Ryan Dempster - (Cubbie Nation/file)
Filed:April 29th, 2009
And no, I don't just mean the buckets being dumped on Chicago right now. I'm referring to the embarrassing performance by the Cubs Wednesday that lead to a 10-0 loss.
I'm moving on, and I think most Cubs fans should do the same, because there just wasn't anything good about this game if you root for the Cubs.
Maybe it was the very early start (12:40 MST), but starter Ryan Dempster was shaky early, throwing all over the place in the first inning. Chad Tracy would then make him pay for it, with a ground rule double that would score Felipe Lopez and Augie Ojeda. He's score later in the inning, as well.
Now Dempster would settle down, and keep the game somewhat interesting into the seventh, but even with Doug Davis on the mound for the Diamondbacks, it wasn't enough to give the Cubs an offensive jumpstart. Davis dazzled, or at least appeared to, throwing two-hit ball into the eighth. Lefty. Soft tossing. Nibbler. Didn't matter.
The really amazing part of this game though was the bullpen, which I'll say again, is DOA.
When Dempster got into more trouble in the seventh, he gave way to that pen, and it all went downhill. First, a surprisingly ineffective Carlos Marmol would come in, and throw nothing but junk. You couldn't have paid him to find his release point Wednesday.
Jeff Samardzija would finish the inning, but not before serving up a bases clearing double to Justin Upton.
And Kevin Gregg? Just plain wretched. Not only could he not make it through his inning of work, but got into an extended, angry debate over ball and strikes with ump Jeff Kellogg. As if he was throwing any to begin with. It was a very silly moment, not worthy of legitimate closer. The only good thing about the moment was that he didn't get a much deserved ejection for his trouble.
Well, let's hope the rain breaks tonight, and we get to no only see a game, but a better performance than most of the games played during this 2-4 road trip.
Filed:April 28th, 2009
Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley (Cubbie Nation/file)
The Cubs are slowly getting back to health, and to basics, for that matter. Much of their promise was on display Tuesday, as they battered the Diamondbacks 11-3 at Chase Field.
You have to enjoy games like these, as they have a little something for everyone.
Start with a Milton Bradley sighting. Bradley, in the lineup for the first time in a week, went 2-4, and didn't look too bad doing it; at least at the plate. I thought his eye and timing looked good, but he seemed absolutely slow motion while cruising the outfield, and running the bases. Smooth, but it looked obvious that he wasn't going to strain himself to make plays. At this point, that's fine with me, if it helps him stay in the lineup. It will be really interesting though to see whether he sits or plays in the afternoon rubber match Wednesday. That probably will tell you more about his current health than anything.
And if you're on the health watch, both Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee sat, with Lee expected to be back in the lineup as soon as Wednesday. Ramirez has reportedly had trouble running, and as I've suggested here already, I wouldn't hold my breath on seeing him on the field sooner than the tail end of the next homestand.
But hey, back to game, where the Cubs turned this into a laugher. This game actually had the makings of a pitcher's duel for the first few innings, with starters Carlos Zambrano and Yusmeiro Petit cruising along into the third.
Zambrano would continue with the solid performance, going seven innings in the win, and actually finishing shy a triple for the cycle at the plate. He'd turn the game over to Angel Guzman from there, who worked the last two innings of scoreless relief.
Petit wasn't going to get that lucky. That's a very subpar fastball he's flinging, and when the Cubs saw enough in his first past through the lineup, they just starting going down and getting those low fastballs he was getting strikes on.
First, Alfonso Soriano whacks a three-run blast in the third, to give the Cubs a 3-0 lead. Then things really got good, when the Cubs would bat around in a four-run fourth, highlighted by a Mike Fontenot homer with Milton Bradley on.
Petit was run in favor of Jon Rauch, who has completely fell off a cliff since leaving the Nationals last year. I couldn't even recognize him, given the way his fastball has left him. The Cubs didn't care though, squeezing an extra four runs out of he and his bullpen mate Esmerling Vasquez.
Well the Cubs will conclude this series and road trip Wednesday with a rubber match, and them back to Chicago for a six-game set. Slowly but surely, the Cubs are working themselves into shape for the 2009 season. And if we're lucky, we may even see the team as constructed by the conclusion of the Marlins series. Even that Milton person.
Kosuke Fukudome - (Cubbie Nation/file)
Filed:April 26th, 2009
Thank you, Todd Wellemeyer.
When you're in the middle of a losing streak -- and really, everybody has them at least a few times a season -- you take the wins about any way that you can get them. Sunday, the Cubs got one by beating up on their ex-farmhand Todd Wellemeyer early, and going on to win 10-3. Most of the highlights were generated by right fielder Kosuke Fukudome, who celebrated his 32nd birthday by going 3-4, with a walk, and a homer.
The score probably won't make you appreciate exactly how ugly a win this game was. The injuries alone were enough to leave you screaming.
First, Derrek Lee leaves the game between innings in the first, with reported neck spasms. Normally, this wouldn't be the biggest concern in the world; a little heat, a little trigger point work, and he's good as new by tomorrow.
But when Alfonso Soriano was beaned on the head -- and I mean ON THE HEAD -- the very next inning, I found myself walking around muttering the lyrics to "Suicide is Painless", because this team is really starting to look like a M.A.S.H unit.
Fortunately, Soriano was able to stay in the game, which spared everyone from having to see pinch-hitting pitchers by day's end. When is someone going to go on the disabled list?
Besides, it was a good day to be in the lineup, because as I mentioned, Wellemeyer looked like, well...Wellemeyer.
The Cubs wasted no time with him, jumping out to a 3-0 lead when Fukudome and Lee grabbed RBI hits in the first. They'd keep the heat on throughout his five innings of work, scoring a run in the second, and a pair in the fourth, when Fukudome would again drive in Soriano.
This was in direct contrast to Cubs starter Rich Harden, who picked up his second win of the season by going six, while striking out nine. Not his sharpest effort, but definitely effective.
The highlight of the game though was in the eighth inning, when with Aaron Miles and Ryan Theriot on, Kosuke would send a three-run shot off of Trevor Miller deep into the right field seats. He was not cheated.
This is an absolutely blistering start for Fukudome, who is now hitting .371/.481/.661. Yep, when you're so hot you're making Soriano's .965 OPS look tepid, you're hitting the ball. Fukudome hit third in the lineup today, with Alfonso restored to his lead-off spot. Given the poor start by Lee, and absence of Milton Bradley, there may be something to the idea of leaving him there for awhile. Perhaps permanently.
The bottom line is the Cubs got fat off a sub-par starter. But they'll take it.
Aramis Ramirez - (Cubbie Nation/file)
Carlos Marmol - (Cubbie Nation/file)
April 24th, 2009
The games on the field are starting to become almost secondary to the drama surrounding the Cubs off it. They lost the opener of their series against the Cardinals 4-3 in St. Louis Friday. But the sub-stories will have most forgetting about that game almost immediately.
Four words I never want to hear: Carlos Marmol is injured. Or for that matter, Aramis Ramirez is injured. Friday's game featured both, with Aramis Ramirez leaving the game in the fifth with a strained calf, and Marmol exiting the game later with knee discomfort.
Fans, be very afraid. While the extent of their injuries is undetermined, and status unconfirmed, this is a very problematic situation. Carlos Marmol at least sounded like his injury was the less significant of the two, but any lower-body injury with Ramirez has to raise concern. Even if the Cubs don't place him on the disabled list, expect him to be babied over the next week - 10 days, regardless.
Honestly though? It's a DL stint in waiting, especially given the lack of positional depth there on the 25 man roster. Either way, stay tuned.
But back to the game for a moment, where things got really interesting. In something of a desperate attempt to kick start a dormant offense, Lou went with what I might call an unconventional lineup against the Cardinals.
Alfonso Soriano, hitting third.
Ryan Theriot, hitting leadoff.
Derrek Lee, in perhaps a foretelling of things to come, hitting fifth.
Oh, and news out of the Cubs office that once Milton Bradley finally returns, expect him to get dropped in the lineup.
Piniella called it an attempt to get his best hitters more at-bats at the top of the lineup, but I think most if not all of us realize that when you're hitting Theriot at lead-off, you're really just grasping.
And for all you folks that were wondering, the trio went a collective 2-13 in their new spots. One can only hope that these experiments are short-lived.
But none of this -- and really, I mean none -- was more interesting that the Sun-Times interview with Milton Bradley. Normally, I don't recommend MSM pieces, mostly because they give me little reason to. But the Gordon Wittenmyer piece is a must read.
If you haven't been following, Bradley has shut off the Chicago media since the start of the home stand, supposedly feeling that the press would put too much focus on his injury.
I wouldn't have thought to much about it, but when he spit in their collective eye earlier this week, by granting his only post-game interview to cubs.com -- a.ka., the House Scribe -- and with great fan fare as on-looking media types watched, well, all bets are off.
Give it a read, and in the meantime, let me offer a couple of refreshing ideas for Milton. Your role in addressing the press is not an option, it's a responsibility. Period. The notion that you can go and hide away, while playing on an internationally followed sports team is infantile.
And if you don't like the flavor of the fans and media, don't sign the contract, for future reference. Chicago media is no great secret. The Bradley reaction is something akin to getting into Chicago, and deciding that you're going to be 30 minutes later each day to the ball park than everyone else, because the traffic is bad. Or that you'll need more money, due to the expensive apartment that you'll need to get. These things are all natural to living and working in Chicago as an athlete. Sorry.
You got 30 million dollars in a bad market to be a leader on a major market team, and you need to understand and accept all the responsibilities that come with it.You're not playing, all your warts have been put on display in the first few weeks, and these distractions appear to be mostly of your own doing.
We're not even out of April, and it's already getting surreal in Cubbie Nation.
Filed:April 22nd, 2009
Cub reliever Luis Vicaino (Cubbie Nation/file)
Luis, we hardly knew ya.
The Cubs made moves Thursday, designating reliever Luis Vicaino for assignment, and recalling Jeff Samardzija from AAA, in an effort to stabilize their bullpen.
Didn't work; at least not yet. The Cincinnati Reds ran roughshod over Cub relievers, winning 7-1 in a game that I could only describe as...forgettable.
Let's talk about that bullpen for a moment. I give manager Lou Piniella a lot of credit. Too many managers would be hesitant to start making changes this early in the season, especially on a team with plenty of veterans. "Well, this guy will come around", or "Once we get so-and-so going, we'll be fine", or some other nonsense would be spewed by the manager as he privately hoped like hell that his vet(s) didn't cost him too many games before the club attempts to quietly move them near the trade deadline.
Praise Lou for instead giving up the ghost, and realizing that this 'pen is DOA. Yeah, the club messed up. When you stop and think about the fact that half the pen is Angel Guzman, David Patton, and Neal Cotts, you need to be afraid.
And I'm intrigued by the fact that the Cubs have now happily dumped two veterans inside of a month. Between Chad Gaudin and Vizcaino, you're talking about over 5 million in salary that looks to get eaten, just to make some non-performers go away. It's decidedly un-Cub. And I love it. I think its official now; Sweet Lou is firmly in control of the organization for now, and all you can do is sit back, and enjoy the ride.
The only regret that I have is that he can't figure out the Cotts problem soon enough. Neal has turned one good season -- and the fact that he's left-handed -- into a career that's akin to "What About Bob?" Please make him go away.
And the game? Well, you're always in for a treat when you match up Carlos Zambrano and Aaron Harang, who looks to finally be past that bout of Dusty Baker overuse.
Carlos was good, going seven innings in the loss. But the Cubs could do nothing on offense against Harang, and a Micah Hoffpauir fielding error in the seventh made sure that this wasn't going to be the Cubs day.
Oh, and that bullpen under construction? Joey Votto -- I'm really starting to hate this kid -- took Neal Cotts deep in the eighth for a solo home run, and Samardzija got a pair hung on him in the ninth.
Keep working on it.
Filed:April 21st, 2009
Cubs outfielders celebrate the 7-2 win against the Reds Tuesday (Cubbie Nation/file)
Click here for the photo gallery of Tuesday's game.
The Cubs jumped on Micah Owings early, and kept up the heat against the Reds bullpen, winning handily 7-2 in front of 38,403. The game was marred by numerous...incidents that left many seeing curses of old.
With Dusty Baker in the dugout, and an Alex Gonzalez on the field, should we be surprised? Probably not. And just as an aside...different Alex. If you didn't know that without having to look it up, shame. Shame.
But back to the game, where the fourth inning was marred first by a two-minute delay to catch a white (and some black) cat that had mysteriously appeared on the field.
Later that same inning, Alfonso Soriano would go into foul territory to grab a Jay Bruce fly -- one that would have ended the inning, by the way -- only to be robbed by a fan in a scene eerily reminiscent of the "Incident". Right down to what appeared to be the same seat section.
Bruce would then instead single to score Joey Votto, and tie the game.
All this made for great theater, but it didn't really change the fact that the Reds just aren't all that good; yet.
Micah Owings was in trouble from the start, going 4 2/3 in the loss. Honestly, it was such a cold and bleak night that he could have struggled through longer, but when left fielder Chris Dickerson dropped a Derrek Lee fly to extend what would be a three-run fifth, that was pretty much about it.
Fortunately for the Cubs, the Reds bullpen would prove even worse. Reliever Mike Lincoln would come in, completely unable to throw strikes, allowing the Cubs to grab a couple more in the sixth.
All this -- especially with a Micah Hoffpauir home run to boot -- would have been just about a perfectly fun night at the ball park, were it not for reliever Neal Cotts, who is quickly headed for founding member of the 2009 Piniella dog house. Cotts would go 1/3 inning, putting two runners on in the eighth, before Lou decided to reverse course, and just bring in Carlos Marmol. He'd end the threat, before giving was to Luis Vizcaino in the ninth to end the game.
Let me just say this, the televised broadcast did not do Neal's performance justice. He looked completely minor league; everything from his pitches to his mound presence. The kid is not right, and the Cubs are going to have to move quickly to address this; either fix him, or get a guy that can at least get a lefty out once in a while.
Great fun, and a good win, to boot.
Filed:April 18th, 2009
Cubs reliever Angel Guzman (Cubbie Nation/file)
The final game of this weekend's Cubs-Cardinals series has been postponed, and rescheduled as part of a day-night doubleheader on July 12th. With the Cubs having a regularly scheduled off day Monday, it's two days without baseball on the North Side. Sorry guys. We're just going to have to wait.
Same for Milton Bradley, who for reasons that I can't comprehend, will be appealing his two-game suspension. He calls it a matter of principle. I call it Milton being a nutcase.
Here's how Lou tells it:
"He's going to appeal it, and we're going to support him on that. Outside of that, there's not much more to say. It's kind of harsh -- two days -- and he feels that he wants to get his side heard. We'll go with that."
Now, this would be all well and fine if 1) this was the stretch run, and not April, or 2) he wasn't already in the middle of a period when he's physically unavailable anyway. Couple this with the fact that we're reaching the point where the Cubs should be thinking about putting him on the DL, and you have to ask what's wrong with this picture?
The Reds are coming in this week. Take the suspension, rest the groin, and get back on the field by the weekend. It's not that complicated. You did bump the guy, and the consensus at the park was that the "C" word might have been dropped. I'd be thinking less about a meeting with Bob Watson, and more about an apology phone call to Larry Vanover.
And congratulations to Angel Guzman, who waits no more for his first major leage win. This guy has gone from Zambrano Jr. to lucky to make a ball club, inside of five years. So watching the most star-crossed pitcher this side of RIck Ankiel pick up his first is one of those special baseball moments, the kind that keep me watching.
Filed:April 17th, 2009
Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano (Cubbie Nation/file)
Ah, Fonzie. Alfonso Soriano continues his torrid April, smashing an eighth-inning home run to give the Cubs the lead, and ultimately the 8-7 win over the St. Louis Cardinals Friday.
You know, I don't get to say this often....but thank you, MLB. While a (small) part of me is bothered by fewer games against these guys down the stretch, I love that this season has been kick-started playing so many divisional opponents. By this time next week, the Cubs will have already seen the Astros, Brewers, Cardinals, and Reds. Big games early, that need to be won coming out of the gate.
Although, between the weather and the tension, it felt like fall. Especially with Carlos Zambrano on the mound, facing that potent Cardinals offense. And he got ROCKED!!
No sooner than he gets a handle on Albert Pujols, Ryan Ludwick comes along and hammers him for two home runs today. The first was a three-run shot in the third that tied the game, getting shaky Cardinals starter P.J. Walters off the hook. He'd gotten into his share of trouble in the first, giving up RBI hits to Micah Hoffpauir and Aramis Ramirez. Tony LaRussa would pull him after four innings of work.
Zambrano was worse though. It was a see-saw game all the way, and every time the Cubs made it interesting, the Cardinals would rally back. Or vice-versa, depending on how you look at it. And yes, the second Ludwick home run in the seventh looked to put the game out of reach altogether.
But Fonzie, man. With pinch-hitter Aaron Miles on and one out, Soriano took a Chris Perez pitch deep into the left field bleachers in the eighth.
Leave it Carlos Marmol to make it interesting in the ninth, coming in to get the save. Insert your closer debate point <here>, by the way. Without question the most reliable of the Cub relievers, he apparently also caught a bout of the pink backpack disease; you know, when you start pitching like a kid just called up from Daytona. A lot of that contagion going around in the bullpen, you know.
Marmol would walk Colby Rasmus and hit Albert Pujols to put the winning run on, before striking out Ludwick, and forcing Khalil Greene into a double play to end the game.
Great stuff. And here's to a couple of more this weekend just like it.
Filed:April 16th, 2009
The St. Louis Cardinals celebrate their win against the Chicago Cubs Thursday.
(Cubbie Nation/file)
Click here for the photo gallery of today's game.
The St. Louis Cardinal rolled into town for a four-game set against the Cubs Thursday, in a battle of NL Central contenders. In the end, the Cardinals showed that they should be taken very, very seriously this season, bashing their way to a 7-4 win.
All I can say is...ouch. The thing that has struck me from the beginning about the 2009 Cubs is that they are very front-line heavy, featuring big hitters in the starting lineup, and some very impressive names at the front of the rotation. However, once you scratch the surface a bit, you find a suspect bench, a less than sturdy back of the rotation, and a highly suspect bullpen. And most of that was on display today.
Start with starter Sean Marshall. While to his credit, he's not seen meaningful action since the end of spring training, he was rocky; to say the least. The box score will tell you that he was okay -- going five innings, while allowing three runs -- but don't buy it. The Cardinals worked him over, and wore him down, including a monster bash by Chris Duncan in the fourth inning of the ballgame. The worst part though wasn't his performance, but that his early exit forced the Cubs to utilize their middle relief, which is just bad.
Aaron Heilman? Rocked for a Khalil Greene solo shot in his inning of work.
David Patton? Beaten like a rented mule, allowing two runs in 2/3 inning.
Neal Cotts? Once again failing to get out that one lefty that, you know, he's supposed to get out as the LOOGY.
Angel Guzman? Brian Barden home run in the eighth.
Mercifully, Luis Vizcaino retired the side with a scoreless inning in the ninth, but I suspect that the Cardinals were more interested in dinner plans at that point than padding a lead.
But the Cubs did keep it interesting for a bit, especially with a three-run Kosuke Fukudome homer in the fifth inning, to keep the score close.
But when pinch-hitter Milton Bradley struck out in the sixth inning, that was pretty much the end of the story. But hey, I'd never seen a Bradley episode in person, so his subsequent ejection for arguing the called third strike alone was worth the price of admission.
Well, three more games to try and salvage this series, which got off on a very bad foot today. In the meantime, I'm going to go now. I'm sitting in a bar with third base coach Mike Quade -- no, I'm not kidding -- and it's much more interesting than recapping this sh..bad game. He's stopped to take a call from someone looking for a scouting report on ex-Cub Casey McGehee. While I think it would be in terribly poor taste to tell you who I think is on the other end, I will say that his scouting report is not only drop-dead funny, but almost Bull Durham-esque in nature.
Till next time.
Filed:April 13th, 2009
Cubs starter Ted Lilly (Cubbie Nation/file)
Yeah, he was that good.
Ted Lilly would take a no-hitter into the seventh inning, negating Chicago leaving 26 runners stranded, as the Cubs won their home opener against the Rockies 4-0 Monday.
I should know better. For all the major league games that I've been to over the years, I'd never done an opener before last season. And you know what? It rained. The game was delayed. I froze. It rained some more. And many hours and shots of Scotch later, I was still chilled to the bone.
The only thing different this season is the opponent.
But, last year I got to enjoy something special; the beginning of Kosuke mania. Remember this?
This year, I got one of the better pitching performances in baseball this season for the trouble.I guess it works out.
Lilly look completely unfazed by the weather, and sailed along so smoothly that no one in my vicinity even realized that he was tossing a no-no. The worst trouble that he ran into all day was when Chris Iannetta, who'd walked earlier in the inning, was sacrificed to second before Lilly retired the side. He was that sharp.
Unlike poor Ubaldo Jimenez, the Rockies starter. Really, the rain was much more of a problem for him. He walked six, and left after 3 2/3 innings. Honestly, from where I was perched, he just couldn't get the grip down on that breaking ball. Too much rain, and just too cold, I suspect. The Rockies bullpen was lights out the rest of the way, but by then, the damage was done.
The Cubs got pretty much all they needed in the second when Jimenez passed Koyie Hill to walk in a run. They'd later add on in the fourth with a pair, and a late run in the eighth on a Kosuke Fukudome RBI single. Given that the Cubs were missing Milton Bradley (groin), Geovany Soto (bicep), and Aramis Ramirez (stiff back), I think they got about all they could out of this lineup. And Lilly made the most of it.
Other memorable moments? How about Rick Sutcliffe throwing out the ceremonial first pitch to Jody Davis. Ah, what might have been.
Getting a first look at the Captain Morgan Club, the Cubs new in-house bar. Frankly, don't bother. It's way too small, only one bar, a few bartenders. It was quicker going to the bathroom.
Oh, and just when I thought the skinning and hanging of a goat -- again -- last night was the worst that Cubbie Nation could get, Kevin Gregg gets LOUDLY booed in the pre-game team introductions. Even more loudly than Jason Marquis for the Rockies, if you can believe it. You know, we could have at least waited until his first actual home appearance.
There are some great photos of the day here. I hope you enjoy them.
Filed:April 12th, 2009
(AP Photo/Jim Prisching)
The Cubs proved just good enough in most facets of the game Sunday, and Reed Johnson provided the highlights, as Chicago took the series against the Brewers with an 8-5 win in Milwaukee.
This is starting to become something of a springtime ritual for Reed Johnson. Last year in Washington, he got what may have been baseball's catch of the year with a diving catch through the warning track, and at the outfield wall.
This year, he ups the ante, reaching over the right field wall in the fifth inning to turn what should have been a game-tying Prince Fielder grand slam into a sac fly, and preserve the Cubs win.
Trust me, a blog post won't do it justice, so if you haven't seen the game, see the televised replay. Or better yet, try here.
Amazing.
But why, you ask was Reed Johnson in the game to begin with? Milton Bradley is injured. Again. This time with tightness in his groin, the severity of which is yet to be determined. Given the short turn-around time, look for him to miss the home opener tomorrow afternoon, at the very least. Officially however, he is listed day to day.
But back to the game for a moment, because this seemed like a game of "Who Wants a Win the Least".
It started off well enough, with yet another Alfonso Soriano home run. But then things got weird. Cubs starter Ryan Dempster goes six bad innings; Jeff Suppan goes 3 1/3. Cubs walk four; Brewers walk 10, including walking in four straight runs in the fourth. The Brewers bullpen gives up late runs to the Cubs in the eighth and ninth innings, likely ending their only chance at a win; closer Kevin Gregg implodes yet again. First, giving up a Richie Weeks homer in the ninth, then letting the next two hitters on, before finally striking out potential tying-run Prince Fielder to end the game. Winning U.G.L.Y.
However it looked though, the Cubs will take a 4-2 road trip, especially now that it's back to Wrigley for a 10-game homestand.
Alfonso Soriano - (Cubbie Nation/file)
Filed:April 11th, 2009
The Cubs continued their penchant for the dramatic Saturday, rallying back on an Alfonso Soriano home run in the ninth to beat the Brewers 6-5. Aaron Heilman picked up his first win as a Cubs, with Carlos Marmol collecting the save. Take from that what you will.
Every once in awhile, I think about the player that Chicago fans hoped that they were getting in Alfonso Soriano. On the heels of a 100 million plus contract, many thought his tenure here would be filled with 40/40 seasons, high-wire performances, clutch hitting, and a MVP considerations. Injury and age have a funny way of changing any player's plans, but some have talked about this being the year of Soriano -- finally -- and he's done little to diminish that thought so far this season.
Early? Sure, but when you're on a team predicted to be the best in the league, healthy, and keeping a nifty 1.28 OPS, well, that's how it goes.
And the Cubs needed him last night. Once again, the Cubs got ineffective middle relief in a tight ballgame. This time, it was Angel Guzman and Neal Cotts, who couldn't find someone they wouldn't walk in the seventh inning. Note to Cubs: outrighting Chad Gaudin, rather than hiding him away for a few weeks may come back to haunt you; right along with using Cotts as the sole lefty in the pen. The Brewers would grab a pair of runs on a J.J. Hardy single off Aaron Heilman, in relief of Cotts.
The Cubs would grab a run back in the eighth, when Aramis Ramirez went yard, taking us to the ninth.
Carlos Villanueva -- subbing for injured closer Trevor Hoffman -- would allow a single to pinch-hitter Reed Johnson with one out, and then on the very next pitch, a monster two-run shot to Soriano that gave the Cubs the lead, and the win.
The Cubs get a chance to take the series with a win tonight in primetime. 7:05 CT on ESPN, if you can stand it. Maybe I'll try turning off the volume this time.
Filed:April 10th, 2009
Carlos Marmol (Cubbie Nation/file)
Cubs closer Kevin Gregg imploded in the ninth inning, first giving up a game-tying double, then the winning run on an infield hit in a 4-3 loss to the Brewers Friday.
You know, this was a conversation that I hoped would go away for awhile, at least until the trade deadline. I mean, in a town that could tolerate Joe Borowski, Latroy Hawkins, and Ryan Dempster as closers, Gregg seemed almost like an upgrade. And yet, he's seemed so especially...feckless in this first week of the season that I'm certain the Cubs will be at least second-guessing this decision into the weekend.
First, allowing a run in the win on Opening Day. Next, giving up the winning run in the 3-2 extra-inning loss in Houston. And today, blowing the save in a nail-biter of a game that should have had the Cubs walking off with a well-deserved win. It seems that as the intensity rises, he just gets worse.
Let me set the stage. This was from the outset your classic pitcher's matchup. Both teams used a combination of 11 pitchers, with the Cubs using everybody in the pen -- including quasi-starter Sean Marshall -- sans David Patton and Angel Guzman.
Everyone for the most part was great, particularly the starters, Brandon Looper and Rich Harden. Looper was effective, giving up only a Milton Bradley home run in the fourth, his first of the season.
Frankly, Harden was better, littering 95-plus MPH fastballs through six innings of work. He struck out 10. It was a very sharp outing for Rich, and he left with an opportunity for the win after Koyie Hill went opposite way in the sixth for his first homer of the season.
But Lou Piniella was forced to go to the bullpen early and often over the next two innings in an attempt to preserve the win. Fortunately, Piniella finally went to Marmol to get him out of his seventh-inning jam. The Cubs got through the eigth a bit more quietly, using joe Vizcaino and Marshall. Which takes us to the ninth.
With Gregg on the mound and one-out, Chris Duffy walks for the Brewers. Richie Weeks then promptly smacks a hard double to right, scoring Duffy to tie the game. After advancing to third on a Gregg wild pitch, he come around to score when Ryan Theriot inexplicably decides to come home on a Ryan Braun grounder, rather than taking his shot at a double play to end the game.
Now, who here thinks that Ryan Theriot's arm is going to beat Richie Week's legs, especially on an off-balance throw? Anybody? Anybody at all?
It wouldn't have been so bad if Theriot hadn't earlier committed a throwing error, called off the outfielders on a ball that he promptly let drop for a hit, and possibly missed the signal on a hit-and-run that got Mike Fontenot thrown out. Ugly stuff.
Normally, I wouldn't be so impatient, but Gregg has been a real disappointment to date. This problem needs to get solved, and quickly.
Filed:April 8th, 2009
I know, it's only been three games. But when homers fly, and your team wins handily, it's a whole lot of fun. That's exactly what the Cubs did Wednesday, beating the Astros 11-6, and winning the three-game series in Houston.
It's not surprising though. Given that the Astros are a team using Brian Moehler as a third starter, and Russ Ortiz as a fifth, you have to figure that they should get used to games like this. The Cubs got to Moehler, early -- and often -- when the first seven hitters reached in the first inning. That included Kosuke Fukudome, by the way, who went 4-5 on the night; with a homer, no less.
Moehler was able to get out of the first, by forcing Koyie Hill to ground into a 3-2 double play and getting Lilly to ground out, but not before Chicago jumped out to a 4-0 lead.
It only got worse for the Astros from there though, as the Cubs batted around again in the second, chasing Moehler in favor of Russ Ortiz. Yeah, that Ortiz. The one that a cash-strapped Diamondbacks team ate 30 million on to make go away. And after Mike Fontenot jacked a three-run homer off of him in the second, I suspect he may have wished for a moment that he stayed away.
And the Cubs? Well, Ted Lilly was awful, going five innings, while giving up five runs, all off homers. Personally though, I've stopped worrying about Lilly. That fastball heats up with the weather, so poor starts to the season I suspect are just part of the deal.
And kudos to David Patton, who made his first major league appearance Wednesday. He went two innings in relief, and looked...okay. He did get lit up by Hunter Pence in the sixth, but hey, that's just a "Welcome to the Big Leagues, rookie" hello.
In all, bad team. Good win. After the day off, it's on to Milwaukee for a three-game set against the Brewers. Geo Soto is expected to play, but not before a pit stop in Chicago to visit team physicians. Fingers crossed.
Carlos Zambrano - (Cubbie Nation/file)
Filed:April 6th, 2009
Given my Opening Day preferences, the sky would have opened up, homers would have been flying out of the park, everyone would get a hit, and the starting pitcher would go eight scoreless innings, before giving way to the closer -- who promptly goes 1-2-3 to end the ninth.
Instead, what we got was a much more workman-like effort from the Cubs, who started off the 2009 season Monday with a 4-2 win over the Astros.
It was sloppy, but a good win. No one was a star, but instead you got nice performances from quite a few places when the Cubs really needed it.
Carlos Zambrano, shaking his Opening Day woes, but going six strong innings.
Aaron Heilman, coming into the game in the seventh, and getting a double play to get the Cubs out of the inning relatively unscathed. Honestly, I was clamoring for Marmol, with the hopes that Lou Piniella would then bring Aaron in for the eighth, but he did exactly what the Cubs needed him to do. A real good call.
Alfonso Soriano -- who homered to lead off the game -- and Aramis Ramirez, for giving the Cubs enough runs early with their long balls to help Zambrano stay calm.
And Mike Fontenot, who went 3-4, with a double. A few more games like this, and we won't much remember DeRosa.
And for now, we won't talk much about Kosuke Fukudome (0-4, with some very shaky defense) or Kevin Gregg (run allowed in the ninth). I'm just going to revel in the win, and hope that those two don't turn into boondoggles.