Things aren’t going the way everyone wants on the Northside of Chicago but hopefully things will turn around with a weekend series against the Pirates. On Thursday it was another loss as the Phillies finished off the Cubs with a 6-1 win and swept the Cubs on their home field.
There wasn’t a beer throwing incident today, but the same old thing. Terrible pitching and the lack of offense. Ryan Dempster pitched seven innings but struggled as he fell to 6-6 on the year. Dempster gave up home runs to Ryan Howard and Pedro Feliz in the fourth inning and that was enough runs for the Phillies as the Cubs offense could only push across one run.
The Cubs lone run would come off the bat of shortstop Ryan Theriot in the fifth inning. Theriot knocked in Jeff Baker with a single to center field. The offense is going to continue sucking it up until Alfonso Soriano and Geovany Soto start hitting the ball. They are hitting like pansies right now and it sure isn’t fun to watch that’s for sure.
The sweep for the Phillies at Wrigley Field was their first since the 1984 season. That’s how bad things are for the Cubs right now. Good news, the Pirates are coming to town for a weekend series and the Cubs should be able to get back on the winning track. The question is if they can catch the Cardinals who are now 4.5 games ahead in the division.
- Cliff
It was another bad night at Wrigley Field for the Cubs as they were hammered by the Phillies 12-5. You could tell right from the get go that this wasn’t going to be a good night for the Cubs when starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija allowed two runs in the first inning and was hit very hard. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Samardzija is not a starting pitcher at the major league level unless he can develope some more pitches.
Samardzija pitched just 3 1/3 innings and was charged with seven runs.
Sean Marshall would come into the game next and he didn’t do any better as he served up two home runs and was charged with five runs. Marshall has had a couple of bad outings in a row now.
As for the offense, they had their bright moments and then some not so bright moments. Sure five runs against the Phillies is good, but not good enough when your pitching staff gives up 12 runs in the first four innings. The offense will hopefully get a boost when Aramis Ramirez returns to the lineup at the end of the week. Let’s just hope that Ramirez doesn’t hurt his shoulder even more when he comes back.
One last thing, who ever the jackass was that got Shane Victorino with the beer should not be allowed back into the bleachers. That’s just dumb of you.
- Cliff
It was another bad outing for Kevin Gregg and the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night as they opened up a three game set with the Philadelphia Phillies. Gregg was in his second inning of action when Ben Francisco took him yard for a lead off home run in the 12th inning. The Phillies would end up winning the game by the score of 4-3 and Gregg would be left wondering why he is giving up so many home runs.
“I want to keep the ball in the ballpark,” Gregg said. “Obviously, it’s not happening for me. I’ve got to keep plugging away at it and figure out a way to stop it.” Gregg said after the game.
It really sucks to lose a game like this especially when it is against the Phillies. These are the type of games that Cubs need to win if they want to compete in the playoffs. If Carlos Marmol and Gregg continue to walk batters and give home runs, the Cardinals are going to run away with this division in my opinion.
The poor outing by Marmol and Gregg makes everyone forget about the good outing that starting pitcher Rich Harden had. Harden had a perfect game going until the sixth inning and he only made one mistake in the game. The first hit for the Phillies would be a two run home run off the bat of Jimmy Rollins. Other than that one mistake, Harden struck out six while only giving up two hits and the two runs.
Wednesday night it will be Jeff Samardzija getting the start against the Phillies Pedro Martinez. It will be interesting to watch this matchup. Will “The Shark” get out of the first three or four innings? Will Pedro shut down the Cubs in his return?
- Cliff
It was a very ugly night in Denver on Monday night for the Cubs as they lost once again to the Rockies. This time it was by the score of 11-5 as the Cubs got down right away and then starting pitcher Tom Gorzelanny left the game with a right foot contusion in the second inning. Gorzelanny was touched for six runs, all earned, in his 1 1/3 innings on the hill.
The Cubs pitchers could not figure out Troy Tulowitzki as he hit for the cycle and led the Rockies with five hits and seven rbis.
The offense for the Cubs was down right terrible. They left the bases loaded in the first and second innings and were not able to score until the sixth inning when Geovany Soto led the inning off with a solo home run. They would then tack on four more runs in the ninth inning but it was too late to really get back in the game.
All the team can really do is forget about this series in Denver because they have huge three game set with the Philadelphia Phillies in Chicago starting Tuesday night. Yeah, a short turn around for the team which is a good thing in my opinion.
Oh yeah, can we please have a injury free series for once and get Aramis Ramirez back in the lineup?
- Cliff
