow -- before making a decision. And it would probably help to let him rest his legs for a few days, and get some extended treatment. Bottom line, we're going to need Fonzie before it’s all said and done. Get right, get well, and Lou; make the needed adjustments and considerations until he does.

The good news? The as equally inept Chris Duncan had his own fielding foibles in L.A., allowing the winning run on in the 9th, and sending the Cardinals to a 4-3 loss. We're still in 1st place, with what looks like a worn out Dodgers team on the way to town. Welcome back guys. Let's get back to work.