Move along. Nothing to see here. The Cubs lost 11-4 to the Orioles yesterday, and were beaten so soundly and completely that it was most reminiscent of a car accident.  This was only their second series loss at home this year -- the first Opening Week against the Brewers -- and put the finishing touches on what was a "successful" 4-2 homestand.

Each season, every team goes through a couple of spots where things don't go quite the way they want them too. How badly, or to what extent, is usually an indication of the quality of the team. The good news is that the 2008 Cubs are a good ballclub, and their moment -- mostly injury related -- has translated into a 14-9 record for June. The bad news is that the injuries are still mounting, and relief doesn't look to be in sight before the All-Star Break. And did I mention that in the meantime the Brewers are doing their imitation of the 2007 Cubs, sneaking with five games or so out? If they can find a way to get within three before the break, you're going to be looking at a hell of a summer for baseball. Let's hope this moment doesn't last two long.

But yesterday's game...ugly. Orioles starter Radhames LIz -- baffled the Cubs for most of six innings, before giving way to the bullpen. Don't be fooled by the boxs cores though. The two earned runs were on reliever Brian Burres, who relieved Liz in what turned out to be a three-run Cubs 6th. Scratched from his Wednesday start, Brian still didn't look quite right. Liz for his part, was inexplicably effective. I say that as his fastball - often in the mid-90s -- looked as straight as a board, his slider had little movement, and his curveball was a joke. Realistically, this is probably a player who should be honing his craft in AAA this season, smoothing out secondary pitches. Sadly though, the advance scouting problem strikes again, as this is very often exactly the sort of pitcher that give the Cubs fits. And he did.

And Jason Marquis? I'm going to surprise you a bit, and say no big deal. I know, seven runs in four innings is awful. First though, Jason is prone to these summertime clunkers once or twice a season. It's in his DNA. And second, he didn't look right; overthrowing his sinker much of the day, and really was not smooth on the followthrough. He didn't look right physically, and there may be something to that.

Oh, and just in case the day wasn't bad enough, Scott Eyre suffered a groin sprain in his relief appearance yesterday, and is listed as day to day. Like I said, it's getting thin around here. Either way, let's move on to the three-game set against the Sox, and hope that the Cubs stay above water at least till the All-Star Break.

Oh, and as a final note, a reader asked about broadcast records yesterday for the 2008 season, so I thought I'd pass the answer along. 17-15 on WGN, 25-12 on CSN networks, and 7-3 on all others.