Filed:September 9th, 2008
I've said before that the first team to figure out how to win again is going to take this division. Apparently, it doesn't appear that it's going to be the Brewers. Cincinnati rallied late last night to surprise us all, and beat the Brewers 5-4. The best part though was, wait for it...Corey Patterson, who hit an RBI infield hit with the bases loaded to sustain the ninth-inning rally. Jeff Keppinger would later drive in the game winner, with a two-run double. Any of this sound familiar? Either way, this extends the Cubs division lead to 4.5 games, and reduces their magic number to 15.
Elsewhere in Cubbie Nation, things appear to be getting worse for the Cubs bullpen. Reliever Chad Gaudin is back in Chicago today to have his lower back re-examined. Sun-Times reporter Gordon Wittenmyer reports that Chad's recovery has regressed, at least according to his sources. Let's hope for the best, and that Lou chooses to look a little closer at Angel Guzman during this absence, rather than Bob Howry He Who Shall Not be Named.
Fortunately, the stars appear to be aligning for the starting rotation, with Zambrano throwing again -- off flat ground -- without discomfort, and Harden still scheduled for his start later this week. Lou has penciled in his rotation for the remainder of the season, with Dempster, Lilly, and Harden on tap against the Cardinals. Interesting to note that this sets up Ted Lilly to start the opener against the Brewers, given their ability to absolutely mash left handers.
Congratulations to the Iowa Cubs, whose fantastic season ended with a 16-5 loss to Oklahoma. The RedHawks take the series 3-2. Sad news, but I have to say 'd really like to see an Andres Blanco call-up right about now.
And finally, goodbye to Jon Lieber, who's been shutdown for the season, and sent home by the Cubs with chronic soreness. Yeah, right. Listen, if the Cubs want me to believe that an aging veteran went home for what probably is the end of his career, as opposed to sticking it out on a club with legitimate World Series aspirations due to "soreness", I'm going to have to disappoint them. Jon has been in Lou Piniella's doghouse since that debacle in Cincinnati back in the spring, so it's very difficult to believe that this is anything more than managerial differences. Which is fine, but stop with the injury drama. Of course, one wouldn't have to guess if the press corps actually called them on this stuff, but...