The Chicago Cubs were on the wrong side of a slugfest at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night as they lost to the rivals from the north 10-7.  The loss was the fourth in the five games for the Cubs who have hit a slump after coming out of the gates strong.

The Cubs could never get going as the Brewers scored in six of nine innings against the Cubs pitching staff.  Jason Marquis got the start on the mound and lasted five innings as he gave up ten hits and five runs.  Kevin Hart gave up three runs, Sean Marshall and Jon Leiber also gave up a earned run out of the bullpen.

The Cubs batters faced a wild Ben Sheets who walked seven batters but the Cubs couldn’t string together three or four hits in a row to take advantage of all those walks and put up a big number on the scoreboard.

Mike Fontenot did double with the bases loaded to pick up three RBI but that was about the Cubs only big hit that scored more then one run at a time.  Derrek Lee did connect for his eighth home run in the in the third inning and finished with that one RBI.  Reed Johnson, Felix Pie, and Marquis all had one RBI as well.

It is time the Cubs get back to winning some games, and they really need to pick up the win tomorrow when they face the Brewers once again.  You can’t keep dropping these divisional games and expect to win the division.

So will the Cubs get the win tomorrow?  Leave us a comment and let us know!

The Chicago Cubs back on the winning track just like I figured they would.  The Cubs shutout the Washington Nationals on Saturday night by the score of 7-0.  Carlos Zambrano went deep into the game just like manager Lou Piniella wanted.

Zambrano tossed seven innings while striking out five batters and walking four.  Zambrano lowered his ERA to 2.21 with the seven scoreless innings.  Zambrano is now 4-1 on the season.  A much better start for Big Z then last season.

Michael Wuertz and Jon Leiber pitched the final two innings and pitched very well.

Derrek Lee led the Cubbies at the plate as he went 2-3 with three RBI.  Aramis Ramirez also had two RBI’s that came off a double in the eighth inning.  One player that struggled at the plate was catcher Geovany Soto who struckout five times, and everytime it was against a different Nationals pitcher.  I wonder if Soto gets the day off on Sunday to get a day of rest?

Ted Lilly will try to win the series for the Cubs on Sunday.  Hopefully he will do it and the Cubs will pick up another win.

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.

Manager Lou Piniella told the media today that Jason Marquis and Ryan Dempster would be in the starting rotation.  I am suprised to see both of them in the rotation and Jon Lieber working out of the bullpen.  I would rather have Lieber in the rotation, and then one of the other two out of the bullpen.  Maybe this is just to get Marquis some work, so hopefully the Cubs can eventually trade him.

Piniella also said that Kerry Wood would start out the season as the teams closer.  He was in a battle all spring with Carlos Marmol and Bob Howry.  Wood proved to the coaches that he could pitch on back to back days and did a good job so he earned the spot.  If Wood struggles, look for Marmol to be thrown into the position.

Sorry I haven’t been able to get an update on the blog lately regarding spring training. I have been pretty busy the past week, but I’m here now, and ready to talk Cubs Baseball!

It was interesting to hear Lou Piniella say it would be a three person battle for the closers role as pitchers and catches reported.  Piniella mentioned Kerry Wood, Carlos Marmol, and Ryan Dempster would battle it out.  Make you think what is going on as Dempster is supposed to get a look as a starter as well.  Then out of nowhere yesterday, Piniella said that Bob Howry would be the closer if the season started today.  Lol, does anyone know what is going on with the closers role?!

I thought it was pretty funny that Carlos Zambrano was wearing Fukudome’s jersey as the Japanese reported to spring training.  After playing with Fukudome for a little bit, Big Z then gave him his jersey as they all had a good laugh.  Gotta love a little joking around to keep the players lose.

As far as the starting rotation, it looks like the Cubs will be going with something like this:

1.  Carlos Zamrano
2.  Ted Lilly
3.  Open
4.  Rich Hill
5.  Open

Piniella really wants to split up the lefthanders Lilly and Hill.  I would probably pencil in Jon Leiber or Jason Marquis into that #3 spot and then the other in the #5 spot.  Leaving out Sean Marshall unless Piniella wants to have back to back lefties in the #4 and #5 spots.

How do you all feel with the pitchers?  What is the best rotation Lou can set up?  What is the best option for closer at this point?  Leave us a comment and let us know your opinion!