Filed: September 5th, 2008

You know, a quick peek at the nine spot for the Cubs will tell you all that you need to know about last night's game. It goes something like:

Lilly

Hoffpauir

Lieber

McGehee

Guzman

Blanco

Hart

Howry

Johnson

The product of all that was yet another frustrating loss, this time 10-2 to the Reds. This extends the Cubs season-high losing streak to six games, and reduces their lead in the division to four, with the Brewers rallying late to beat the Padres 3-2 in 11 innings Friday night.

This is so Cub. Now, while I'm an experienced enough fan to realize that a streak like this for a good team -- and yes, after playing well for 135 games, I'm certain of that --  will happen; often at the worst possible time. And considering that the Cubs would have to go something in the neighborhood of worse than 5-16 the rest of the way to even possibly risk missing the playoffs, I won't be getting too panicked. But a six-game streak to start the stretch run, especially with many, big road games looming against better teams than they're losing to now? C'mon. And the worst part is, that many of these losses have been over early, with the Cubs victimizing themselves with sloppy execution, and poor situation hitting. So Cub.

Last night wasn't much different. Ted Lilly was just plain bad, and it took all of four batters for the Reds to get to him, when Joey Votto -- there's that name again -- tees off on Ted for a two-run homer. It's just what the Cubs need. Adam Dunn, with better tools. Lilly wouldn't last long, as he had no control on the breaking ball, which made Reds hitters sit back on that fastball, which isn't that good. Call it the rain, call it the delayed start, but he wasn't crisp, and I credit Lou for yanking him early. After two innings, to be exact. Get used to playoff-like manuevers like these the rest of the way.

Unfortunately, Jon Lieber pitched like, well,  a guy who hasn't thrown in the majors in a few months. After intentionally walking Votto to lead the bases in the fourth -- wise -- he serves up a pitch to Jay Bruce that he happily took deep the other way for a grand slam. It was way too much plate for a guy carrying a .307 OBP, believe me. So once again, by the fifth inning, the game was effectively over, and there's nothing left but to watch the slaughter play out. The game was so out of hand that Lou yanked half the regulars in the sixth, resting Lee, Ramirez, Soto, and DeRosa the rest of the way.

Now, don't get me wrong. This was truly a tip your cap moment to Bronson Arroyo, who was filthy. And I do mean filthy. I would call most of the breaking pitches that he threw the first few innings unhittable. Without looking at the f/x data, he looked like he easily had another inch on the curve and slider. Whatever, the case the Cubs couldn't do anything with him thru his six-plus innings of work.

About the only good thing from last night was the work of Angel Guzman, back from his second surgery, and throwing well. I wish Angel much success. A holdover from the old scouting team, I've often felt like the organization left him a thrower, rather than rounding him into a pitcher. It still seems that way, but as long as he's able to work that fastball well enough to give outings like his two innings of scoreless work last night, I'll take them.

Sigh. Please Lou. A little advice. Take the bat out of your guys' hands for a game or two. Advance some runners, score a couple of runs early, and get yourself off to a good start. There's no shame in asking Derrek Lee to hit the other way with a runner on first, and one out. Coaches ask better players than he to do it all the time.