Webb outduels Zambrano as Cubs lose 3-1
Carlos Zambrano was dealing and was on fire last night in Arizona but the coaching staff felt it was time to pull him after only 80 pitches and it cost them the first game in the NLDS against the Diamondbacks. Â Zambrano is planned to come back and pitch game 4 if there is one and that was the reason why he was taken out so early in game 1. Â You have got to win game 1, and Zambrano was wheeling and dealing so you leave him in there a little bit long I think.
Once Zambrano exited, Carlos Marmol came in and gave up a two-run homer on a fastball. Â You could tell that Marmol was anxious out there and he grooved a fastball right down the middle and Mark Reynolds made him pay. Â You have to feel that Marmol is throwing his slider to often, and last night was over throwing it. Â Once the hitters noticed, they could sit fastball and that is what Reynolds did.
The pitching was good last night however, what pisses me off is the offense.  Sure the Cubs went up against Brandon Webb, so getting 3-4 runs is going to be hard, but Webb was off last night.  He walked a few batters and the Cubs just couldn’t get a big hit when they needed too. Swinging at first pitches will not get the job done like Ryan Theriot did.
The sun is coming up in Arizona right now, and lets hope the Cubs wake up tonight and game one was just a fluke. Â If we can win tonights games, I really like our chances back at Wrigley Field. Â GO CUBS GO!
All the attention is on Lou for pulling Z after the 6th. Given that he was on a pitch count, why isn’t anyone talking about the decision not to pinch-hit for him with the bases loaded in the 6th. The game was tied and it was the Cubs only chance to break the game open.
Granted, Z had a good swings his first two at-bats, but it should come as no surprise that Webb made him look like silly when he absolutely had to. That was the Cubs last opportunity to break the game open and instead we sacrificed the last out of the 6th inning. Terrible decision!
Sweet Lou ruins it for Zambrano and the Cubs…
So the more I thought about last night the more I question Lou’s decision to yank Carlos Zambrano after 85 pitches through 6 innings. Zambrano was DEALING! He was pitching a great game and putting the Cubs in a great spot to win Game 1. Som…
Big Z looked great! This was a well pitched game on both sides. The Cubs need to get this game or it is over!
LET GO CUBS
It looks like the Cubs can’t handle the Diamondbacks.
The Flubs SUCK & historically embarass the city of Chicago ! They will NEVER win the big one. Lou Pinella…what a little league move in Game 1…ASS CLOWN !!!