This team might as well put a fork in the 2010 season in my opinion. There are rumors that Aramis Ramirez is breaking up the clubhouse and not even wanting to suit up as he sits on the disabled list. (A move that should have happened a month ago). You have the pitchers wondering when in the hell the offense is going to start hitting the ball instead of a bunch of single A players. Sorry pitchers, but these bats are cold and they are going to remain cold. Enjoy trying to win games when you only have one or two runs on the scoreboard.

Before to long, you are going to have players wondering if they are going to get traded as the team slides down in the standings. Yes I’m talking about Derrek Lee (please waive that no-trade clause), Kosuke Fukudome, Tom Gorzelanny and Ryan Theriot. This could be the year that the Cubs and new management change the team and start building for the future once again. Because 2010 is not the Cubs year.

How much blame can you put on Lou Piniella? If you ask me a lot. If it is true that Aramis Ramirez and some of the other Latin players are in one group int he locker room and all the other guys in another group you have lose your clubhouse. If the club house is not one team, then you can not expect to win games. That all falls back on the manger and I have a feeling that Lou is just playing through the season before he leaves the city and says “Keep on Waiting Cubs Fans”.

So Cubs fans, is the season over before the All-Star break? I’ve already gave in for the most part. Who’s with me?

Cubs Blog

The Chicago Cubs are Laughable Losers

After the game Lou said that he would once again tinker with the line up and try to get a little spark in the offense. One guy that needs to start swinging the bat better is Aramis Ramirez. If you remember back in spring training, Ramirez said he only needed ten at bats to get ready for the season and it wasn’t a big deal with him missing time due to the sore arm. Well it looks like A-Ram could have used some more at bats down in Arizona as he is swinging the bat like a girl right now.

Alfonso Soriano is another guy that needs to get on base more often. Only expect Soriano to play seven innings during close games and Lou has been pulling him late in games and inserting Tyler Colvin in for defensive purposes. I find it funny that now Soriano says he will stop the hop before catching a ball. Hmm, why did you even start that Sori?

Now the Cubs will go on a week long road trip with stops in New York City and Milwaukee. These are all in win-able games for the Cubs so hopefully we can see a 5-2 road trip or similar.

Cubs Blog

Astros spoil the Cubs homestand

Carlos Zambrano once again struggled as he lasted just five innings. Big Z did strike out seven Brewers but also gave up three walks and allowed four runs to score. The wind was a factor in the game as it was blowing out at 18 MPH but Zambrano knows that he needs to keep the ball down and he simply did not get the job done.

The bullpen wasn’t any better as Sean Marshall, Jeff Samardzija and John Grabrow all gave up runs in relief. I don’t think Samardzija will be getting very many more opportunities in close games as Lou has to be running out of patience with the right hander.

The one nice thing in the game and series was how well the Cubs hit the ball. The warm weather helped get the bats going which is something Cubs fans are not used to seeing in April during home games. Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Marlon Byrd all hit home runs but despite the three dingers, it was still not enough to get the victory.

All in all, I’m happy with the first series at home. You take two out of three every series and you will be right where you want to be at the end of the season. The teams record now sits at 4-5 on the year as they start up a weekend series with the Astros who finally picked up their first win of the season against the Cardinals.

Catch us on twitter @chicagocubsblog

Cubs Blog

Cubs unable to complete the sweep over the Brew Crew

Three home runs by Cubs players led the team to a 9-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. In the five-run third inning Xavier Nady got the scoring started with a three-run shot which was then followed by a single from Alfonso Soriano before second basemen Jeff Baker hit a ball that cleared the left field bleachers for a two run shot.

Following a rbi single off the bat of Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez connected on a two-run homer that gave starting pitcher Ryan Dempster a big lead to work with. It was a good thing as well because Dempster would only pitcher into the sixth inning and was charged with seven hits and five runs. Dempster did eat some innings but does need to do a better job of getting out of jams without serving up three run homers like he did to Ryan Braun.

It was great to see Jeff Samardzija pitch a scoreless eighth inning. Lou said before the game that he only wanted to use Jeff if the Cubs had a decent lead and he could get in there and just throw the ball. Samardzija needs quick innings like that to really regain confidence in himself as well as the coaching staff.

The teams wills be off on Tuesday and will be back at Wrigley Field on Wednesday afternoon. Randy Wells will be on the mound for the Cubs as they try to open the season at 2-0 at home.

Cubs Blog

Cubs beat Brewers in home opener

And the bullpen is already irking at manager Lou Piniella. (Hmm, didn’t we already know this was going to happen during spring training?)

Cubs relievers have now allowed 10 runs, eight earned, in two losses to the Braves. Not exactly the way you want to start off the season.

The bullpen ruined what could have been a win for Ryan Dempster. Dempster was wheeling and dealing in his six innings if action allowing just three hits and one run to cross the plate. Ryan struck out nine batters while walking two. Great outing by the starter, the bullpen just wasn’t able to hang on.

Can the Cubs salvage one game of the series? They will attempt to do so this evening as Randy Wells will be taking the mound against Tommy Hanson.

Cubs Blog

Chipper Jones says I don’t think so

The Cubs bullpen was an up and down story the rest of the game. Sean Marshall and James Russell pitched well but Jeff Samardzija was charged with six runs and Justin Berg was charged with another two. Way too many walks by the bullpen especially when you were already battling back to get into the game.

The Cubs bright spot of the game was two swings. Marlon Byrd hit a three-run home run in the top of the first inning to put the Cubs up 3-0 and Aramis Ramirez added a two-run home run in the third inning. Five runs will usually win the ball game for you when you have your “ace” on the mound but right now I don’t think you can call any pitcher on the Cubs roster an “ace”.

Hopefully the team can bounce back and get a win on Wednesday night to even up the series at one game each. Follow us on twitter as I’ll be tweeting live during the game. @chicagocubsblog

Cubs Blog

Zambrano rocked as Cubs drop first game of season

The Cubs are now pretty much out of contention. If you even thought they were in contention the past week. With a 75-70 record and have 17 games left in the season. There just isn’t enough time to make up all the ground especially when you are behind four teams in the Wildcart and still behind the Cardinals in the division.

Ever since that terrible four game series in Denver, the team just went down hill and were never able to make it all the way back up on top. Heck, when you see bleacher tickets for a Cubs/Brewers game basically being given away for $1 on Stubhub, you know the season isn’t going very good. I will say this, the team did start playing a little better when Alfonso Soriano was sat down for the rest of the season. I have to wonder how much that knee injury affected him and how much of it was just sucking?

Let’s hope the team can go out on a high note with a winning record over these last 17 games. They sure can affect the wildcard as they have series remaining with the Giants as well with the Braves.

So once again, I’m pretty sure we can say “There is always next year”

- Cliff

Cubs Blog

Is it time to put a cork on the 2009 season?

Zambrano struck out eight and gave up five hits before being pulled after throwing 98 pitches. Big Z was not happy with coming out of the game and he let Lou know about it as he walked back into the dugout. As Zambrano walked back to the dugout, replays showed Lou just smiling as he waiting on the mound for John Grabow to enter the game.

Grabow, and Carlos Marmol both threw scoreless inning and Marmol picked up the save which was his 11th of the season. Marmol sure is showing the team that he wants that spot full time in 2010. One bullpen guy did not have a good game and that was Kevin Gregg again. Gregg was taken deep for a three run home run by former Cub Ronny Cedeno. Gregg, it was nice knowing you, (not really) but your time as a Cub should and will hopefully be over after this season.

Micah Hoffpauir hit a solo home run and also had a sac fly as he finished the game with two rbi. Catcher Koyie Hill also knocked in a pair of runs with a rbi single. The offense really swung the bats good in Pittsburgh. Hopefully the off day on Thursday won’t throw them off stride.

The Cubs will begin a weekend series with the Cincinatti Reds on Friday. Need to keep on winning if they want any shot at making the wildcard. I know it is a very small shot, but who knows what can happen.

- Cliff

Cubs Blog

Cubs sweep Pirates but is it too late?

Alfonso Soriano once again misplayed a fly ball which accounted for a three base error and allowed the White Sox to score. Before that play in the eighth inning, the Cubs were right there in it as it was only a 1-0 ballgame. Soriano man, come on!

The tough luck loser was Ryan Dempster who threw a great game. He didn’t call Soriano out in his press conference as he said we are a 25 man team and we just have to keep on going out there and playing. Soriano should be the one up there saying my fault, I totally messed up once again. Maybe I would be better to sit on the bench and let Jake Fox or Sam Fuld play left field.

It looks like the Rockies are going to lose this afternoon as well so the Cubs could have picked up a full game had they been able to hit the damn ball and catch a fly ball. Is it to early to ask “Can this season just be over?”

- Cliff

Cubs Blog

No offense and terrible defense hurt Cubs in 5-0 loss

Lilly was dominate on the mound as he did not walk a batter and only allowed four hits on the day. A great start by the crafty left hander who had the Astros guessing at the plate the entire afternoon. In his last four games, Lilly has given up four earned runs over 27 1/3 innings, it was about time he got a victory to show for it.

Carlos Marmol pitched the ninth inning to pick up the save.

The one hit that mattered for the Cubs was Derrek Lee’s two-run home run blast in the the fourth inning off of Felipe Paulino who took the loss for the Astros. Lee now has 27 home runs and 90 rbi on the season. Just think how much worse the Cubs season would be if Lee wasn’t hitting the ball as good as he has.

Now let’s sit back this evening and hope that the Giants and Rockies lose. The Braves an Marlins continue their series so the Cubs will pick up a little ground on one of them tonight.

- Cliff

Cubs Blog

Lilly goes eight strong and Lee homers in Cubs 2-0 win

“He’s had a really nice first year,” Piniella said of Wells, a converted catcher. “He needs to finish up strong. We’ve been impressed with him. He’s a serious-minded kid, who goes about his business and competes really well.”

Wells will need to have another quality start in five days as he is the best option they have to take the mound every 5th day. Yes, better than Ryan Dempster, Ted Lilly and Carlos Zambrano at this point in the season.

The Cubs offense took advantage of two Astros errors or ths game would have been a lot closer than the 4-1 final score. In the fifth inning, Koyie Hill knocked in Alfonso Soriano as the inning was extended on a Miguel Tejada error when he attempted to turn two on a Jeff Baker hit up the middle. In the sixth inning it was Hunter Pence dropping a fly ball out in right field that allowed Milton Bradley to score one batter later when Aramis Ramirez singled to center.

Bradley got the Cubs scoring started in the fourth inning when the turned on a inside fastball and hammered it over the fence in right field. Finally Milton seen a ball early enough to put good wood on it and be able to turn through and pull the ball with authority. I really like how Bradley has been hitting the ball.

Kosuke Fukudome added an insurance run in the eighth inning when he doubled and Derrek Lee scored.

The bullpen once again had a nice outing as John Grabow and Kevin Gregg both recorded two outs before Carlos Marmol pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his seventh save of the year. Marmol struckout  three batters and gave up one hit in the final frame.

It will be an afternoon game on Wednesday so hopefully the Cubs can keep on winning and picking up ground in the wildcard!

- Cliff

Cubs Blog

Wells picks up win #10 as Cubs beat Astros 4-1

All five of the Astros runs were charged to Harden and six walks that he gave up sure didn’t help out his cause. Earlier in the day, Harden was told that he would be staying with the club and not be traded to the Minnesota Twins who had claimed him off waivers late last week. I wonder if that had any affect on his performance Monday night? Harden says no:

“You can’t just ignore [the rumors],” Harden said, “but the whole thing was ridiculous and had nothing to do with my performance today. I won’t make excuses. I still knew I was starting on Monday and I had to prepare myself, and I got prepared and I just didn’t get it done.”

The Cubs bats had their own problem as they couldn’t seem to figure out Roy Oswalt this time around. Oswalt threw seven innings and allowed just six hits and two runs on Monday night. Both of the runs given up by Oswalt came in the fifth inning when Koyie HIll and Ryan Theriot knocked in runs.

Derrek Lee would take LaTroy Hawkins deep in the eighth inning as he smashed a 398 foot home run to center field to draw the Cubs within two runs. That would be as close as they got however as Jose Valverde shut the Cubs down in the ninth inning with a 1-2-3 inning.

The Cubs will now look to Randy Wells to get them back on track against the Astros Tuesday night. Wells did not have a good start his last time out and hopefully he has figured out his mechanical issues and can throw a good game and the team in the win column tonight. Every game is a huge one and the Cubs need as many wins as they can get.

- Cliff

Cubs Blog

Harden hit hard in 5-3 Cubs loss

Despite winnings two out of three games, the Cubs find themselves ten games out in the division as the Cardinals just continue to pile up the wins. In the wild card, the Cubs are 5.5 games back with four teams ahead of them in the standings.

I would not expect to see Alfonso Soriano play a whole lot the remainder of the season. Soriano received a cortisone shot to help out with some inflamation around his knee and has not played the past couple of days. I would rather just see Soriano take it easy and get Jake Fox some more playing time in left field.

Win will Carlos Zambrano have another dominating performance? He has stunk it up since coming back from the disabled list. Eleven hits in 3 1/3 innings simply is not earning your pay check Carlos!

Milton Bradley had a great weekend and has been swinging the bat like Cubs fans had hoped for when he signed a three year free agent contract in the off season. I’ll give Milton some good press even though the media is all over him for what he says in his interview. I’m one fan that would like to see Bradley in a Cubs uniform next season. I think he is still capable of being a very good baseball player and he can do that for the Cubs in my opinion.

- Cliff

Cubs Blog

Cubs take two of three against the Mets

Randy Wells got tagged early as the Nationals scored in the first three innings of the game. Three runs in the first inning and then single runs in the second and third innings put the Cubs down 5-0 before Aramis Ramirez tried to get the team back in it with a two run home run. The five early runs were enough to get the win however and give Wells his seventh loss of the season. Randy is now 9-7 in his rookie season.

The Cubs had a good shot to tie the game in the eighth inning however Derrek Lee was called out at home plate when he attempted to scored on a wild pitch. Lee was actually safe because Nationals reliever Sean Burnett did not tag him with the ball and instead his glove which did not have the ball. Blown call that went against the Cubs. It would have been the third run scored of the game for Lee as he also scored on Ramirez’s homerun and also hit a solo home run. Overall a good game for Lee.

One player that did not have a good game was Milton Bradley. Bradley went 0-4 and has got the entire city of Chicago yelling at him it seems like. Milton needs to takes Alfonso Soriano’s advice and just try to block everything out. And fans, lay off him when he is out in the city or grabbing a bite to eat with family. Keep it at the ballpark.

The Cubs have gone 6-15 since Aug. 5 to fall nine games behind St. Louis in the NL Central. Before that skid, they had won 14 of 19 and were tied for first place. Terrible way to close out the season like they are doing right now.

***Also during the game it was announced that Rich Harden and Aaron Heilman were claimed off waivers by a team. The Cubs now have this weekend to work out a deal with the teams involved if they choose.***

- Cliff

Cubs Blog

The Cubs have yet another bad series

First off, the Cubs dropped three out of four games against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. They really weren’t outplayed in the series, the offense just didn’t knock in the runs when they needed to and didn’t take advantage of runners in scoring positions. The team could have easily took two out of four or three out of four games in this series and the offense actually showed up and knocked in some runs.

With the team struggling as of late on the road, they are now eight games out of first place in the division and seven games out of the wild card lead. Things sure don’t look good for the team and the playoffs unless they go on a long winning streak and the Cardinals or other teams start to lose some games.

The team was also finally sold to the Ricketts Family on Friday. There had been rumors going around all this past week that an announcement would be released on Friday and that is exactly when the press release came out. The Rickets family will own 95% of the Cubs, Wrigley Field and Comcast Sportset Chicago while the Tribune Co. will own the other 5%. The sale only took two damn years to happen thanks to Sam Zell holding out for as much money he can get.

The team will have an off day on Monday before starting a series with the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night. This is a series that the teams needs to sweep if they want any chance of post season action. It’s a long road the team needs to travel and I’m not sure they can pull it off.

- Cliff

Cubs Blog

Cubs news and notes over the weekend