With one swing of the bat Cubs fans went from thinking ok we might have a shot to even the series up at one game each to thinking oh crap here we go again. Chipper Jones hit a two-run home run off reliever John Grabow in the 8th inning to give the Braves a 3-2 lead and they held on to win the game by that same 3-2 score as the Cubs were unable to score in the 9th inning.

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.

Well Cubs fans, things sure didn’t work out for the new Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs as they dropped their opening game of the 2010 season to the Atlanta Braves on Monday afternoon 16-5. Big Z got recorded just four outs as he gave up eight runs on six hits – including two homers, hit a batter, and made a throwing error that led to a run as well.

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

Ah, the up and downs of the baseball season. Another year where the Cubs have teased their fans with an up and down season to only see them falter towards the end. I had first thought about blogging how the Cubs were only four back in the loss column after last nights game against the Brewers but that didn’t turn out as the Brewers clobbered the Cubs and then salvaged a sweep in the four game series as they also defeated the Cubs on Thursday. So our hopes were up once again, and now they are right back on the ground as the team is on the outside looking in.

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

The Cubs finished off the Pirates in a three game series on Wednesday as the two played an early morning game at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Carlos Zambrano pitched six innings to lead the Cubs on the mound as he picked up his first victory since July 22. The Cubs offense stayed hot in the 8-5 victory but are the bats heating up just a little bit to late into the seaason?

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