Filed:June 29th, 2009
Cubs starter RIch Harden (Cubbie Nation/file)
Quick, uneventful, and successful. That is how I prefer all games against the Pirates, and exactly what the Cubs delivered Monday, winning 3-1 in an unofficial 2:18.
Thank you, Rich Harden. After some very shaky start since his return from the DL (0-2, 5.67 ERA), we got to see some vintage Harden in this game; hard fastball, changeups down and in the dirt, and out in front of hitters most of the night. He'd go seven innings, striking out nine along the way.
Actually, there were no complaints about the pitching, as both Carlos Marmol and Kevin Gregg were equally effective in relief, with the Cubs staff walking only one Pirate on the night.
But the highlight belonged to Ryan Theriot, who again went gonzo, driving a solo shot to right off of starter Zack Duke in the third, his seventh of the season. Sometimes I miss the old slap-hitting, opposite-field driving Theriot, but given the Cubs problems scoring right now, I'll take the new version happily.
In some off the field news, Aaron Miles has gone on the 15-day DL with an elbow injury, with Sam Fuld being called up from AAA to replace him on the roster. I think this injury is legit. Happened to get some photos from the Twins game a few week back, and think I caught where he injured it; a play behind second that he had to elevate, and throw off balance on.He appeared to grimace and favor it for awhile. I guess it was a little worse than initially thought.
I wish him well in his recovery, but I would suggest the Cubs think about leaving him there for a few months; he won't be missed. It would leave a roster spot open in case, you know, a trade comes up. There's nothing on his swing right now, so if a couple of quiet months allows him to get his right side well, I say do it. A healthy Aaron Miles is at least useful. Injured, he isn't worth the spot.
And congratulations to ex-Cub Casey McGehee, who hit a grand slam Tuesday in the Brewers 10-6 win over the Mets. I could have done without a Brewer victory, but it does my heart well to see old Cub farmhands doing well around the league. Kind of quiets the argument that they can't produce MLB-ready positional talent.
Filed:June 28th, 2009
New Cardinal Mark DeRosa (Cubbie Nation/file)
Well, it's official. The Cubs won't be getting the band back together, with the Cardinals instead acquiring ex-Cub Mark DeRosa in exchange for Chris Perez.
It's a great deal for the Cardinals, who are already the front-runners in the division. DeRosa will be a huge help to them in left and at third base, while allowing manager Tony LaRussa to mix and match lineups in a way that he likes. Not to mention that it's the ultimate slap at the Cubs, whose fans not only love Mark, but also need him -- or someone of similar production -- very badly at the moment.
The Cardinals will be back in town in two weeks -- Mark's second trip back to Wrigley this season -- providing the sort of surreal moment sure to have Jim Edmonds smiling somewhere. Pity poor Jim Hendry if he has to watch the Cardinals take the division on the backs of a player he effectively gave away.
So why bring up DeRosa in a game recap of the Cubs 6-0 loss to the White Sox, they're fifth loss in six games, by the way? Well, because they're awful. And frankly, watching yet another punchless effort by the Cubs highlighted exactly why this trade should have been blocked, with Mark promptly re-routed to Chicago, even if Hendry had to overpay. How you let a division rival get better in a playoff race, by filling the same need that you have, is beyond me.
To the game though, where Carlos Zambrano matched up against John Danks, in what I'd consider the ultimate in contrasts. The Sox jumped out early on Zambrano, with Alexei Ramirez hitting a two-run homer in the third inning for the Sox. They'd tack on another in the fourth, when Dewayne Wise singled to second to score A.J. Pierzynski.
Zambrano tried to make a go of it, and had some success early in keeping things close. However, the sixth inning rolled around, and the Cubs had a meltdown that you wouldn't have believe it if you hadn't seen it.
Chris Getz would start the inning with a leadoff double, advancing to third on a Gordon Beckham sacrifice. Then, evidently sensing the suicide was on, Zambrano throws the ball away pitching out to Geovany Soto, allowing Getz to score. Zambrano would then hit Dewayne Wise -- retribution, I suspect -- and walk Scott Podsednik. Alexei Ramirez would reach as well, loading the bases when Alfonso Soriano would yet again misplay a ball, misreading the hit that was completely catchable otherwise.
Wise would score, when on an infield fly, Ryan Theriot drop the ball out in short left, allowing him to scoot home. Mercifully, David Patton would retire Jim Thome to end the inning.
If you can find a worse inning of baseball played so far this season, let me know. Seriously. I've seen plenty of games where there's been bad pitching. Or mental mistakes. Maybe a touch of bad luck. But rarely have a seen a game where you felt like you weren't even looking at a major-league team.
And the Cubs offense? Absent. Even after putting leadoff runners on five times to start an inning today, they failed to capitalize. They'd finish the day 0-6 with runners in scoring position, yet another example of of their inability to execute, and bring runners home.
Here's the bottom line. The Cardinals are sitting five games up, and just took major strides at getting better. The Cubs have all sorts of offensive problems that the return of Aramis Ramirez just isn't going to fix. We're coming into July now, and we're unofficially at the point of getting in or out on this season. Another week like this one, and there won't even be a race to discuss.
Fix this.
Filed:June 23rd, 2009
Lou Piniella and Cubs closer Kevin Gregg (Cubbie Nation/file)
Playtime is over.
After spending a long weekend beating up on a crappy bullpen and Scott Linebrink -- always good for a Wrigley Field implosion -- it's back to reality for the Cubs. You can't score. After being shut out on 10 hits Monday in Atlanta, their problems were again on display Tuesday in a 5-4 loss to the Tigers. Micah Hoffpauir gave them a brief lead late with a two-run homer, but when Cubbie Nation fave Ryan Raburn clobbered a Kevin Gregg pitch in the ninth for a two-run, walk-off homer, it was back to the losing streak for Chicago.
Now, you can blame Gregg if you like. He didn't have it last night, and blew it, pure and simple. But watching this game, something else came to mind. I never want to hear manager Lou Piniella ask the question "What can I do?". Bear with me for a moment.
In the first, fourth, and sixth innings of this game the Cubs put the first two runners on, and they'd score two runs combined. Two. What you could have done was ask the guys to choke up on the bat, make sure the ball gets put in play, and advance the runners. What you did was refuse to take the bats out of their hands; fine when we're talking about the 2008 version of this team, but completely unacceptable for a lineup featuring struggling veterans and AAA call-ups centered around a resurgent Derrek Lee.
Or consider in the eighth inning, with one out and Mike Fontenot on, what you could have done was have Blanco lay down the bunt, and let Alfonso Soriano -- you know, a real slugger -- take his shot with a runner in scoring position. The Cubs might have even been able to get a left/right matchup, as a quick sacrifice by Blanco might have forced Jim Leyland to stay with Bobby Seay for another batter. Blanco even had a bunt single earlier in the game. What you did was let him swing away, and into a force out at second, and ultimately an unproductive end to the inning.
Even in the ninth, you could have called pitches, and had Kevin Gregg stay away from the breaking ball. He didn't have it, and it was fairly obvious that he couldn't find the release point. Why do you have him throw it 3-2 to Don Kelly, who appears to be a very disciplined hitter. Kelly would walk, and what should have been a game-tying run into a game winner.
There are a few things that you can do Lou. Maybe being a bit more adaptive to the talent that you're working with would be a good start.
Filed:June 21st, 2009
(Source: Cubbie Nation)
No late-inning drama Sunday, as the Cubs jumped on the Indians early, and cruised to a 6-2 win over Cleveland. The win was the Cubs fourth in a row, giving Randy Wells his first major league victory in the process, and the ball club a three-game sweep over the Tribe.
This one you could see coming. I watched Jeremy Sowers's side session Friday, and after about 10 minutes, it was pretty obvious that this kid is a mess. He's got a really inconsistent delivery, and it looked like he and pitching coach Carl Willis were trying out different release points on his curveball, never a good sign.
Evidently, they never did figure it out. The Cubs jumped on his stuff early today, and never really let up. Geovany Soto set it off with his fifth homer of the year, a solo blast in the second. They'd score again in the fourth, when Ryan Theriot would come home on a Jake Fox sac fly. And then in the fifth inning, it all just came apart for Sowers.
Wells would actually help himself, singling to right to start the inning. The Cubs would eventually load the bases with one out, after Derrek Lee singled in Wells. Soto would drive in another when Sowers walked him. And then comes Jake Fox.
Now, here's the part I don't get. Sowers is the very definition of a five-inning pitcher. He's getting knocked around, can't spot the curveball, and you've got a guy in the 'pen. Jake Fox has all sorts of issues with the breaking ball; massive, massive holes in his swing that you can exploit with a good curve. Why in the world would you leave Sowers in?
Well, manager Eric Wedge did. And Fox, who hasn't found a ball yet that he can't drive when he can get to it, drives a bad fastball deep into center to drive home two, and pretty much put the ballgame away. Just dumb.
The Indians would try to rally in the ninth, when Jose Ascanio went wild, but Kevin Gregg would come in and retire the final two Indians for the save, his 11th of the season. Gregg has now gone 9 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, and is quickly taking himself out of the fans' doghouse in the process.
I know they're beating the weak sisters of the AL, but anything that boosts the confidence of this team right now is a good thing. The pitching is good, some guys are starting to hit, and the bench -- Fox, Hoffpauir, and especially Andres Blanco -- is playing really, really well. For tonight, enjoy the sweep.
Filed:June 19th, 2009
Ryan Theriot is mauled by teammates after his game-winning single (Cubbie Nation)
Click here for the photo gallery of Friday's game
Ryan Theriot hit a game-winning single in the 10th inning Friday to give the Cubs a 8-7, extra-innings win, their second walk-off in as many days.
After weeks of watching the Cubs put on an offensive show just this side of awful, they've now exploded, scoring 14 runs in the last two days, powered off five home runs. Lou Piniella has been saying often "What can I do? What can I do?", and evidently the answer is to threaten to actually do something, as since his announcement that he was prepared to make lineup changes, the on-field play has improved considerably.
But this entire day was about reversal of fortunes. As of 12:00, you wouldn't have thought the game would have even been played, given the downpour drenching Chicago. It was bad. But a nice window opened up in the afternoon, giving the Cubs a few hours of sun-drenched spring day to play the game. The start time got pushed to 2:45, but few were complaining around the park.
The story at the onset was that Cliff Lee was amazing, and Rich Harden was not. Actually he was worse, giving up three-run homers to Luis Valbeuna and VIctor Martinez in the second and third innings that looked to put the game away early.
Couple that with an impressive performance by Cliff Lee (7 IP, 3 ER, 5Ks), and well, we've seen this show before.
But then something happened. I'd heard that the Indians bullpen was something of an albatross this season, and watching the 14-12 debacle against the Brewers earlier in the week, had some idea. But they've got big, big problems there.
Lee was pulled after putting Milton Bradley on in the eighth, in favor of Joe Smith. Smith was rocked, highlighted by a Andres Blanco two-run single. The Cubs would score four in the inning in all, setting up a ninth-inning matchup with ex-Cubs Kerry Wood.
He faired no better, server up a Derrek Lee solo homer to tie the game. Sorry Kerry.
The Cubs then made quick work of another ex-Cub, Luis Vizcaino, in the 10th. With two out, Alfonso Soriano walked, then swiped second base. Then, on a 3-2 count, Ryan Theriot singles to right for the game-winner.
Great game, good enough even to make up for a ridiculously long day at the park. And the game was made even better by chatting with some very nice people. That means you Michael, a fine lawyer in the making that I was seated next to for most of the game. Nice to meet you. You too, Paula. Any time you want to free yourself of some of those season tickets, you just let me know.
Filed:June 17th, 2009
Scott Podsednik chats it up between pitches at Wrigley Field Wednesday (Cubbie Nation/file)
Click here for the photo gallery of Wednesday's Cubs/Sox game
John Danks went seven strong innings, and the White Sox used perfect execution to beat the Cubs 4-1 Wednesday at Wrigley Field. The loss sets the Cubs back under the .500 mark (30-31), and leaves manager Lou Piniella mulling changes for the team.
"It's getting to the point where I'm going to have to start making some tough decisions and get different people in the lineup. I've been real patient with it, but, I'll tell you, it's getting to that point."
Sigh. This is a comment that you get only from a true old-timer -- and I don't mean old-timer in a bad way -- as a younger, less credentialed manager would have pulled the plug on these guys weeks ago. Believe me when I tell you the hardest hit ball by the Cubs during this game was by Jake Fox, which took a herculean effort by Brian Anderson to haul down at the wall.
Frankly, he's got to find a way to get some of these guys in the lineup. Hoffpauir. Fox. Even Bobby Scales was proving significantly more productive than Aaron Miles. News outlets are reporting that the Cubs are chasing Pedro Martinez, which he has confirmed himself, by the way. That can only mean that a trade is developing around one of the current starters.
Until then, hopefully Lou will consider playing Fox and Hoffpauir a bit in left more, with Soriano at second. Man, I can't believe I just wrote that.
Or even better, give Fox a couple of at-bats to start a game, and use him at third. He can always be lifted for a more reliable defender. Mike Fontenot is a soldier, but having to throw him out there against a good lefty in John Danks speaks loudly to how bad things are.
And he was good. Danks went seven innings, before giving way to Scott Linebrink and Bobby Jenks in relief. That was a big difference actually from Ryan Dempster, who walked six, and generally looked wild. A more potent offensive team would have probably chased him earlier, but the Sox have their own problems at the moment offensively, so the Cubs were able to at least make a game of it.
But the Sox got what they needed, getting a solo homer from Alexei Ramirez in the first inning to set things off. Then they proceeded to give a clinic in NL-style offense.
First, a Chris Getz triple in the second to score Brian Anderson. Then, a pitch perfect suicide squeeze by John Danks to score Chris Getz in the seventh. And finally, an A.J. Pierzynski sac fly in the eighth for an insurance run.
I saw some good baseball Wednesday. The only problem is that it wasn't the Cubs that were playing it.
Filed:June 16th, 2009
Cub infielder Jake Fox (Cubbie Nation/file)
Well, baseball junkies are going to have to wait another day or baseball, as Game 1 of the Crosstown Classic was postponed due to rain. Plenty of rain. A lot of rain. When I last saw Ozzie Guillen, he was almost dizzy between dodging the rats and the rain puddles around Wrigley Field.
No word yet on when the game will be made up, and yes, I'm disappointed at no day/night doubleheader. But with a 1:20 game on getaway day for the Sox Thursday, I'm sure the last thing they wanted to agree to was playing three games in a 24-hour period. Look for the game to be rescheduled for September 10th, although I'd be willing to bet it's cancelled altogether, unless either team needs it at season's end.
In the meantime, there are a few nice morsels to chew on while we wait. Jake Fox has been recalled to the big club, replacing Jason Waddell, who's been placed on the 15-day DL with a non-baseball related injury. Sure man. Whatever. Lou seems pretty desperate to get him in the lineup, even suggesting he may play him in right at times. Of course, he actually appeared to cringe when he said it, but we'll see.
And in the news that everyone is talking about in Chicago this morning, the New York Times has reported that Sammy Sosa tested positive for steroids in 2003. The link is here.
I'll be very interested to see the reaction of the sports writing community over the next few days. As I start counting up the list of Sosa sins over the last few years, I find it harder and harder to believe that he'll see Hall of Fame anytime soon.
Few playoff appearances. Corked bat. Confirmed steroid use. Primarily a slugger, with his best stats at the pinnacle of the "Steroid Era". If they seem more than willing to punish the fair-haired one, Mark McGwire, than I can't see how this doesn't play as a deal-breaker for Sammy. That's just my opinion though. What do you think?
Kosuke Fukudome (Cubbie Nation/file)
Filed:June13th, 2009
The Cubs offensive problems continued Saturday, with rookie starter Anthony Swarzak, Matt Guerrier, and Joe Nathan shutting them down in route to a 2-0 victory.
Let me give you some advice. Put some dirt on it, and walk it off. Seriously. It's a beautiful day in Chicago, summer is practically here, and this game just isn't worth ranting about. It was over practically before it started when Jason Kubel homered in the second inning off of Rich Harden -- activated today from the DL -- to put the Twins up 1-0. Rich was great in his outing, as the Cubs starter generally have been during this terrible stretch, but the offense could do nothing against Swarzak.
There's an expression going around finance right now called "The New Normal". E-mail me if you like, and I'll explain it in economic turns, but the expression very much fits the Cubs right now as well. They're just not a real good team, really .500 at best. That's not going to change until a) Aramis Ramirez returns, and looks at least somewhat normal, or b) Jim Hendry drops the charade, dips into his pitching surplus, and finds a complementary bat. Paging Russell Branyan. Paging Mr. Branyan.
Until then, Lou doesn't have any answers, as he pointedly confirmed during his post-game interview, and we really shouldn't look for any either. Just know the pieces are there to make a run when some semblance of an offense is found, and keep your fingers crossed that someone in the Central doesn't go on a season-killing tear before that happens.
Filed:June 12th, 2009
Milton Bradley reacts to his eighth-inning blooper Friday (Cubbie Nation/file)
Click here for the photo gallery of Friday's game.
Twins starter Kevin Slowey dazzled for much of his six innings, and Minnesota took advantage of home runs by Joe Mauer and Jason Kubel to beat the Cubs 7-4 Friday afternoon. Slowey would pick up his ninth win of the season, while losing Cubs starter Randy Wells continues his search for his first major league win.
Let's be frank. The sight of Alfonso Soriano manning second base Friday was officially a sign that things are on the brink in Cubbie Nation, and Lou Piniella is desperate. If you missed it, don't worry. I can all but promise it won't be the last time you'll see it, as the Cubs look to sneak Micah Hoffpauir into more games, and hide the impotence that is their middle infield.
Personally, I find the idea of a 30-something Soriano -- already a liability at the position -- only slightly less palatable than the image of the 130 million dollar man being taken out on a 4-6-3 double play. I have to say though, I agree with Lou. Let him stand there a couple of games. Worst case, a week or two. You'll surely get more production out of a Hoffpauir/Soriano pairing than playing the Miles/Scales/Blanco tandem there.
But to the game which lead to this move. I understand now how most other teams feel. The ballpark was packed -- and I mean packed -- with Twins fans. My friend Al Yellon over at Bleed Cubbie Blue thought there were 30-40 percent Twins fans in the crowd Friday. I'm going to say it was an even split. They were loud, boisterous, and even a little obnoxious at times. Put a blue cap on them, stick them up at Miller Park, and they could have easily been confused for Cubs fans.
They got a real good show from their team though. Kevin Slowey was amazing. The guy looks to have an average fastball, and a real off-speed pitch, and he used it to keep the Cubs off balance for most of his six innings of work. He'd strike out ten on the day, many looking so bad they could only walk away with looks of disgust.
Joe Mauer would homer in the third, and the Twins would chase starter Randy Wells in the fourth, after he put two on to start the inning. Bad day for Wells. I thought he looked a touch fatigued, and the fastball was often high, a bad combination if there ever was one.
The Cubs would score a few runs today, highlighted by a two-run RBI double from Milton Bradley in the sixth. But they couldn't make up for the miscues and bad plays; often from Bradley himself.
First, he loses a ball in the sun in the seventh, allowing Jason Kubel to reach. Then, he misses what looked to be a very catchable ball hit by Michael Cuddyer, which would go for a double. Then, to cap off the day, forgets the number of outs in the eighth, and throws the ball into the right field bleachers.
The funny part is, Bradley says he's not embarrassed about it, which says more to me about the situation than the plays themselves. But that's for another day, I guess. Right now, this team has a host of other, bigger problems that they need to address. Quickly.
Alfonso Soriano (AP)
Filed:June 7th, 2009
Evidently, that scathing rebuke of Alfonso Soriano is going to have to wait another day.Soriano mercifully helped end the 14-inning marathon at Great American Ballpark Sunday, when he hit a solo homer to start the top of the inning, part of a three-run rally that gave the Cubs a 6-3 win.I saw that debacle last night. Missed routes. Lackadaisical play. Even worse than normal plate discipline. Some have accused the team of being disinterested, and Soriano in particular. I can't say I disagree. And honestly, you can't help wonder if a little tough love wouldn't be in order. Lighting a fire under the sometime prima donna Soriano would be a good place to start. If the likes of a Jimmy Rollins can be pulled from a game, then you'd think that Soriano would be no different when his play is deserving of it.But as it turned out, today was just another day in what is becoming a recurring theme, for fans at least. Alfonso will drive you crazy to the point of booing, and then do something to remind you that he is actually a special talent.And man, did the Cubs need something today.The Cubs picked up a couple of runs in the third inning, when Derrek Lee singled in two to give them a 3-1 lead. It looked for awhile like it was going to be a really good day offensively against the less than effective Bronson Arroyo. And for another 10 innings, they got nothing.... Not so much as a run off of Arroyo and the rest of the Reds pitching staff.
Fortunately, the Cubs pitching staff was equally effective, or the Reds hitters ineffective, depending on how you want to look at it. The Cubs bullpen has done a real nice job on this road trip, but that they're pitching against teams with their own offensive troubles right now makes me want to reserve at least some praise. Atlanta came into the season practically begging for more offense, and that hasn't changed. Is Cincy really Cincy without Edwin Encanarcion and Cub-killer Joey Votto? Probably not.
Nevertheless, everyone out of the 'pen was light-out, save the rapidly regressing Carlos Marmol, who put walk the first two hitters on in the eighth. Brandon Phillips would later come around to score on a sac fly to tie the game. But Randy Wells had yet another quality start, going 6 2/3 innings. Jose Ascanio was the stuff of legend, going three innings of scoreless work, and getting some tough outs to do it. And for the small but vocal chorus of voices clamoring for Guzman to close, he did just that Sunday, picking up his first save of the season in relief of winning pitcher David Patton. Yes, that David Patton.
The Cubs have an off day today, before finishing up the trip with a three-game set in Houston. After the last few games, I'd encourage the bullpen to call Chad Fox, and find out what adhesive he uses to keep his shoulder attached.
Apply liberally. Smooth on thoroughly. Re-apply.
Carlos Zambrano (Cubbie Nation/file)
Filed:June 5th, 2009
He pitches. He hits. He steals bases. Rescues kittens on the side. Doubles as a Golden Glove champion. And can fix a five-course meal in under an hour.
Many of those talents were on display Friday, and Carlos Zambrano rolled off the disabled list, and into his 100th career win, beating the Reds 2-1.
Make no mistake; after a week layoff from his six-game suspension and subsequent pushed start, Zambrano was less than crisp. There was a lot of overthrowing, and he appeared to be just a little extra amped up going up against the NL's other resident pitching slugger, Micah Owings. Zambrano would walk five in 6 2/3 innings of work, but struck out seven. The 109 pitches thrown probably gives some indication about the trouble he had finding his spot, but Carlos did what good pitchers do; made the pitches he had to, and kept his club in the game.
Of course, he went a little above and beyond when in the fifth inning, he took a Micah Owings offering into the greater part of Great American for a solo home run, which proved to be the difference in the ballgame.
The Cubs bullpen gutted out their effort as well, allowing threats in both the eighth and ninth innings. But one thing you can count on with a Dusty Baker team is that they won't walk, and that unwillingness proved to be the difference as they chose to swing for the fences, rather than take advantage of the wildness of Carlos Marmol and Kevin Gregg. With two on, and a man on third, Chris Dickerson would pop up to end the ballgame. Ahh, Dusty.
So, after a night like this, what does Zambrano do to cap it off? Evidently, retire.
Well, not immediately, but he's announced that he'll be quitting baseball after the expiration of his contract.
"After this contract, I'm done. I'm serious. I don't want to play. I want to help this team, I want to do everything possible to win with this team, but after five years or four years, or whatever I have left on my contract, I just don't want to play."
Hmm. He sounds serious. Personally though, I've stopped listening to ultra-competitive athletes when they make retirements statements. They just never seem to hold true.
Randy Wells (Cubbie Nation/file)
Filed:June 2nd, 2009
"This is rumor control, and these are the facts"...
Randy Wells again proved to be the tough luck pitcher of 2009, going from storybook one-hitter to a no-decision, as the Braves rallied in the ninth to tie, and again in extra-innings to win 6-5.
What does this guy have to do to get a win? Wells, easily the Cubs best starter this season, is still in search of his first major-league victory. Everyone -- c'mon, you know you did too -- thought Tuesday night was the night, as the Cubs took a 5-0 lead into the eighth, thanks primarily to an Alfonso Soriano solo shot, and Derrek Lee RBI double earlier in the game. Even Wells would help himself, driving in a run in the second off of Braves starter Kenshin Kawakami.
But the Cubs real Achilles heel acted up again after Randy got the hook; that awful bullpen.
After a so-so appearance by Carlos Marmol in the eighth, Kevin Gregg had yet another ninth-inning implosion, serving up a two-run Jeff Francoeur homer to tie the game. It was an utterly ridiculous pitch, a fastball that caught entirely too much plate for a strikeout candidate like Francoeur. You throw him high heat, and it's not a question of whether he homers, but how far he's going to hit it. This time, he hit it far.
Then in the 12th, Aaron Heilman can neither keep Yunel Escobar close enough to keep from swiping second, nor the ball away enough from Chipper Jones to keep him from singling to left for the game winner.
Oh, and Milton Bradley is injured. Again.
A calf injury, likely to keep him out the rest of the week, at the very least.
So, here are the facts:
The Cubs are not back on the right track, as they've still got the same problems of old.
Yes, Marshall needs to head back to the pen. He's been good. Wells has been better. And another lefty there would help.
The bullpen woes are not going to work themselves out, regardless of the happy face that Lou Piniella puts on it.
Milton Bradley will not play in anything close to 135 games, as the Cubs suggested.
And the Mets fans that curse the name of Aaron Heilman do so with good reason.
Dodgers reliever Ramon Troncoso (Cubbie Nation/file)
Filed:May 31st, 2009
The Dodgers beat on starter Sean Marshall early, and Eric Milton stymied the Cubs over 5 1/3 innings, as the Dodgers split the series with an 8-2 win Sunday.
Six pitches. That's about what it took to see the Cubs were in for a long night.
Sean Marshall is usually a three-pitch pitcher. He features a nice slider, good curveball, and about an average fastball -- barely. On really good days 87-89 turns into 91MPH, and he has a really good start. Last night, it was 86, and he was appeared at times to struggle to reach that. At that point, it was basically batting practice.
The Dodgers would lead off the game with five straight hits, and score five in the first, highlighted by a Mark Loretta RBI double. To his credit, Marshall would settle down over the next few innings, sans a Matt Kemp solo homer in the third, but when James Loney smacked an RBI double in the fifth, the game turned into a blowout.
Especially given that amazing, the Cubs were able to do little against Eric Milton, a pitcher out of baseball for years. The last time I checked in on Eric, he was still homer-happy in Philly. Today, recovered from Tommy John surgery, he was keeping the ball down, and featuring a new changeup that I think he's going to have much success with. I still think it's something of an indignation to lose to Milton, but he earned his win.
The Cubs would cobble together a few runs, when Reed Johnson would hit a two-run double in the sixth. But the Dodgers would turn the game over to filthy and filthier -- Ramon Troncoso and Jonathan Broxton -- who kept the Cubs in check the rest of the way. And yes, Broxton did hit 99MPH on the gun fanning Jake Fox in the ninth. Nasty.
Actually, the only good thing about this game is that with it out of reach, you got to see a couple of nice sights. Jake Fox at third base, for example. Jason Waddell making his first big-league appearance. And even David Patton getting some work.
Enjoy the ride kid. With Ascanio and Guzman coming on, and Lou Piniella finding a new hot hand in Randy Wells, I think it's dead man walking as far as you're concerned.
I'm chalking this up to the curse of Joe Morgan, who had remotely kind words for the Cubs of the '60's in general, and Ron Santo in specifically. When Morgan has multiple good things to say about your club, you're destined to be on the losing end.
Either way, the Cubs finished the week 4-3, looking at least competitive against the league front-runner. Not great, but worlds better than the train wreck that was the week before. Hopefully, this upcoming road trip against the Braves and Reds will get them firmly placed on the right track.