The redhead is back with the Chicago Cubs!  Matt Murton was called up from Triple-A Iowa on Friday and Eric Patterson was sent back down to Triple-A.  Patterson was called up after the Alfonso Soriano injury and went 0-6.

We will see if Murton gets any starts out in left field or if he will come off the bench like most people are thinking.  If he can hit the ball and get on base I think he is a better option in left field then Mark DeRosa, who is better suited at second base.

What does everyone else think?

The Chicago Cubs were not able to complee the sweep of the Cincinnati Reds as the Reds crushed the Cubs 9-2 on Thursday afternoon.  Terrible pitching by Ted Lilly and Jon Leiber really hurt the Cubs, and then Cubs were not swinging the bats like they had the last two games against the Reds.

What are the Cubs going to do with Lilly?  He has struggled all three outing this year, and just can’t locate the ball at all.  His velocity is down and he doesn’t have enough movement on his balls to get batters out.

Also, what was up with Henry Blanco attempting to bunt with runners on first and second and Lillly on deck?  Len and Bob were even wondering what the hell was going on.  It appears that Blanco missed some signs or the coaches got the wrong signs from the dugout.  Anyway, Blanco and Lilly were the only Cubs to record an RBI in the game.

The Cubs will now start up a series with the Pittsburgh Pirates with an afternoon game on Friday.  Rich Hill gets the start for the Cubs as he hopes to get the first win for the Cubs from a left handed pitcher.

It was an ugly game between the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday, but the Cubs eventually ended up winning 10-8 in a 12 inning game.  The Cubs had led the game 7-0, before they started to walk batters, and play terrible defense.  Three errors in the game for the Cubs, they really need to get some work done out in the field.

The Cubs broke open the game when Ronny Cedeno hit a bases loaded triple in the third inning that scored three runs and put the Cubs up 7-0.  After that though, the Pirates responded with five runs in the 4th inning to make the score 7-5.  Aramis Ramirez grounded into fielder’s choice to second base that scored Reed Johnson in the the 6th inning that extended the Cubs lead to 8-6, but then Pirates came right back by scoring a single run in the 6th and 7th innings to tie the game.  No other scoring happend until Ramirez his a sac fly that scored Ryan Theriot in the 12th inning, and the Cubs added another run with a bases loaded walk.

Job Leiber picked up the win as he pitched in relief.  Carlos Marmol picked up the save as Kerry Wood was given the day off.

I hope the Cubs can get some good rest, and take some groundbals during the off day tomorrow.  I think they need to get a little bit of work done in the field and cut down on the errors.  The two teams will play again on Wednesday night as the Cubs play their first night game of the season.

The Cubs got back on track over the weekend as they beat the Houston Astros on Saturday and Sunday to win the three game series.  Derrek Lee and Kosuke Fukudome really helped out the Cubs this weekend and did a great job. 

I wasn’t able to watch much of either game, and I’m sure you have already read game recaps etc so I won’t get into that too much.  I plan to be back blogging after everything from here on out, hopefully we are past our server problems so I don’t have to spend any time re-doing things like I have had to the past few weeks.

GO CUBS!

The Chicago Cubs continue to stab themselves in the foot with poor defense and not being able to come up with the big hit when they need it.  On Friday, Mark DeRosa booted a groundball and then Alfonso Soriano miss-played a ball off the wall in left field that allowed two runs to score and give the Astros the 4-3 victory.

Starting pitcher Rich Hill pitched well enough to get the win for the Cubs but the lack of offense did not allow for that.  Hill pitched six innings giving up four hits, but one of those hits was a two out two run homerun in the 4th inning.  Hill knows he needs to buckle down and finish off batters, I really expect to have him pitch great in his next performance.

As far as the Cubs offense, or the lack there of, they just aren’t getting that big hit by Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, or Derrek Lee.  Without those three players hitting the ball, the Cubs aren’t going to get very many wins.  I’m impressed with how Geovany Soto hit the ball today.  He tied the game in the 7th inning with a hard hit groundball that scored two, and when he did get out, he did hit the ball very hard.  DeRosa did hit a solo home run in the 9th inning, but it didn’t matter with the Cubs being down two runs.

I’m trying not panic as it is still early in the season, but the Cubs could have won a couple of these games if not for some stupid errors and mental mistakes.  Hopefully they will get rid of them and start winning these close ballgames.

- Cliff

The Chicago Cubs fell to the Milwaukee Brewers on a cold rainy day by the score of 4-3 in 10 innings.  Carlos Zambrano and Ben Sheets both pitched a great game as both offenses both couldn’t hit the ball.  The problem was that the Brewers pullpen was able to save the day, unlike the Cubs bullpen.  Doesn’t that sound like the beginning of the 2007 season?

The Cubs didn’t have much offense other then Kosuke Fukudome who led the Cubs by going 3-3 with a three run homerun that tied the game in the bottom of 9th inning.  Fukudome was pretty much the only excitment for the Cubs on the offensive side of the plate.  I figured during a cold rainy day, there wouldn’t be very many runs scored, and that was the case until the last few innings.

One bright spot of the game was how well Carlos Zambrano pitched on opening day.  Sure he didn’t get the win, but he held the Brewers down for 6+ innings and kept the Cubs in the game.   It isn’t his fault that the offense sucked so bad.

I was pretty upset with how Kerry Wood and Bob Howry pitched today.  I figured they would pitch a lot better then they did.  But I do have to factor in the weather a little bit.  I’m not saying that as an excuse though.  They still need to go throw strikes no matter if it is snowing, raining, or 90 degrees.  Next time they will get the job done, and the Cubs will get the win.

The Cubs and Brewers will battle it out once again on Wednesday.  First pitch is scheduled for 1:20 Chicago time.  It will be Ted Lilly vs. Jeff Suppan.

Opening day is finally here for the Chicago Cubs and we are very excited for the 2008 season.  Will the Cubs get off to a hot start and not have a terrible April like they did last year?  I think Lou will manage the club better here in the first month of the season and get the team off to a good start.

The Cubs will also be showing off the brand new Ernie Banks statue to kick off the season so if you can’t get to the field today, turn on WGN where they will be having pre-game and an hour honoring Mr. Cub.

Lets hope the rain stays away, and the Cubs and Brewers are able to play today.  Go Cubs, lets get that first win of the season!

The Chicago Cubs have signed outfielder Reed Johnson to a one year contract after he was released by the Toronto Blue Jays.  Johnson can play all three positions, bats right handed, and will more then likely platoon with Felix Pie in centerfield.

Johnson is a career .281 hitter, and has a lifetime .308 average against left-handed pitching.  Overall I think it is a good pickup for the Cubs, better then trading for Marlyon Byrd or Jay Payton etc.